Ag Week 2021 showcased how the LSU College of Agriculture and Southern University College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences are making a difference in Louisiana and across the world.
This year marked the first time that both of Louisiana’s land-grant institutions celebrated Ag Week jointly. A combination of on-campus events and virtual collaborations took place from March 15 to 19.
Read MoreSix Louisiana youths were recognized for their knowledge, skills and communication abilities as they were named winners of the Gerry Lane Premier Exhibitor Award at the 86th Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.
For the past 23 years, the premier exhibitor program has recognized 4-H and FFA members who may not have champion animals, but who have a thorough understanding of animal science.
The awards are based on performance in tests of each youth’s knowledge of the livestock industry, practical exercises demonstrating skills and the ability to communicate effectively.
Read MoreEven though normal was not a word used much during the 86th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show held recently at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, Louisiana 4-H and FFA members were still rewarded for their hard work.
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter recently partnered with Mendel University in the Czech Republic to host a weeklong virtual symposium where experts from both institutions discussed topics including food waste, safety, production, technology and nutrition.
The event, held March 15 to 19, also served as the kickoff of an online class co-taught by LSU AgCenter and Mendel professors and available to students at both universities.
About 450 people took part in the event, including faculty, staff, students and alumni of the two universities; participants from Southern University and LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center; and business partners.
Read MoreCover crops can provide producers a variety of benefits including nutrient cycling , soil cover, nitrogen fixation and pollinator food sources. These cover crops come in many types, including grasses, legumes (mostly clovers) and brassicas (generally tillage radish and rapeseed). However, cover crops represent a “green bridge” throughout the fall and early spring that may facilitate the movement of insect pests and plant pathogens into above- and below-ground plant structures. Furthermore, cover crops may increase soil moisture and lower soil temperature compared with tilled fields at planting, resulting in more favorable conditions for seedling disease development.
Read MorePaul 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.
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