Tour Trial Gardens, Learn About Horticulture Research July 19 at Hammond Field Day
The LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station will hold its annual horticulture field day July 19, allowing visitors the chance to tour trial gardens, learn about top-performing plants and hear experts speak about their research projects.
Registration will begin at 7:45 a.m. with coffee and refreshments. The program will start at 8:30 a.m. with remarks from AgCenter administrators. Mike Strain, commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, will then give a state-of-the-industry update.
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Joe Mapes: Could There Be Another Special Session?
Recently, there’s been speculation about whether there will be another special session of the Louisiana legislature in 2024. It brings to mind the question of how many licks it takes to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop, with the answer being three.
Interestingly, this legislative body has already gone through three sessions in 2024, and we are only halfway through the year. The legislators, who want to spend time with their families, are reluctant to return to Baton Rouge for another session. A second reason to not convene again is that the leges are exhausted from these three sessions, and the most obvious reason is, "for what?"
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Council to Consider Solar Installation Moratorium Extension
The Iberia Parish Council is set to vote on a resolution that would extend the moratorium on solar farms in the parish for an additional year at Wednesday’s meeting.
If approved, the resolution would bar the development, establishment and construction of solar farms in unincorporated areas of Iberia Parish for a period of one year. The resolution is being introduced by Councilman James Trahan.
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Union Parish 4-H Students at Clover College
Union Parish 4-H’ers had the opportunity to compete for best in state in more than 40 events ranging from plant identification, photography and fishing sports to speechmaking and fashion design. During 4-H U, participants were introduced to aspects of life that college students experience on an everyday basis. 4-H’ers had the opportunity to tour a working dairy, a biomedical center and athletic facilities.
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Impact Fusion International Inc.: Louisiana State Legislature Unanimously Passes LA HCR-42 Focusing on Bagasse Utilization
On May 28, 2024 bipartisan legislation passed both the Louisiana House with 99 Yeas and 0 Nays and the Louisiana Senate 31 Yeas and 0 Nays. LA HCR-42 (2024) places focus of bagasse utilization and was generated by testimony provided by Dr. Clyde (Pat) Bagley and Agricultural Commissioner, The Honorable Dr. Michael Strain.
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Jay Grymes Named Louisiana State Climatologist
Jay Grymes, chief meteorologist for WAFB-TV and interim Louisiana state climatologist since February, has been named the permanent state climatologist, effective Aug. 1.
Grymes recently announced he is retiring from WAFB this month after nearly 30 years with the station and joining the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, or GOHSEP, to assist the state with emergency response and mitigation. In addition, as the state climatologist, he will direct the operations of the Louisiana Office of State Climatology, housed at LSU.
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New DOL Rules for Seasonal Agricultural Workers: What Employers Need to Know
On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) implemented a new final rule to enhance protections for agricultural workers, both American and foreign, particularly those employed under H-2A status. This rule strengthens enforcement measures to ensure compliance with federal labor laws, boosting worker protection obligations in several key areas.
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Kaplan High Graduate Wins Farm Bureau Crown
Twenty-four of Louisiana’s most poised and talented ladies representing various parishes competed for the coveted crown. Eager to represent the organization for the upcoming year, this year’s slate of contestants participated in multiple rounds of competition, which included both interviews and evening gown presentations.
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State Officials Considering Emergency Declaration as Bark Beetle Concerns Grow
Concerns are growing statewide over a bark beetle infestation.
Trees, especially pines, are vital to Louisiana’s economy. Here in Southwest Louisiana, Vernon, Beauregard and Allen parishes contain miles and miles of pine tree forests and farms important to their economy.
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Livestock Brand Commission Agents Looking for Missing Donkey near Natchitoches
A donkey named "Speckles" was reported missing Friday evening near Natchitoches.
Owners have made several efforts to locate “Speckles”, but so far all attempts have been unsuccessful. “Speckles” could be in the area of state Highway 1, White Oak Lane, Chinquapin.
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Parks Woman Wins at 2024 Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention
Parks native Hannah Devall takes home a title at the 2024 Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention held in New Orleans.
What started out as Devall’s high school passion led her to win the Young Farmers and Ranchers Discussion Meet Contest which focuses on cooperation, teamwork and critical thinking.
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Louisiana to Address Beetle Infestation Threatening Timber Industry
In the coming days, the state’s House Emergency Beetle Subcommittee of the House Committee on Agriculture is scheduled to host its first meeting at the state capitol. The panel is set to convene on July 9, and will address the devastation of Louisiana’s forest industry due to an infestation of beetles.
In 2023, the LSU Agriculture Center reported that 50,000 acres of forests in the state were burned due to wildfires last summer, costing $71.4 million.
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Level 2 Climate Smart Cotton Program Enrollment Opens
Level 2 Climate Smart Cotton Program enrollment is open to U.S. cotton growers. The program, led by the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, gives Level 1 growers the opportunity to receive additional financial support for implementing Climate Smart Practice Changes into their operations.
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Sugarcane Field Day To Be Held July 17 In St. Gabriel
The LSU AgCenter will hold its sugarcane field day Wednesday, July 17, at the Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel.
The day will begin with a field tour covering multiple topics from AgCenter specialists.
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Rice Farmer Elected Louisiana Farm Bureau President
On Sunday, fourth-generation rice farmer Richard Fontenot of Ville Platte was elected the 13th president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau.
Fontenot, who in addition to rice farms soybeans and crawfish, succeeds Jim Harper of Cheneyville, in leading the more than 100-year-old organization.
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