Precision Agriculture Summit Postponed

The LSU AgCenter precision agriculture summit set for Jan. 17 at the State Evacuation Shelter in Alexandria has been postponed because of weather. Plans are to reschedule the summit for a later date.

This summit is one of two planned. The second, scheduled for Feb. 23 at Fletcher Technical Community College in Shriever, is still on as scheduled.

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LSU AgCenterAvery Davidson
January Market Update for Corn, Soybeans, Rice, and Cotton

This month’s 2023/24 U.S. corn outlook is for greater production, larger food, seed, and industrial use (FSI), increased feed and residual use, and higher ending stocks. Corn production is estimated at a record 15.3 billion bushels, up 108 million as an increase in yield to a record 177.3 bushels per acre is partly offset by a 0.6-million acre decline in harvested area. 

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Discrimination Financial Assistance Program Applications To Be Accepted Through Jan. 17, 2024

Due to a number of circumstances on Saturday, January 13, 2024, including severe winter weather in the Midwest that may have prevented some applicants from reaching local program offices as well as a brief outage of the e-filing platform in the evening, the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program will accept applications through Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024.

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USDAAvery Davidson
USDA Reopens Signup For Continuous Conservation Reserve Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (Continuous CRP) signup. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers and landowners in Louisiana who are interested in conservation opportunities for their land in exchange for yearly rental payments to consider the enrollment options available through Continuous CRP, which also includes the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) offered by FSA partners.

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USDAdon molino
Louisiana Crop Production: January 2024

Louisiana corn area harvested is 680,000, up 56 percent from 2022. The average yield is estimated at 175 bushels per acre, up 5 bushels from last year. Production totaled 119 million bushels, up 61 percent from 2022.

Upland cotton harvested acres is 115,000, down 39 percent from 2022. The yield is expected to average 877 pounds per harvested acre, down 27 pounds from last year. Production is estimated at 210,000 bales, down 41 percent from 2022.

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USDAdon molino
LDAF Encourages Preparation for Freezing Temperatures

With temperatures dipping near or below freezing in parts of the state beginning early next week, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., urges livestock and pet owners to take necessary precautions to protect their animals. This is also the time to protect plants, pipes, and, of course, people.

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LDAFAvery Davidson
Conservation Sustains Rice Industry

She wasn’t looking when the headhunter called. Either time. And she didn’t know anything about rice the first time. She worked on the forest side of the ag industry. She was comfortable.

But USA Rice Federation knew Betsy Ward was the leader they needed – first to lead foreign promotions and a few years later, to lead the organization.

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Ricedon molino
USDA to Reopen Signup for Continuous Conservation Reserve Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting applications for the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (Continuous CRP) signup on Jan. 12, 2024. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages agricultural producers and landowners interested in conservation opportunities for their land in exchange for yearly rental payments to consider the enrollment options available through Continuous CRP, which also includes the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) offered by FSA partners. Additionally, producers participating in CRP can apply to re-enroll beginning Jan. 12, 2024 if their contracts will expire this year.   

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USDAAvery Davidson
Louisiana HLB Quarantine Area Expanded

Federal agriculture officials, in cooperation with Louisiana agriculture officials, have established a federal quarantine area for huanglongbing (HLB; citrus greening), caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, in all of Saint Charles Parish in Louisiana.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) took the action in cooperation with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF).

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