2024 Louisiana Forage Conference To Be Held December 13
The Louisiana Forage Conference will be held Friday, Dec. 13, near Alexandria. This conference is sponsored by the Louisiana Forage and Grassland Council and the Louisiana Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative.
The meeting site will be the State Evacuation Shelter near the LSU Alexandria campus on U.S. Highway 71.
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LSU Students, Alumnus Launch AI App to Simplify Agricultural Research for Farmers
A startup led by an LSU alumni and two current students is making strides in transforming how farmers and agricultural professionals access essential information.
FarmSmart, an AI-powered app currently in beta testing, promises to streamline complex research from dense agricultural documents into quick, user-friendly responses available at the touch of a button.
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Louisiana FFA Well-Represented At 97th Annual FFA Convention, Expo
Louisiana FFA members were recognized numerous times at the 97th National FFA Convention and Expo held in Indianapolis on Oct. 23-26. FFA members from across the state participated in many competitive events, and top honors were taken home throughout the week.
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A Tiny Pest May be the Solution to an Invasive Species Across North America
Throughout the southeastern United States, an invasive species, Chinese privet, has been entering and taking over land at an exceptional rate. The shrub produces thousands of small, green and purple fruits that are eaten by animals and spread with notable efficiency. In south Louisiana, these plants are not hard to find on the side of the road and in areas of overgrowth.
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LSU Expert in Social and Economic Issues: Rural America’s Unique Struggles Affect How it Votes
LSU sociology professor Tim Slack uses his research and expertise to share a closer look at rural Americans’ lives and challenges as they prepare to vote in the 2024 election.
An expert in social and economic issues, Professor Slack explains the unique struggles facing rural communities—like changes in jobs, health concerns, and population shifts.
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Time for Some Trash Talk
The prevalence of litter today is mind-boggling. Trash here, trash there, trash everywhere, along the roadsides, parking lots and anywhere humans congregate. To borrow the title of TV commentator Chris Hayes’ podcast, why is this happening?
It’s 2024, and everyone should do better.
Louisiana, consistently ranked among the worst states for litter by the American State Litter Scorecard, is taking a significant step to tackle the problem by creating the LSU Litter Institute, perhaps the first of its kind in the U.S.
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How is this Most Recent Drought Affecting the Ark-La-Miss
It has been very dry the month of October as rain has been very hard to come by. Drought conditions have followed behind and although not usually ideal for the area, the time of year might be ideal for these conditions.
With the recent lack of rain most areas are seeing drought conditions within their area, especially further towards the northwest. However because of the timing of the year with this drought, conditions might ideal for at least right now.
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LSU Watermelon to be Featured on PBS Cooking Series
The LSU Red-N-Sweet watermelon will be featured on an episode of the PBS series “The Key Ingredient with Sheri Castle” during the show’s upcoming third season.
Red-N-Sweet was developed at LSU AgCenter Calhoun Research Station in Ouachita Parish. The first crosses that led to its development were made in 1972 and the variety was released in 1987.
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LSU Professor Gets Recognition From National Association
The Society of American Foresters recognized 22 of their members this past year after each had been nominated for “longstanding service to forestry” and “advancement of the forestry profession.” After more than 50 years of being a part of the forestry industry, work across multiple states and even a foray into Canda, LSU AgCenter School of Renewable Natural Resources professor Cornelis De Hoop was more than deserving of this recognition.
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Agricultural Spray Drones
Unmanned aircraft, also known as drones, have several uses in farming operations. One use that continues to increase is the application of pesticides and plant growth regulators. Drones can apply crop products precisely in areas where aircraft travel is difficult. There are regulations governing the use of drones in agriculture.
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LSU President Tate Surveys Louisiana's Needs, Promotes Scholarship First Agenda on Bus Tour
LSU President William F. Tate IV embarked on a four-day whirlwind tour across Louisiana last week, connecting with communities and showcasing LSU's dedication to the state's future.
The Scholarship First Bus Tour focused on aligning the university's research with Louisiana's economic needs, as Tate met with students, alumni and industry leaders across several key communities in Louisiana from Oct. 15-18.
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Louisiana Sugar Cane Crops to Produce 2 Million Tons of Sugar Sorth About $1.5B
An agriculture expert says this year’s Louisiana sugarcane crop had great growing conditions although Hurricane Francine’s strong winds damaged some crops.
An estimated two million tons of sugar is expected to be produced from this year’s crops.
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The Agriculture Student Association Hosts a Pumpkin Painting Event to Spread Fall Spirit
The LSU College of Agriculture Student Association hosted a pumpkin painting event Monday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. to connect students and spread the fall spirit as midterms wound down.
ASA’s mission is to represent LSU Agriculture students, guiding them through personal growth, good fellowship and networking to create a better career path for the students. The organization acts as the voice for the College of Agriculture students at LSU.
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Homesteader's Conference Brings Locals, Experts Together To Learn More About Self-Sufficiency
The LSU AgCenter Red River Research Station hosted the second annual Louisiana Homesteader’s Conference Oct. 11 and 12. The convention invited locals interested in homesteading to check out local vendors as well as hear from experts on topics surrounding farming and self-sufficiency.
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Meet Colin Raby: First to Create an Agricultural Consultant With AI
LSU students and alumni have created a new, AI-powered tool called FarmSmart that puts decades of LSU AgCenter research right under the green thumbs of Louisiana’s farmers. With a few clicks on their smartphones or computers, farmers and gardeners can quickly access actionable intelligence on how to best manage their crops and get rid of weeds.
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