Paul Coreil has fond memories of working in Louisiana’s wetlands as an extension specialist and teaching young people about the importance of protecting these areas. His passion for the outdoors and education guided him throughout his decades-long career with the LSU AgCenter, from which he retired in 2013 as vice chancellor for extension.
Read MoreThe Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, known as the LSU AgCenter, is one of nine institutions within the Louisiana State University System. The LSU AgCenter’s mission is to provide the people of Louisiana with research-based educational information that will improve their lives and economic well being.
Read MoreExactly one year after COVID-19 shut down much of the state, Louisiana 4-H’ers gathered for one of three Junior Leadership Conferences. For many participants, it was their first face-to-face 4-H event in a year.
“This was a big deal because this is the first time I got to go outside of my parish and socialize and meet new people,” said Cameron Fuselier, a sophomore from Acadia Parish, adding that the conference “has as exceeded my expectations because even with COVID restrictions, they have found ways to make it engaging.”
Read MoreAn LSU graduate student has identified and named a new species of fungus that causes a devastating soybean disease, and the finding has been published in a scientific journal.
Read MoreAs was anticipated, the March supply and demand report from USDA held few surprises for the commodity markets. Markets demonstrated bearish behavior but quickly rallied to minimize losses for the day. The attached March Crop Market Update provides detail into the immediate market reaction and some factors to watch in the coming weeks.
Read MoreThe February 2021 Price & Production Summary gives prices for cattle, poultry, hogs and dairy.
Read MoreFrom an early age on her family’s cattle ranch in Hessmer, Avia Laborde dreamed of becoming a veterinarian.
Her experiences taking care of and showing cattle from the Oak Alley Angus Ranch and participating in 4-H through the LSU AgCenter, confirmed the notion that being a large animal vet was her ultimate goal.
Read MoreLSU AgCenter weed scientist Dr. Donnie Miller says his research with Dual Magnum, Warrant and Outlook Residual herbicides has shown no real difference in weed management.
“Nor did we see a difference in our timing of applications,” says Miller. “We tried to limit our applications to two, where we put the materials down pre-emergence and we followed up later post-emergence with just RoundUp Plus, Xtend A Max or Enlist Duo an Enlist soybeans over the top.”
Read MoreLouisiana farmers grow many of the annual staple crops found across the United States, including corn, soybean, cotton and grain sorghum. However, Louisiana’s No. 1 valued row crop is sugarcane, a perennial that is only grown in two other states, Florida and Texas. Sugarcane was grown on 500,000 acres in 2020, adding more than $3 billion to the state’s economy.
Read MoreThe recent one-two punch of winter storms Uri and Viola had many producers with winter annual grasses worried they may have major losses. In recent field visits, it appears that much of the damage was overshadowed by rapid growth once temperatures rebounded into the 60’s and 70’s. Especially for those producers who recently made nitrogen applications.
Read MoreSoil nutrient enrichment is among the known benefits of using cover crops as a management tool. Winter cover crops are grown in fall through winter. During this period, cover crops absorb nutrients from organic matter decomposition or from underutilized fertilizer applied to the previous main crop, which otherwise would have been left in the soil and subjected to loss through surface runoff, erosion and leaching. When the cover crop is terminated early spring, the decaying biomass releases a full range of nutrients in plant-usable forms. In addition, the cascading positive effects of cover crops on the soil microbial community and water-holding capacity can also increase available nutrients for plants.
Read MoreAbout 150 4-H Club members in south Louisiana learned skills to help them deal with the challenges of growing up during a one-day Challenge Camp held March 5.
The seventh- and eighth-grade students met in their individual parishes, and they were connected with other parishes by the internet. Ordinarily, the camp would be a two-day event at Camp Grant Walker, but the virtual setting was used because of COVID-19 restrictions that would have complicated transportation and other arrangements at the camp, according to Lanette Hebert, 4-H coordinator for the Southwest Region.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction inducted three new members during a ceremony March 4 at the L’Auberge Hotel in Baton Rouge.
The new inductees are former Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation President Ronnie Anderson, of Ethel; sugarcane farmer John Gay, of Plaquemine; and Paul “Jackie” Loewer, of Branch, a rice farmer who has been a strong advocate for the rice industry in state and national organizations.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction inducted three new members during a ceremony March 4 at the L’Auberge Hotel in Baton Rouge.
The new inductees are former Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation President Ronnie Anderson, of Ethel; sugarcane farmer John Gay, of Plaquemine; and Paul “Jackie” Loewer, of Branch, a rice farmer who has been a strong advocate for the rice industry in state and national organizations.
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter is surveying agricultural producers to estimate damage totals resulting from last month’s freezing weather.
The recent freezing weather came just as farmers were getting back on their feet from last year’s disastrous hurricane season.
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