Humans began farming thousands of years ago, but a new study co-authored by two LSU professors says ants had us beat by millions of years.
LSU AgCenter mycologist Vinson P. Doyle and LSU Department of Biological Sciences professor Brant C. Faircloth lent their combined expertise to a study led by Smithsonian Institution entomologist Ted Schultz, which demonstrates that ants began farming fungi after an asteroid struck Earth 66 million years ago, causing a global mass extinction.
Read MoreIn rural Louisiana, food insecurity, poverty and obesity rates are often higher than national and state averages. These challenges make it difficult for residents to access nutritious food and safe communities for physical activity and active transportation, increasing the risk of preventable diseases like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Read MoreComfortable early fall temperatures provided an ideal backdrop for a field day held Sept. 26 at Richard Farms in Kaplan, where attendees got a firsthand look at LSU AgCenter research projects focused on conservation practices.
Richard Farms, a rice and crawfish operation, is one of the model farms where AgCenter scientists are conducting research as part of a grant from the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation.
Read MoreIn Louisiana’s urban areas, LSU AgCenter extension agents are working to innovate, educate and improve lives. Throughout October, LSU AgCenter Extension will celebrate Urban October, a worldwide campaign the United Nations launched to focus on the opportunities and challenges created by the fast rate of change in cities.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction is now accepting nominations for its annual induction ceremony, which will be held March 6 in Baton Rouge.
The nomination form can be obtained online at www.louisianaagriculturehallofdistinction.com or through any parish LSU AgCenter office. The deadline for receiving nominations is Nov. 18.
Read MorePolicy decisions that affect producers depend on good data and information. Accurate and timely data is essential for developing effective agricultural policies, which in turn helps farmers make informed decisions about their production and inventory management. In light of this, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) releases several monthly reports to provide an outlook of demand and supply fundamentals.
Read MoreEstablished in 1949, the LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Research Station in Chase, Louisiana, stands as a testament to over seven decades of dedicated research, innovation and service to the sweet potato industry. Spanning 308 acres, this facility has been at the forefront of advancing the sweet potato industry in the United States, transforming its trajectory from a humble crop into a thriving specialty crop with a diversified market base.
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter is taking significant steps to address obesity in Louisiana. More than 35% of adults in the state are affected by this condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New CDC maps show that Louisiana is one of 23 states where adult obesity rates are at or above 35%.
Read MoreThe Seafood Processing Demonstration Lab is inviting people involved in seafood production to attend an open house at the facility on Oct. 22.
The lab is located at the LSU AgCenter Iberia Research Station, and the event will start at 10 a.m. and end at 2 p.m. Lunch and product sampling will be provided. The address is 603 LSU Bridge Road in Jeanerette
Read MoreIn February 2020, Kerry Heafner left his office in West Monroe and drove about an hour northwest to the Union Parish hamlet of Marion to carry out one of his ordinary duties as an LSU AgCenter horticulture agent: giving a talk to a garden club.
Heafner’s visit that day, however, took a turn for the extraordinary when a woman named Lula Shurtleff approached him after his presentation.
Read MoreWhen hurricanes and other natural disasters strike Louisiana, it’s usually not long before elected officials, industry leaders and reporters call the LSU AgCenter seeking expert insight into how widespread and serious the damage is to the state’s agriculture sector.
Read MoreFormer high school agriculture teacher and Louisiana FFA executive secretary Cade LeJeune has been appointed the executive director of Louisiana agricultural education and the Louisiana FFA advisor following a nationwide search.
Read MoreTaking the place of a 40-year veteran of the Louisiana sugarcane industry is no small task, so when LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Andre Gama replaced longtime researcher Jeff Hoy, he knew he had big shoes to fill. Due to his extensive travels, Gama’s own shoes were well worn, so he was up for the challenge.
Read MoreLouisiana experienced extremely dry summer and fall seasons in 2023. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, the worst drought continued from June to late September in the southern U.S., including Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. This has put a strain on quality forage production and has impacted the availability of pasture and hay for livestock.
Read MoreSugarcane growers in south Louisiana were making preparations for the upcoming harvest season when Hurricane Francine came ashore last week, bringing winds that knocked their crop over and heavy rains that flooded fields that were already saturated from recent rainfall.
Now, farmers in several parishes of Louisiana’s cane belt are waiting for things to dry out and for the crop to stand itself back up. With a few days of sunny weather in the forecast, they’re optimistic they will soon be back on track.
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