“He was a bold man that first ate an oyster,” said 18th-century Irish satirist Jonathan Swift. Whether enjoyed fried, grilled, in a seafood gumbo or, perhaps most opinion dividing, raw, there is no denying the oyster’s impact on both Louisiana’s culture and seafood industry.
Read MoreChanging health behaviors in a population is no small task, but the LSU AgCenter has been working diligently in communities across the state to lower obesity rates and improve quality of life by increasing access to healthy foods.
In 2018, the LSU AgCenter entered a five-year agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a High Obesity Program to address the nutrition and physical activity environments of six rural Louisiana parishes with an adult obesity rate over 40%.
Read MoreLSU AgCenter Soybean Specialist Dr. David Mosely reports planting progress has been slow since the start of the season this year.
“We started off wet,” says Mosely, “mostly from the winter storms in February. We probably had some left over moisture from those storms, but they prevented producers from getting out and doing some field preparations.”
Heavy, persistent rainfall started up in March across Louisiana “and that hasn’t really stopped. We’re still seeing a pattern of persistent rain and really most of the state stayed wet.”
“We might have had a couple of dry days but before we cold get planted, we would have another heavy rain. And that pattern has pretty much lasted the entire planting season.”
(This report a service of the Louisiana Soybean, Grain Research and Promotion Board)
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter and LSU College of Agriculture have named P. Lynn Kennedy head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness.
Kennedy has served on the faculty of the department for 27 years and is the Crescent City Tigers Alumni Professor for Agricultural Economics.
He replaces Michael Salassi, who is now the AgCenter associate vice president and program leader of animal and plant sciences.
Read MoreLouisiana wheat farmers are in the midst of their harvest, and despite some adverse weather, yields have been better than expected. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux has this report from south central Louisiana.
Read MoreAt the opening of the Allen Parish Rice Growers Association annual meeting last Wednesday in Kinder, President Eric Savant, a local rice grower, welcomed everyone back in-person for the first time in more than a year. “I don’t know if things will ever get back to ‘normal’, but it’s time to get together and connect with our fellow growers, discuss the business of our organizations, and catch up on the current issues in our industry,” Savant said.
Read MoreWhat’s in a name? For the LSU AgCenter Food Innovation Institute, it is the promise of partnering researchers with entrepreneurs to shape the future of food production, consumption and, as the name suggests, innovation.
Read MoreA Patrick S. Taylor Best Management Practices Field Day will be held June 24th in Tensas Parish. Dr. Donna Gentry, Coordinator of the Master Farmer Program at the LSU AgCengter says the field day will begin with registration at 8:30 AM at 1651 Highway 888 in Newelton at the Hardwick Farm.
Read MoreLSU AgCenter researcher Kristen Healy understands the delicate balance of protecting loved ones and pets from the dangers of mosquito-borne illnesses, while also ensuring the safety of the honey bee population, which provides a significant food source through pollination. This was the basis of the May 25 online presentation she conducted via Zoom and Facebook Live.
Read MoreA love for cooking has propelled some New Orleans-area students into the cooking scene of the city where they are getting experience and awards.
A group of fifth through eighth grade students took time from their busy schedules on May 15 to tour the Southern Food and Beverage Museum and taste test some delicious “Big Easy” banana splits.
Read MoreIf your home was flooded, the tremendous work, expense and stress that follows can mean a daunting time ahead. But it is possible to find a silver lining. Claudette Hanks Reichel, LSU AgCenter housing specialist, said if you restore for more than before, you can return to a better home – a more resilient, comfortable and healthy home to enjoy with peace of mind.
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter and Louisiana 4-H are pleased to announce that Todd Tarifa has been named department head for 4-H youth development effective July 1.
Tarifa received his doctorate in human resource education and workforce development from Louisiana State University in 2006. He rejoins the AgCenter after nine years of serving as an agriscience teacher at Northshore High School in Slidell.
Read MoreThe rain has been pouring for nearly a week, causing flooding in parts of the state. One day brought 13 inches as the weather systems stalled over some cities. Many areas have been under water for days.
One thing this weather has definitely shown us is where the problem spots are in our yards. Take this opportunity to identify these areas and address them for the future.
Read MoreThe record-breaking 2020 hurricane season, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, saw 30 named storms, with 12 making landfall in the continental United States. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting another active season with between 13 and 20 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes (category 3 or above).
Read MoreWeeks of wet weather in Louisiana has led to damage from one of the most serious diseases of crops such as tomatoes, eggplant and bell peppers.
LSU AgCenter plant doctor Raj Singh said the disease is called southern bacterial wilt and is caused by the soil-borne bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum.
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