Cow-calf operations are the heart of Louisiana’s livestock industry. Cattle in this sector spend much of their lives grazing perennial and annual pastures, so high-quality forage is important.
Summer 2023 was one of the hottest and driest in recent memory. The drought took a major toll on crop production, and everyone from sugarcane farmers to cattle ranchers felt the effects.
Read MoreWe keep trying to push the market higher, but economic conditions continue to fight that effort. Despite that, the market did spend most of its time trading at the upper end of the price range established back in June. Thus, the bulls cannot really complain, despite not getting any momentum from the hurricane.
Read More“I want to represent cotton in the agriculture industry in Louisiana and show people the importance and history of the cotton industry,” proclaims Queen Cotton LXIX Amelia Claire Mickal.
Mickal, the 21-year-old daughter of Tim and Colleen Mickal of Lafayette and granddaughter of Dr. Don and Bonnie Mickal, Audrey McBride and the late Michael H. McBride, is a 2021 graduate of St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette. She is currently a student at SLCC (South Louisiana Community College), where she is pursuing a degree in business management with a goal of working in International Business in Louisiana Agriculture.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host its next saddle microchipping event on Friday, October 18, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. It will be held on location at the Washington Parish Fair in Franklinton, Louisiana.
LDAF’s microchip identification program provides all saddle owners in the state of Louisiana the opportunity to have their saddles registered and identified by using a microchip implant.
Read MoreThe Southern University Ag Center and the College of Agricultural, Human and Environmental Sciences (CAHES) will host the 3rd Annual Vino on the Bluff Wine Tasting Fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2024 at the Leon R. Tarver II Cultural and Heritage Center, 8320 G. Leon Netterville Dr., on the Southern University campus.
General admission tickets are $75. Elevated (VIP) tickets are $100 and will include a VIP Whiskey Tasting at sunset.
Read MoreOver 200 guests immersed themselves in Louisiana history during the 29th annual SugarFest at the West Baton Rouge Museum on Sunday afternoon.
Local artists were creating projects on site while others were making drinks from fresh sugar cane. Executive director of the West Baton Museum Angelique Bergeron says this year was a celebration for the community.
Read MoreSoil pH indicates whether lime is required but not how much. Lime is needed if the target soil pH, which varies by crop, is 0.2 units higher than the actual soil pH.
Buffer pH indicates how much lime is required. Soils with low buffering capacity (high buffer pH) and a small difference between initial and target pH values require less lime. Conversely, soils with high buffering capacity (low buffer pH) need more lime, even for small pH adjustments.
Read MoreTest the soil from each field regularly for every complete crop rotation or every two to three years before making any fertilization decisions.
Collect soil samples from 0 to 6 inches in depth and choose a lab that uses Mehlich-3 extractant.
Obtain fertilizer recommendations based on the soil test for specific crops from the respective state soil testing lab, as these recommendations vary by crop and state.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an additional $250 million in automatic payments for distressed direct and guaranteed farm loan borrowers under Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act. This significant step continues USDA's commitment to keeping farmers and ranchers financially viable and support for agricultural communities.
Over the past two years, USDA acted swiftly to assist borrowers in retaining their land and continuing their agricultural operations. Since President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law in August 2022, the USDA has provided approximately $2.4 billion in assistance to more than 43,900 distressed borrowers.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research Advisory Board is accepting grant applications for the purpose of supporting the growth and development of the Louisiana equine industry by enhancing research, education, promotion, facilities, tourism, events, and equine-related activities throughout the state.
Read MoreThis past week, the Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter held a Model Farm Rice Field Day as part of the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Grant, designed to provide up-to-date information on rice production and how it relates to conservation, sustainability, and best management practices (BMP). The gathering took place at Richard Farms, north of Kaplan.
Julie and Christian Richard’s farm is a familiar site for field days in southwest Louisiana, as they host several events throughout the year, opening their operation whenever asked to welcome guests from both the rice industry and those outside the agriculture world.
Read MoreLouisiana 4-H’ers are ready — ready to learn by doing; ready to get their hands dirty; ready to show up for their communities.
For more than 100 years, 4-H has been preparing youth from across the state to be ready for service, STEM, leadership and life.
Read MoreThe American Sugar Cane League has hired Cheryl Michelet who will be the next public relations director in the organization. She will work closely with Sam Irwin who recently announced his retirement from the League in February of 2025 after 13 years of service.
Michelet is the CEO and founder of Michelet Strategic Communications and most recently served as the director of communications for BREC, the East Baton Rouge Parish Park system.
Read MoreTodd Tarifa, who has spent his career educating Louisiana’s young people through organizations and in the classroom, was named interim associate director of youth development for the LSU AgCenter effective Oct. 1.
He now oversees both Louisiana 4-H and Louisiana FFA, which together reach nearly 126,000 youths.
Read MoreOver the past two years, Congress has held numerous hearings that have documented a brewing financial crisis caused by falling commodity prices, high input costs, and tightening farm credit. Members have heard from farmers and ranchers across the country about the need for a new Farm Bill. Now, it’s time for Congress to act. Waiting would be a mistake.
I was the chief economist at the Department of Agriculture when the last farm bill was written and saw firsthand the impacts on our agricultural and food system caused by the changing climate, a trade war, and a global pandemic.
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