FRST Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool Launches Nationwide to Digitize Crop Nutrient Management
A national group of scientists — including two from the LSU AgCenter — has released the Fertilizer Recommendation Support Tool, or FRST, a decision aid providing an unbiased, science-based interpretation of soil test phosphorus and potassium values for crop fertilization.
The FRST project is a collaboration of more than 100 soil science and agronomic professionals representing nearly 50 universities, four divisions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, several nonprofit organizations and one private sector partner. This diverse partnership underscores the collective effort and expertise invested in the development of FRST.
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Wheat & Oat Field Day Set For April 23
The LSU AgCenter will hold its annual wheat and oat field day April 23 at the Tom H. Scott Research, Extension and Education Center in Winnsboro.
The event will be from 8 a.m. to noon, and a sponsored lunch will be provided.
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Local Food Companies are Reaching New Heights With the Help of the LSU AgCenter’s Food Innovation Institute
LSU’s best kept secret might not be the underground tunnels, the abandoned Huey P. Long pool or the Dairy Store, but rather the AgCenter’s Food Innovation Institute.
This game-changing resource center, also known as FOODii, is where food businesses and entrepreneurs can learn the essential steps to start and grow a legitimate food business. The institute educates and supports business owners in areas like product development, food testing, labeling, marketing products, food safety, security and storage.
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Economist Michael Diliberto: A Trust Source For Louisiana Producers
Michael Deliberto hates public speaking.
The agricultural economist is most at home in his office at LSU in Baton Rouge surrounded by stacks of file folders and note pads, his base for writing newsletters and articles about the ways weather, global forces and policy decisions affect Louisiana agriculture.
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Fighting Fire Ants
Fire ants are formidable pests in gardens and landscapes. They’re known for their painful bites and stings due to venom. When disturbed, fire ant mounds can unleash swarms of sterile female worker ants that sting and inject venom within seconds, potentially causing severe allergic reactions or dangerous medical issues in some individuals.
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Diaz Named Director Of Invasive Species Research Center
LSU AgCenter entomologist Rodrigo Diaz has been named director of the AgCenter’s Center for Research Excellence for the Study of Invasive Species. The center is working to advance the understanding of destructive nonnative insects, weeds, wildlife and disease-causing microorganisms.
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Rice Station Internship Awarded To Vermilion Parish Native
Emma Stelly, a McNeese State University freshman who grew up on a family farm in Vermilion Parish, has been selected to complete an internship at the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station this summer.
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Developing Talent Pipeline Crucial To Tackling Agriculture's Biggest Challenges
With farming communities across America facing challenges ranging from the economic to the environmental, developing a talent pipeline of young people interested in solving these problems is critical to the future of agriculture.
That was the message Xochitl Torres Small, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, shared when she visited the LSU campus
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Outstanding Dietitian of the Year Award Goes to Lafourche, Terrebonne LSU AgCenter Nutrition Agent
The Louisiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has named LSU AgCenter nutrition and community health agent Becky Gautreaux its 2024 Outstanding Dietitian of the Year.
Gautreaux, who has worked for the AgCenter for 11 years, works in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes. She was nominated by the dietetic internship director at Nicholls State University, which proved to be an important factor in Gautreaux’s win.
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USDA Summary Of 2024 Planting Intentions
According to Dow Jones' survey of market analysts, USDA is expected to announce 92.0 million acres of corn plantings in 2024, down from 94.6 million acres in 2023. For soybeans, 86.3 million acres are expected to be planted in 2024, up from 83.6 million acres in 2023.
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USDA Announces Renewable Energy Grant for Rural Parishes
Members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture visited LSU AgCenter facilities March 26 to announce a $166,668 technical assistance grant for rural Louisiana communities through its Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP.
The investment is meant to provide support to farmers, ranchers and rural small business owners seeking federal funds for renewable energy systems such as solar and other energy-efficient measures.
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How Drought is Destroying the US Crawfish Sector
Over the past decade, crawfish (often known as crayfish outside the US) production in Louisiana and the surrounding region has grown to become, arguably, the second most valuable sector in US aquaculture behind only catfish. This low-input, environmentally sustainable industry is based on management practices that mimic natural hydrological and vegetative cycles. It is also, however, greatly influenced by the weather and when normal precipitation patterns are disrupted crawfish populations (and harvests) can be significantly impacted. This 2023- 2024 season is a sobering illustration of how severe those impacts can be.
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US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Invest $166,668 to Louisiana State University through Rural Energy of America Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Louisiana State Director, Deidre Deculus Robert, will announce that USDA will invest $166,668 to Louisiana State University through the Rural Energy of America Program – Technical Assistance Grant (REAP TAG).
These funds will provide hands-on support to farmers, ranchers and rural small business owners seeking federal funds for renewable energy systems, like solar, and energy efficiency measures. This investment not only help producers and small businesses lower energy costs, but also access new markets and strengthen their operations.
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Lee Touts LSU AgCenter, College Of Agriculture Successes In Spring Update
Speaking from a bustling John M. Parker Agricultural Coliseum during another successful AgMagic, Matt Lee, LSU vice president for agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture, highlighted many achievements during a virtual statewide spring update March 22.
After inviting AgMagic coordinator Hannah Devall to acknowledge the 7,000 teachers, students and volunteers who participated in this year’s event, Lee spoke about the impact of AgCenter research.
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LSU AgCenter Mentor Helps Student Win Accolades With Innovative Catfish Experiment
Under the watchful eye of her mentor, Lily May carefully measured catfish fillets, powdered gelatin and water. May was preparing an experiment to test the effects of coatings on the omega-3 fatty acids in refrigerated catfish.
May’s mentor, Evelyn Watts, a seafood extension specialist with the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant, has supervised graduate and undergraduate students conducting research in her lab, but May, a junior at St. Joseph’s Academy, was the first high school student Watts has worked with.
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