March 2010 Articles

Archives by Months

Gonzales, La

GONZALES, La. – Hundreds of young people from across Louisiana were named state champions during the 75th Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show Presented by Price LeBlanc Feb. 13-20 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. To qualify for the state show, competitors had to first participate in parish and district livestock shows across Louisiana. At the state show, more than 3,000 young people competed with more than 6,000 animals, according to the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show office. Judges... read more

Aphorism

Aphorism: A Short, Pointed Sentence Expressing a Wise or Clever Observation or a General Truth
1. The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts tomorrow. 2. Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail. 3. If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense at all. 4. Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs. 5. A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water. 6. How come it takes so little time for a child... read more

Just for Fun

Just for Fun: The Sheriff pulled up next to the guy unloading garbage out of his pick-up into the ditch.
The Sheriff asked: "Why are you dumping garbage in the ditch? Don't you see that sign right over your head?"
"Yep", he replied; "that's why I'm dumpin it here . . . it says 'Fine For Dumping Garbage'."

2010 Arkansas Cow/Calf Conference

2101 Arkansas Cow/Calf Conference
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Southwest Research & Extension Center
Cow/Calf Barn, Hope, Ark
For more info call 870-777-9701
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture

Rice Casserole

I cook a lot of rice and I like to
find interesting alternatives to rice and gravy. I found that in this Rice Casserole
1 c rice
1c parsley, finely chopped
1/2 lb grated cheese
1onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 c milk
2 eggs
1/4 c olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Partially cook rice.
(1c rice, 2c water, let come to boil, turn heat down and cover, cook around 20... read more

March is National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month The theme for National Nutrition Month this March is Nutrition From the Ground Up, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Beth Reames. This year’s campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits, she adds. National Nutrition Month is sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association. “We can build healthier diets and start down a path of health and wellness by choosing... read more

Farm Kid in the Army

FARM KID in the ARMY
Dear Ma and Pa,
I am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt &Brother Elmer the Army beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before all of the places are filled. I was restless at first because you get to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m. But I am getting so I like to sleep late. Tell Walt & Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot, & shine some things. No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to... read more

Remember

Remember, God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

Reason to eat Chocolate

Reasons to eat Chocolate Pour melted chocolate over sliced pound cake, and the term ‘pound cake’ will be very accurate

Weenie Burgers

Weenie Burgers (My Granny made this one up)

Lay out your slice of bread
Top with cheese slice
Cut your weenies in half long ways (I use one and
Lay them on your bread as shown a half weenies)
top with another slice of cheese
then cover with bread
toast until cheese is melted.
These are great with soup and it gives parents another option for the kid favorite weenie

The third wire: using three-prong plugs with two-prong adapters

The third wire: using three-prong plugs with two-prong adapters
When dealing with electrical appliances in the home, it’s often aggravating to have a three-prong plug with only a two-prong outlet, such as with extension cords. Dr. David Bankston, LSU AgCenter engineer, explains this third prong is definitely not there to give you the blues. “The term ‘the third rail’ in relation to politics and topics that a candidate dare not discuss derives from subways in which the train... read more

Legumes in the Forage System

Legumes in the Forage System Nitrogen is required in large quantities for high levels of forage production, & nitrogen deficiency is a common limitation to forage/livestock production. There are several sources of nitrogen for plant growth. Minute quantities are supplied by free-living soil bacteria and blue-green algae. Rainfall typically adds a few pounds per acre, mainly converted from atmospheric nitrogen by lightning. Most commercial nitrogen fertilizer is produced by, under conditions of high... read more

Tough Times and the Milk Price

Tough Times and the Milk Price, Wayne Kellogg, Professor Is there a competitive disadvantage to having a small dairy farm compared to larger farms? Well, there are the obvious items like discounts that might be realized by purchasing huge volumes of feed and supplies. There are also less obvious disadvantages of having to meet the same quality standards, or in some instances the same environmental standards, with fewer cows or gross... read more

Shrinking economy causes rise in alligator population, loss in skin prices

Shrinking economy causes rise in alligator population, loss in skin prices HENRY, La. – Workers at Vermilion Gator Farm are busy curing the skins of some of the 80,000 alligators the farm raises. But next year the skinning and curing sheds will sit mostly empty. The Sagrera family has operated the farm for more than 25 years, but they’ve never seen a year this bad. In June, they didn’t collect any alligator eggs and won’t raise a crop of alligators in 2010. “With the market like... read more

Eat less or gain weight as you age

Eat less or gain weight as you age Here’s some more depressing news about losing weight – the older you get, the less you can eat. Heli Roy, LSU AgCenter nutritionist, says one reason people aren’t successful with weight-loss programs is as they age, they have to gear down the quantity and richness of the foods they eat. So even though they may be eating less calorie-dense food and less food, their bodies need fewer and fewer calories. “One of the effects of age on metabolism is... read more

Poultry Science at LSU!

Poultry Science at LSU! Theresia Lavergne, Ph.D., P.A.S. Associate Professor – Poultry LSU AgCenter Poultry science research, extension, and instruction have been a part of LSU for a very long time! The first reports of poultry research at LSU were prior to 1890. At that time, poultry research was conducted at both Baton Rouge and at the experiment station in Calhoun. The first poultry course was taught at LSU in 1911. After LSU moved to its current location in 1925, a poultry department was established... read more

Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators

Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators One of the most common requests made to me is information on individuals who can assist Louisiana homeowners and landowners with controlling a vast assortment of nuisance wildlife. For individuals to legally engage in this activity, they must meet certain requirements as outlined by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). The current rules, under which Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCOs) must operate, include the following:
• Must be 18 years... read more

Saving Seeds is part of sustainable landscaping

Saving seeds is part of sustainable landscaping Source: LSU Ag Center Saving seeds from plants growing in your landscape can be a part of sustainable landscaping – it saves you money from buying new seed unnecessarily. Many summer-blooming annuals, perennials & vegetables are setting seeds now. You can harvest those seeds, store them & next year grow a new crop. Of course, just because a plant produces seeds,... read more

A Care

‘If a care is too small to be turned into a prayer, it is too small to be made into a burden.’ ~~ Anonymous

When horses get the flu

When Horses Get the Flu (Can You?) Story by Eleanor Kellon, VMD Source: MyHorse.com
It's unlikely. But if your horse comes down with influenza, you'll need to know how to care for him to prevent any long-term complications. With all the concern over “bird flu” being transmitted to people, influenza is very much in the news these days. And although horses can get influenza, too, the good news is, you’re not likely to “catch it” from your horse. Even so, there are things you’ll... read more

Just Rambling

Just Rambling: About the Front Cover - Pictured on our front cover this month is our youngest daughter, Blair with her Charolais show heifer - RHF Delilah #58. Blair has had a very good show year with this heifer having won both Reserve Champion Charolais heifer and Reserve Champion Louisiana Bred Charolais heifer at the State Fair of Louisiana Livestock Show in Shreveport this past October. Along with her Reserve Championships, she and her heifer were selected to attend the North American International Livestock Exposition... read more