Fall armyworms, Spodoptera frugiperda, are chronic insect pests in the state, with more than 60 plants reported as hosts, including various pasture grasses (and lawns) and agronomic crops including corn, alfalfa, cotton, soybeans, grain sorghum, and rice. They migrate to Louisiana from neighboring regions like Florida, Texas, Caribbean islands, and Central-South America, with infestations most common from late July to early August.
Read MoreThe East Baton Rouge Parish offices of the LSU AgCenter and Southern Ag Center are sponsoring a back-to-school Youth AgBash at Burden Museum & Gardens on Sept. 22.
This urban extension event is designed to expose inner city students to programs and careers in agriculture.
Read MoreIt tastes like fish oil, has the mouthfeel of rubber and looks like a ball of earwax, but wild pigs are literally dying to eat it.
Louisiana scientists have patented a tasty but deadly bait that could help curb the rapid spread of feral hogs, an invasive species that causes widespread damage to croplands and coastal wetlands.
Read MoreChemical ripeners for sugarcane in Louisiana provide an important benefit. When properly applied, ripeners can maximize recoverable sugar and minimize cane yield (tonnage) losses.
In 2023, the following glyphosate formulation is recommended as a chemical ripener: Roundup PowerMAX 3. Roundup PowerMax 3 contains 4.8 pounds of glyphosate acid per gallon and is formulated as a potassium salt.
Read MoreThis summer’s extreme heat has been and continues to be brutal on Louisiana cattle.
When the temperature at night remains above 80 degrees, it’s really hard for cattle to cool down.
During an average year, August is the worst month for heat stress in cattle. But this year, high temperatures arrived early in June.
Read MoreSmall projects can have a big impact when it comes to providing people safe spaces for exercising and enjoying the outdoors.
In the Washington Parish town of Franklinton, one of those projects was recently completed. Thanks to the LSU AgCenter, the town government and community partners, several benches along with signs featuring instructions for simple exercises and tips for pedestrian safety have been installed.
Read MoreIn 2018, the Seeds to Success Program held its inaugural School Garden Leadership Workshop. The workshop takes place each summer over several days and consists of hands-on learning and lectures to help educators learn how to build and sustain a school garden while incorporating farm to school programming into their curriculum.
Read MoreEach school day in the United States, approximately 29.6 million children eat lunch at school. The food necessary to prepare these meals on a daily basis makes K-12 sales a unique opportunity for farmers and ranchers to service their local institutions. This venture into local food systems is part of a nationwide farm to school movement.
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter will hold a field day featuring the latest sweet potato research and industry updates Aug. 31.
The event will be held at Black Gold Farms at 2305 La. Highway 17 in Delhi. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with field tours to follow at 9 a.m. The program will conclude with a sponsored lunch provided by Lamb Weston.
Read MoreLast year, Louisiana led the nation in sugarcane production. Much of that credit goes to the variety development done at the LSU AgCenter Sugar Research Station. The station held its annual field day to highlight their latest research. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux was there and has this report.
Read MoreThe annual Morehouse Parish Farm Field Day continues to be a great place for young people who have limited knowledge of the industry to learn about careers in agriculture.
With the average age of American farmers nearing 60 years old, succession planning is high on the minds of many northeast Louisiana farmers.
Read MoreCattle producers face many complications to keeping their herds healthy. The LSU AgCenter partnered with the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association to host an animal health summit July 21-22 on the LSU campus.
The two days brought together producers from across the state for demonstrations, lectures and tours.
Read MoreTo make new employees of the Natural Resources Conservation Service aware of their role in the Louisiana Master Farmer program, a training session was held. The session highlighted ways to improve and sustain Louisiana agriculture. LSU AgCenter reporter Craig Gautreaux has the story.
Read MoreSouthern Louisiana is experiencing one of its hottest and driest summers in recent history which has affected one of Louisiana's biggest industries, rice farms.
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter is receiving $4.02 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the five-year High Obesity Program (HOP). The program funds universities working with local cooperative extensions in mostly rural counties where 40% or more of adults have obesity.
Read More
