As the 2021 crop production season begins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact approximately 1,100 Louisiana producers to determine their plans for the upcoming growing season.
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A new community vegetable garden is springing up outside the Elk’s Lodge at 1228 Coteau Road.
It marks the return of the Greauxing at Home program after a delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. A collaboration among the LSU AgCenter, the nonprofit St. Francis Vegetable Garden and Louisiana Medicaid provider Healthy Blue, the program helps residents learn how to grow, cook and preserve fruits and vegetables.
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Organizers of the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival say they have decided to cancel the annual event, scheduled for April 9, 10, 11, 2021 for the second straight year due to COVID-19.
“Over the past year, we have had many hard decisions to make. All decisions are made with countless meetings, discussions and prayer,” organizers said in a statement.
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Positive change never happens overnight; it starts with planting a seed that is nurtured over time.
There are people in Abbeville who want to see that positive change, and they are ready to plant, literally.
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The LSU AgCenter Healthy Communities program will host a free online training session on Feb. 17 for current and potential Louisiana farmers market vendors.
The training will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. via Microsoft Teams.
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Louisiana pesticide applicator recertification looks a little different than in years past. Beginning in the late summer of 2020 the LSU AgCenter worked with Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) to provide different options for commercial pesticide applicators to become recertified to meet state and federal requirements.
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For those of you who keep a vegetable garden, it’s time to get those potatoes in the ground. Potatoes are easy to cultivate and provide many essential vitamins such as calcium, iron, vitamins B6 and C, and potassium. They also provide dietary fiber, some protein and prebiotic resistant starch to boot.
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After what has been called an average crop year, the annual meeting of the Louisiana Sweet Potato Association provided a better outlook.
Those in the industry were given a sneak peek at some potential new varieties as well as ways to improve growing conditions and increase yields.
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The LSU AgCenter Healthy Communities program will host a free virtual training Feb. 17 for current and potential Louisiana farmers market vendors.
The training will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. via Microsoft Teams. Registration for the free event is available at fmvendors.eventbrite.com.
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The Strawberry Marketing Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2021. This meeting will be available via videoconference and teleconference.
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In January, EPA made two actions to help growers handle citrus greening and citrus canker disease. In Florida, citrus greening affects 90% of citrus acreage, resulting in $1.75 billion in cumulative losses in production value over a 10-year period, according to a Jan. 12 statement from EPA.
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In the gray, dreary middle of winter our thoughts can turn to the delicious fruits of summer, and if you find yourself wishing for bright, juicy strawberries the time to get them going is now.
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The 2021 LSU AgCenter Citrus Symposium will be held virtually from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 20.
Sessions will be live with participant question and answer available. Sessions will also be recorded for viewing later at www.lsuagcenter.com.
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The Louisiana Master Farmer Program, an LSU AgCenter-led initiative that teaches about conservation, recently graduated its 2020 class. Five new Master Farmer certifications as well as 14 recertifications were awarded Jan. 13 during a virtual meeting of the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts. Also, Mead Hardwick, of Tensas Parish, was named the 2020 Louisiana Outstanding Master Farmer.
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The small parish of St. Helena is located in Southeast, Louisiana with a population of 10,016 residents. Although the parish is comprised of cities covered in green pastures and rural scenes, ideal for farm life, it is classified by the USDA as an extreme food desert. As a result of the scarcity of nutritious foods, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the health risk of St. Helena's citizens as severe, due to high percentages of hypertension, diabetes, strokes, and cancer whwhich riddles this small community.
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