Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Enhances Sugar Cane Quality Analysis, Study Finds
A recent collaborative study between the Audubon Sugar Institute and Louisiana State University (LSU) demonstrated the potential of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to analyze the quality of sugar cane. In this study, led by Kevin McPeak of LSU, the researchers used NIR spectroscopy to test whether it can analyze sugar cane despite the presence of extraneous matter (EM) (1). The findings have significant implications for the global sugar industry, which is valued at approximately $78 billion annually (1).
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Why Crawfish Show Up On Louisiana Roadways After Heavy Rains
With heavy rain showers in recent days across much of Louisiana, you may have noticed that crawfish are showing up on roads and highways, and it's not because the water overflowed from the pond they were in.
For years, I have noticed that crawfish sometimes show up on roadways that are near the ponds where they are harvested, and I never really knew why or what may have forced them from those ponds.
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LSU AgCenter Agent Named State Wildlife Specialist
Caldwell Parish native Lucas “Luke” Stamper was recently named the new wildlife specialist for the state after serving as the LSU AgCenter regional wildlife and forestry contact for northeast Louisiana.
Stamper, who said he knew he wanted to be a wildlife biologist in high school, received his Bachelor of Science in wildlife ecology from LSU before getting his master’s degree at the University of Louisiana Monroe.
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Schedule A Visit With FSA To Enroll For ARC and PLC
Farming is risky, ARC and PLC can help! You may be eligible for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, which provide vital income support to farmers who experience substantial declines in crop price or revenue.
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LSU’s AgMagic Brings Hands-on Agriculture Experience to Students in Louisiana
LSU’s AgMagic is inspiring a new generation of agricultural awareness one plate at a time.
AgMagic is an event hosted by the LSU AgCenter, created to educate students from kindergarten to third grade about Louisiana Agriculture through interactive and hands-on learning experiences. The event ran from March 24 to 28 for school groups and March 29 to 30 for the general public.
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McNeese Biology Department Plants a Cajun Prairie
Last spring, the McNeese State University Biology Department began exploring the idea of establishing a native Cajun prairie somewhere on campus. Firestone Polymers offered to collaborate on the project.
Cajun prairie is part of the Western Gulf Coast Prairie ecosystem which historically spanned the entire shoreline in Louisiana and Texas. Less than 1% of this ecosystem currently remains and exists in small, isolated patches throughout the region.
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Louisiana Farmers in Limbo After Trump Freezes $363M in Reimbursements
DeRidder corn and wheat farmer David Smith said he wanted to try out something new this year on his farm. He started tinkering with the idea of adding cover crops over small acreages but wanted to expand it to hundreds of acres.
"It is not a money-making thing. In fact, you spend money. You just want to improve your soil," Smith said.
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What Does Latest USDA Funding Release Mean For Farmers?
This week Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced USDA is releasing more previously obligated funding that was paused during the early days of the Trump administration. But the announcement comes with a catch. Rollins says impacted recipients now have 30 days to review and voluntarily revise their project plans to align with a Trump executive order.
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USDA Announces April 2025 Lending Rates for Agricultural Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for April 2025, which are effective April 1, 2025. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
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Louisiana Prospective Plantings: March 2025
Louisiana corn producers intend to plant 530,000 acres, up 13 percent from the 470,000 acres planted in 2024. Upland cotton acreage intentions are at 110,000 acres, down 29 percent from the 155,000 acres planted last year. All hay acres expected to be harvested in Louisiana are estimated at 380,000 acres, up 10,000 acres from 2024.
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Increased Farm Costs Highlighted at USDA Forum
Minnesota sugarbeet farmer Neil Rockstad recalled a kitchen table conversation with his wife while speaking at the 101st annual Agricultural Outlook Forum.
Both Neil and Louisiana sugarcane grower Travis Medine presented as part of the sugar panel at the forum. They observed that labor and machinery were among the highest costs in their farm budgets.
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Letlow Pushes to Designate Ouachita River as Marine Highway
In an attempt to bolster economic growth and job creation in North Louisiana, Congresswoman Julia Letlow is advocating for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to help provide a crucial economic development designation for the Ouachita River.
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New Bipartisan Bill Would Deliver Tax Relief for Forest Landowners After Disasters
When hurricanes, wildfires, ice storms, or pest outbreaks hit, the financial impact on forest landowners can be devastating. Timber, the most valuable asset in most family-owned forests, can be wiped out in an instant. Yet under current law, timber is excluded from the Federal Crop Insurance Program and casualty tax deductions are limited. With limited assistance from the government and no widely available private insurance options, forest landowners are exposed to decades of risk without financial protection.
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Deadline to Submit Get It Growing Calendar Photos Approaching
The last day to submit photos for the LSU AgCenter’s 2026 Get It Growing calendar is coming up in the next few weeks.
The deadline to submit an entry is April 30.
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US Farmers Expect to Plant More Corn and Fewer Soybean Acres
Producers surveyed across the United States intend to plant 95.3 million acres of corn in 2025, up 5% from last year, according to the Prospective Plantings report released today by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Planted acreage intentions for corn are up or unchanged in 40 of the 48 estimating states.
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