Crop Market Report--March, 2023
There were no major surprises in the March 31st USDA Prospective Plantings report, but the March 1st Quarterly Grain Stock report was seen as somewhat of a surprise “missing the mark” for corn and soybean stocks. Historically the April WASDE is not a major report, but the USDA reduced South America production, which could increase U.S. export demand and therefore reduce U.S. and major exporter ending stocks. As such, the market continues to trade tightness in ending stocks for the 2022/23 marketing year. As the market digests the plantings and stocks reports, focus now shifts to weather and U.S. planting progress.
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Strawberries Ripe & Ready For The Taking
It’s the peak of strawberry season in Louisiana, and the bright red fruit is being harvested in fields across southeast Louisiana. LSU AgCenter reporter Craig Gautreaux has this report from Livingston Parish.
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Soil Health Field Day Highlights LSU AgCenter Research
An old adage says a picture is worth a thousand words. For Dennis Burns, the coordinator of the LSU AgCenter Northeast Research Station, a single photo sums up something he and several colleagues have been studying extensively: the benefits of conservation methods such as planting a cover crop in the offseason.
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LSU College of Agriculture's Interim Dean, an LSU Alumnus, Named Permanent Leader
Matt Lee, interim dean of LSU's College of Agriculture and vice president for agriculture since August 2022, will be promoted to permanent head of the program, the university announced Tuesday.
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Wheat, Oat, Cover Crop Field Day Set For April 20
The LSU AgCenter will hold its annual wheat, oat and cover crop field day April 20 at the Tom H. Scott Research, Extension and Education Center in Winnsboro.
The event will be held from 8 a.m. to noon, and lunch will be provided. The Scott Center is located at 212A Macon Ridge Road in Winnsboro.
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Prescribed Burn Workshop Set For April 19-21 In Clinton
The LSU AgCenter prescribed burning workshop with burner certification has been scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, April 19-21.
AgCenter forestry agent Whitney Wallace said the workshop will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. the first two days and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday at the Bob R. Jones-Idlewild Research Station in Clinton.
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Northwest Beef, Forage Field Day Set For April 27
The LSU AgCenter will hold its annual Northwest Region Beef and Forage Field Day April 27 at the Hill Farm Research Station in Homer.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 9 a.m. The Hill Farm Research Station is located at 11959 Highway 9 in Homer.
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LSU AgCenter Audubon Sugar Institute Faculty Win Awards At International Conference
Last month the faculty of the LSU AgCenter Audubon Sugar Institute won multiple awards and honors at the 31st International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists Congress in Hyderabad, India.
Awards can act as a barometer and prove that the institute’s work has merit, said Gillian Eggleston, director of the institute, who presented research findings and received a prestigious honor at the conference.
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LSU AgCenter Welcomes USDA Official To Baton Rouge
Dionne Toombs, acting director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, visited the LSU AgCenter on March 27 as part of her tour of land-grant universities.
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Frost Injury & Nitrogen Management In Corn
Most of the corn acreage in Louisiana was injured by freezing temperature from March 19-20. At that time, most corn is at VE (emergence) to V2 stage (two leaves with visible collar) and therefore the growing point was below the soil surface. Corn’s growing point remains below the soil surface until V6 growth stage for most hybrids.
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Land-grant Universities Improve Local Food and Nutrition Security
Food security impacts individuals, as well as the health of entire communities. Through the creation of food pantries, community gardens, food drives, farmers markets and more, Land-grant Universities and local community initiatives collaborate to keep food on the table for many.
An effort begun during Covid-19 is still providing high-quality shrimp to food banks in Louisiana. With help from USDA, the local Sea Grant program was able to develop workable guidelines for the purchase and distribution of shrimp.
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Food Symposium Highlights International Ties, Importance Of Ag Research
Last year in Louisiana and in Hungary, the weather was not on farmers’ side. In both places, drought conditions hampered crop production.
Difficult years like 2022 can be instructive, however, especially for scientists working in agricultural research who look for ways to make farming more efficient and sustainable
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LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Researcher Receives National Award
Arthur Villordon, a researcher at the LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Research Station in Chase, has received this year’s National Sweet Potato Impact Award for his accomplishments and contributions to the sweet potato industry.
This award was presented recently at the annual meeting of the National Sweet Potato Collaborators Group.
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SWLA Garden Conference and Expo Returns for 23rd Year
The Southwest Louisiana Garden Conference and Expo at the Burton Complex is celebrating gardening with its 23rd annual conference, show and plant extravaganza.
The event features area, regional and interstate exhibitors along with vendors and master gardeners, and even a plant clinic.
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Louisiana Corn Planting Nearly Complete
The spring like weather of February extended into March, and farmers across Louisiana got busy planting their corn crop. In fact, corn planting is entering the final stages, and LSU AgCenter reporter Craig Gautreaux has this report from central Louisiana.
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