Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) mailed the 2022 Census of Agriculture paper questionnaires to all known agriculture producers across the nation and Puerto Rico. Last month, producers in all states received their survey codes with an invitation to respond online. Any Louisiana producer who did not respond online still has the option to complete the ag census at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail.
Read MoreFFA members from across Louisiana gathered at the Central Louisiana Technical Community College in Alexandria for the annual State Leadership Development Events (LDEs). These events focus on student leadership development. The benefits received from participating in an LDE include public speaking skills, communication strategies, leadership growth, confidence, memorization skills, and teaching strategies. To qualify for the state events, students placed in the top two of each of four area events held earlier in the month.
Read MoreConnectLA needs your help! The Federal Communications Commission has published new broadband service and availability maps, which will be used to determine how much funding states will receive from the federal government to provide internet to underserved areas in their state.
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden and the Louisiana Stormwater Coalition finished the second phase of an Environmental Protection Agency-funded litter remediation and prevention program Dec. 14.
The Osprey Initiative, the organization contracted to remove and study aquatic trash from a borrow pit and wetland at Burden Museum and Gardens, has now completed its tactical removal process that began in June 2022.
Read MoreMany Americans prioritize sharing their time, talents and expertise in local communities, with about one in four volunteering each year, according to surveys. This includes Farm Bureau farmer and rancher leaders, who serve on governing boards and committees at local, state and national levels.
Several newly appointed volunteers will provide leadership beginning in 2023 as farmer and rancher members of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Promotion & Education and Young Farmers & Ranchers committees.
Read MoreIt’s official — winter is here! And with it comes many questions about protecting landscape plants, pipes and pets during the cold months of December, January and February.
According to the National Weather Service, a considerable change in the temperatures can be expected by week’s end.
Read MoreThe two big weather stories this week will be likely rain chances Monday PM into Tuesday AM and a bitterly cold Arctic blast beginning Friday, Dec. 23.
The airmass behind this front will be the Arctic in nature. This will bring morning lows into the teen°s and 20°s from Friday morning Dec. 23 through Monday morning Dec. 26.
Read MoreThe National Weather Service in Jackson has confirmed that the tornado that moved through portions of Franklin and Madison Parishes on December 13th was an EF-1 with peak winds of 105 MPH.
The tornado traveled approximately 11.13 miles during its 16-minute stent on the ground, reaching a maximum width of 300 yards. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
Read MoreThe BWCC, coordinated by the National Cotton Council, brings together university and USDA researchers, regulatory agencies, Extension personnel/agents, industry sales/support personnel, consultants and producers to exchange information about new products and production/processing systems that can be tailored to individual farming operations to maximize productivity.
Read MoreOn December 17, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about recalled lots of alfalfa cubes that appear to have caused illness and death in horses; at this time, the FDA reports that horses in Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado have shown neurological signs that may be related to this issue. The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is working with the FDA and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (LDAF) to investigate this issue and treat some of the affected horses.
Read MoreMartco, LLC, the parent company of the third-generation, family-owned timber sourcing and manufacturing company RoyOMartin, announced it will invest $9.5 million to install technologically advanced production equipment at its Natchitoches Parish lumber mill.
The RoyOMartin plywood manufacturing facility in Chopin is one of the parish’s largest employers, and the expansion will allow the company to retain approximately 684 existing jobs through 2035.
There are many acres of crawfish ponds in China, but did you ever hear the story about where the stock for those ponds originate? Hint: It is a state in America. Errol Laborde, Executive Editor of Louisiana Life, along with podcast producer Kelly Massicot talk to author Sam Irwin whose book “Louisiana Crawfish: A Succulent History of the Cajun Crustacean” gives the lowdown on the mudbug, including how it became so popular in Louisiana.
Read MoreThe 26th Annual National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference, the Southern Soybean & Corn Conference, the Delta States Irrigation Conference and the Southern Precision Ag Conference are headed to Baton Rouge, LA. The conferences are sponsored by Cotton Incorporated and US Rice Producers Association.
Read MoreForage producers heard about a new potential income stream during a recent Louisiana Forage and Grassland Council and Louisiana Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative meeting in Alexandria.
Producers normally assess their forage profit potential by what’s above ground, but carbon guidelines offered during the Dec. 2 annual forage conference shows that there’s cash underground as well.
Read MoreThe USDA WASDE report released late last week did not contain any major surprises for the markets. Traders have their attention on South American production-which will impact U.S. export competitiveness. Traders and Growers continue to monitor new crop price ratios and cost of production for 2023 crop acreage decisions. Input price volatility remains present, but recent weeks in the fertilizer and fuel markets seem to suggest that prices are on the decline.
Read More
