Louisiana Kids Discover a New Path in Life Through Showpigs
To most, it looked like a bunch of run-down pig pens. But Nick Adams fell in love with the worn-out facilities at Franklin High School. Although he knew it was going to take a lot of work, all he could see was opportunity when he said yes to becoming the new FFA adviser in Franklin, La.
“When I came here, nothing was how it needed to be facility-wise,” Adams says. “We’ve made such a big transition over the years, in facilities alone, whether it was getting them cleaned up or getting new things built.”
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Texas Farmers, Ranchers Assess Damages After Hurricane Beryl
Hurricane Beryl slammed into the Texas coast this week, leaving many farmers and ranchers to assess damages to crops, equipment and facilities.
“Living and growing up on the coast, it starts to become second nature preparing for a hurricane or tropical storm, but you’re still never ready,” Hailey Hayes, a farmer in Port Lavaca, said. “You take things one at a time and prioritize.”
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SU Ag Center and GOHSEP set to hold a Community Emergency Preparedness Event
The Baton Rouge community is invited to participate in the “Real Preparedness for Real People” community emergency preparedness event on July 17, 2024 at 9 a.m. at the Jewel J. Newman Community Center, located at 2013 Central Road in Baton Rouge, La.
The Southern University Ag Center’s JAGriculture program and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) have partnered to host the event.
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Chairman Thompson Delivers Opening Statement at Hearing on Consequences of EPA's Actions on American Agriculture
Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), delivered the following opening remarks at today's full committee hearing on the consequences of EPA's actions on American Agriculture:
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Rice Leadership Development Program Now Accepting Applications
The Rice Leadership Development Program gives future leaders a comprehensive understanding of the rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication skills. The class attends four one-week sessions over a two-year period that encompasses studies of all aspects of the rice industry through firsthand observations. They also attend seminars and workshops designed to strengthen leadership skills.
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Few Resources for Homeowners to Remove Risky, Beetle-damaged Pine Trees
State lawmakers want Gov. Jeff Landry to declare an emergency to address millions of dead and dying pines that insects have infested and now pose a risk to people, property, power lines and roads.
But officials say not much help is available to homeowners who want to remove trees that are certain to fall down and cause damage.
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Governor Landry Declares State of Emergency Following Tropical Storm Beryl
Governor Jeff Landry signed a State of Emergency Executive Order due to the effects from Tropical Storm Beryl.
The storm advanced from Texas into Western Louisiana throughout the day on Monday, July 8, 2024. The outer connective bands from the tropical storm spread throughout Louisiana causing one fatality, major damage to homes and businesses, as well as massive power outages.
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Kids Learn About Farming at Ol’ Mel’s Farm Day Camp
Cenla camps are keeping children active this summer. On Monday, July 8, Ol’ Mel’s Farm Day Camp began, teaching kids about gardening, allowing them to meet animals and showing them how to saddle a horse.
These activities keep kids engaged and learning about farming during the summer. Children will spend time outdoors on the farm feeding animals, interacting with them and even petting and holding them.
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Federal Emergency Management Agency Designates Texas Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas due to Severe storms. Contiguous Parishes in Louisiana Also Eligible
This Presidential disaster declaration allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.
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More than 50 Seafood Advocates Call for Aquaculture Support in Letter to House Natural Resources Committee Leaders
Industry coalition Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) today sent an letter signed by more than 50 leaders in the seafood industry to leaders of the House Natural Resources Committee in a demonstration of growing support for expanding aquaculture in U.S. federal waters to increase production of healthful, sustainable and affordable seafood in American communities. There are currently three offshore aquaculture related bills awaiting Committee action.
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LSU Launches Graduate Certificate Program to Strengthen Food Supply Chains
A long-held vision of Don Welge is now a reality. LSU has unveiled a new online graduate certificate in agribusiness designed to strengthen the resilience and efficiency of the national food supply chain.
The late Welge saw this as a need for the food industry. Welge earned a degree from LSU in agricultural economics and was the CEO and president of Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation — a private-label food manufacturing company.
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LSU Vet Med Hosts Food Animal Renovation Reveal
On Wednesday, July 10, at 4 p.m. the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine will reveal its spectacular new Food Animal Service area in the large animal hospital attached to the LSU Vet Med building on Skip Bertman Drive in Baton Rouge during a ceremony celebrating this state-of-the-art facility. This $4.125 million renovation began in October 2022. More than 9,000 square feet of space was renovated, and another 3,875 square feet were added.
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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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