LSU Uses Artificial Intelligence for More Accurate, Faster Wildfire Detection and Prediction

Uncontained wildfires can quickly engulf homes and infrastructure, leading to significant economic losses, displacement of communities, and health risks due to smoke. They also present significant threats to forests, grasslands, and other natural habitats, leading to the death or displacement of countless animals and plants. 

Providing firefighting teams with the best technology improves their chances of containing wildfires before they cause widespread damage.

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Customer, Vendor Bonds Key Ingredient of Alexandria Farmers Market's Success

Every Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m., the parking lot across from First United Methodist Church on Jackson Street bustles with the activity of the Alexandria Farmers Market.

And starting Tuesday (Sept. 3) it will be bustling with even more activity as it prepares to celebrate its 10-year anniversary at each market throughout September, with several special activities planned for each Tuesday of the month.

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USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2024, which runs from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025. The CCC is required by law to quarterly announce estimates of sugar to be purchased and sold under the Feedstock Flexibility Program based on crop and consumption forecasts.

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USDAdon molino
One Week Left To Submit Rice Leadership Development Program 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. Applications for the 2025-27 class are due by Friday, September 6.

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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Ricedon molino
Internet Access On Louisiana Farms Increases 7.5% In '22 Census Of Agriculture

Reliable access to the internet is increasingly necessary to take full advantage of these newer technologies. To that end, there have been several government programs initiated to provide more access to the internet across the U.S. The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) was announced in 2019 and is focused on improving internet access for rural Americans with $20.4 billion in funding in a ten-year period.

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don molino
St. Landry Parish Man Arrested For Felony Theft

On August 22, 2024, inspectors with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission (LBC) arrested Lester R. Johnson, Jr. of Opelousas for felony theft.  

Prior to the arrest, an LBC investigation determined that in November of 2023, 32-year-old Johnson fraudulently bid on and was the high bidder on one head of livestock at a local livestock market. 

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LDAF, Livestockdon molino
USDA Launches Online Debt Consolidation Tool to Increase Farmer and Rancher Financial Viability

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the launch of the Debt Consolidation Tool, an innovative online tool available through farmers.gov that allows agricultural producers to enter their farm operating debt and evaluate the potential savings that might be provided by obtaining a debt consolidation loan with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) or a local lender.  

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USDAdon molino
Average Age Of Farmers In Louisiana Now 58

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) Census of Agriculture is published every five years and provides data at the U.S., state, and county levels.

One metric tracked is the average age of agricultural producers. This information is provided for selected southern states for the Census reporting periods 2017 to 2022, along with the percentage change in average age for that timeframe.

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USDAdon molino
2024 Louisiana Corn Yields Up From 2023

The run of dry weather will allow for Louisiana corn producers to complete their harvest this week and yields are way up over last year when the state suffered through a historic drought. Last year farmers averaged 175 bushels per acre. LSU AgCenter Corn and Cotton Specialist Shelly Pate Kerns says production is higher this year.

“In northeast Louisiana, we’ve been cutting anywhere from 180 to 200 about. I went down to central Louisiana yesterday, and I got a report of 240, and that’s pretty much the highest that I’ve heard,” Kerns said.

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Progressive Tractor & Implement Grows Within CASE Dealer Network

CASE Construction Equipment dealer Progressive Tractor & Implement Co. LLC (PTI) announced Aug. 22 they are acquiring the stores and territories of Heartland Equipment to expand their business into the northeastern Arkansas and Memphis areas and help more customers in the region succeed with CASE equipment.

The acquisition marks a new period of growth for leading equipment dealer PTI as they increase their team to over 500 employees and their overall footprint from 22 to 27 locations, supplying the latest construction and agricultural equipment from CASE CE and CASE IH.

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Avery Davidson
CRCL Expands Oyster Shell Recycling Program to Baton Rouge

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) after operating in New Orleans for ten years, has expanded its oyster shell recycling program to Baton Rouge. This initiative aims to combat coastal erosion by using recycled oyster shells to rebuild and strengthen Louisiana’s fragile coastlines. Spokesperson James Karst says oyster shells are a critical component in creating new oyster reefs, which act as natural barriers against storm surges and help restore marine habitats.

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AquacultureAvery Davidson