LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Researcher Receives National Award
Arthur Villordon, a researcher at the LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Research Station in Chase, has received this year’s National Sweet Potato Impact Award for his accomplishments and contributions to the sweet potato industry.
This award was presented recently at the annual meeting of the National Sweet Potato Collaborators Group.
Read More
2022 Louisiana Honey Production Up
Honey production during 2022 from Louisiana producers with five or more colonies totaled 2.56 million pounds, up 19 percent from 2021. There were 42,000 honey producing colonies in 2022, up 5,000 colonies from previous year.
Read More
Scientists Develop Better Potatoes, for the Sake of Chips
You can’t have just one. Potato chips are America’s classic snack: crunchy, salty, greasy, and tasting of potato or flavored with things like sour cream, vinegar, BBQ, maple bacon, or Cajun dill. And today, on March 14, chip lovers across the country can celebrate them on National Potato Chip Day.
Read More
Warm Weather Is Speeding up the Season for Louisiana Strawberry Farmers
As we approach the peak of strawberry season, Springfield strawberry farmer, Trey Harris said it’s been a tough year so far weather-wise. He said production is down from this time last year, but the current unseasonably warm temps are speeding things up.
Read More
Greaux the Good: New Statewide Market Match Program Partners With St. Helena Farmers Market
Greaux the Good, a new statewide market match nutrition incentive program, has allowed the St. Helena Farmers Market to increase the capacity of its previous Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) incentive program.
Read More
LDAF Accepts Grant Applications for Specialty Crops in La, Helps Past Recipients
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is looking to make growers and innovators in Louisiana more ambitious when it comes to producing specialty crops, such as vegetables, dried fruits, nursery crops or citrus products.
Read More
USDA Provides More Than $70 Million to Protect Crops & Natural Resources
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating more than $70 million to support 350 projects under the Plant Protection Act’s Section 7721 program as part of a nationwide effort to strengthen the country’s infrastructure for pest detection, surveillance, and mitigation, as well as protect the U.S. nursery system. Universities, states, federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, nonprofits and Tribal organizations will carry out selected projects in 48 states, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Read More
From Books to Bees, Young Beekeepers’ Go-It-Alone Approach Pays Off
When brother/sister duo Cecil and Cora Mae Gregg became entranced by beekeeping over the course of an idle summer, their parents encouraged them to get involved.
With one caveat: they had to figure it out themselves.
Read More
Specialty Crop Considerations for the Farm Bill
The farm bill has increasingly addressed issues facing specialty crop producers in Title X. Over recent decades, more program supporting specialty crop producers have been created. As discussions ramp up for the 2023 farm bill, it is important to consider the unique market challenges facing specialty crop producers and the current farm bill provisions in place to make informed future recommendations.
Read More
Land-Grant Universities Make Thanksgiving Dinner More Delicious
As you sit down with family and friends this Thanksgiving, you may not realize how key our nation’s Land-grant Universities are to making sure you have a bounty of food to enjoy. Since 1887, researchers at these public institutions have been conducting research to improve the nutrition and quality of the food we eat. Learn more about NIFA-funded research on foods that may be on your Thanksgiving menu.
Read More
LDAF Commissioner Proclaims Louisiana Sweet Potato Day
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., has proclaimed November 15 as Louisiana Sweet Potato Day in recognition of the 70th anniversary of the Louisiana Sweet Potato Advertising and Development Commission.
Read More
Sweet Potato Harvest: The Good & The Bad
Louisiana faced hot, dry conditions during critical crop development periods followed by flooding rains in August. More recently, yet another drought period has set in, with most of the state receiving no significant rainfall in weeks.
Read More
Winter Squash is November’s ‘Louisiana Harvest of the Month
Native Americans taught the Puritan settlers many things about life in America, including how to grow and prepare winter squash — a food they had never seen before but that would soon gain popularity and become a regular seasonal planting.
Read More
Sweet Potato Harvest Declining Due to Hot, Dry Weather in Louisiana
Hot, dry weather in Louisiana has compromised the size of the sweet potato crop leading into the fall and winter seasons.
Louisiana is among the top four states in the nation that produces sweet potatoes.
Read More
Sweet Potato Harvest Plagued by Weather Woes
With more than half of Louisiana’s sweet potato crop harvested, the verdict is in on this year’s crop. Uncooperative weather throughout the growing season has led to one of the most disappointing years ever for many growers. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux has this report from West Carroll Parish.
Read More