February 2012 Articles

Archives by Months

Just Rambling

Just Rambling: I can hardly believe it—it seems only like yesterday. Time fly's when you are having fun! By now you are probably thinking what is this nut talking about. I am referring to the 5th year anniversary of our publication-Ag Trader. It is hard to believe it has been five years and it does only seem like yesterday that we printed our first issue. I guess the saying “Time flys when you’re having fun” is really true because we really enjoy publishing our... read more

Soybean forum features markets, weeds, diseases

Soybean forum features markets, weeds, diseases
OAK GROVE, La. – An LSU AgCenter economist gave an outlook for the 2012 soybean market at the Tri-State Soybean Forum on Jan. 6. Kurt Guidry told soybean farmers gathered at the meeting that they’ve been fortunate to have three good years for supply and demand. “We are starting to see a slowdown in terms of demand, with a slight increase in ending stocks,” Guidry said.
The economist said China purchases a... read more

Controlling Lice on Your Cattle

Controlling Lice on Your Cattle, Dr. Jeremy Powell, Associate Professor, and Dr. Chris Tucker, Program Associate

Even though other external parasites such as flies and ticks are not a problem this time of year, you still need to be on the lookout for signs of lice in your cattle. This problem usually starts in the late fall and builds throughout the winter months. If you have noticed your cows standing around scratching on fence posts, trees or the hay feeder, then they may be infested... read more

Where's the Beef Demand?

Where’s the Beef Demand?
Source: Ross Pruitt, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness LSU AgCenter
The rise in cattle prices to historic levels has largely been due to supply factors: higher costs of production, tight supplies of cattle, and lower production of competing meats. A strong and robust export market for U.S. beef also helped, but what about the strength of domestic demand for beef? Higher prices at the farm level are good, but they... read more

Did You Know?

Did You Know? Mature cows will drink from 6 to 18 gallons of water daily, depending on the time of year and their lactation status. A wholesome, continuous supply of water is crucial.

Nutritionist encourages heart-healthy diet

Nutritionist encourages heart-healthy diet
February, American Heart Month, signals the importance of taking steps to prevent heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women.
One in four women in the United States dies of heart disease, while one in 30 dies of breast cancer, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Beth Reames.
To raise the awareness of heart disease and help prevent heart disease and stroke, women throughout America are encouraged... read more

Experts urge patience at forestry forum

Experts urge patience at forestry forum WEST MONROE, La. – With excess houses on the market and no immediate sign of increased housing construction, forestland owners and others were told to be patient at the 2012 Ag Expo Forestry Forum presented by the LSU AgCenter Jan. 20 at the West Monroe Convention Center. LSU AgCenter forest economist Mike Dunn said the current situation for... read more

'Ag Alley' provides eye-opening experience for many young people

‘Ag Alley’ provides eye-opening experience for many young people
WEST MONROE, La – For more than 2,000 first-and fourth-graders from northeast Louisiana, the LSU AgCenter’s Ag Alley at the 30th annual Ag Expo on Jan. 18-19 offered a chance to get up close and personal with plants and animals.
Ag Alley is a series of four exhibits with information to help children learn where their food comes from, according to Richard Letlow, LSU AgCenter agent and exhibit coordinator.read more

Predator control featured at field day

Predator control featured at field day Source: LSU AgCenter
NAPOLEONVILLE, La. – Landowners and farmers learned about controlling animal pests, especially coyotes and wild pigs, at a field day held recently (Jan. 23) by the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant .
The event featured Walter Cotton of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, who demonstrated methods for catching coyotes with snares and foothold traps. He also showed techniques for... read more

La. farmers pass rice referendum

La. farmers pass rice referendum
Louisiana rice farmers overwhelmingly agreed to continue paying a nickel for every 100 pounds of rice for research and 3 cents per hundred pounds for promotion for the next five years.
The vote was held Jan. 17, and the final tally was made official Monday (Jan. 23) when the results were announced.
The totals showed 357 producers voting for the research check-off and 65 voting against, or 85 percent in favor of the measure and 15 percent against.
The promotion... read more

Manage for nematodes in vegetable gardens

Manage for nematodes in vegetable gardens, By Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter Horticulturist
There is an invisible pest living in the soil of our vegetable gardens. For many Louisiana gardeners, high population levels of nematodes can reduce the vigor and productivity of their vegetable plants. These microscopic round worms are also a problem for commercial farmers, causing substantial crop and monetary losses as they reappear year after year.
“It often is difficult to recognize nematodes as the problem,”... read more

Livestock Market News - Situation and Outlook, Week Ending January 27, 2012

Livestock Market News - Situation and Outlook, Week Ending January 27, 2012 VOLATILE CORN PRICES EXPECTED TO CONTINUE: Livestock and poultry producer margins were whipsawed by feedstuff costs in 2011. Between mid-December 2011 and the first week of January this year corn prices at Omaha increased 56 cents per bushel to $6.34. For the first week of January, Omaha corn was 58 cents above a year earlier. Recent price increases were driven by unfavorable... read more

Livestock Market News - Situation and Outlook, Week Ending February 2, 2012

Livestock Market News - Situation and Outlook, Week Ending February 2, 2012 According to Tim Petry, Livestock Economist, North Dakota State University Extension Service: Drought Impacts Cattle Numbers. USDA-NASS released the CATTLE report on Friday,... read more

Farmers Need To Fight Hyper Regulation with Involvement

Farmers Need To Fight Hyper Regulation with Involvement Source: www.fb.org HONOLULU, January 9, 2012 – Farmers need to commit their time, energy, money and best thinking if they want to stop the proliferation of federal regulations that threaten their businesses, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce official said today at the American Farm Bureau Federation 93rd Annual Meeting.... read more

Prune trees, shrubs carefully

Prune trees, shrubs carefully By LSU AgCenter Horticulturists Dan Gill, Kyle Huffstickler and Allen Owings
Pruning is one of the activities that many home gardeners have questions about. When to prune? How to prune? Why prune?
To get started, we need to remember that no specific set of rules will cover all pruning. The important consideration should be preserving the natural form of a particular species.
The extent of annual pruning depends on each plant. Some shrubs may require the removal of a considerable... read more

Trichomoniasis Cases Continue to Rise in Arkansas

Trichomoniasis Cases Continue to Rise in Arkansas, Source: Dr. Jeremy Powell, UofA A total of 97 cases of Trichomoniasis were reported in Arkansas during 2011.That number had been increasing steadily since new regulations were set in place last year, indicating that any breeding bull changing ownership in Arkansas must be accompanied by a negative test for trichomoniasis.The new regulations only exempt bulls that are going directly for... read more

Egg Legislation Replaces Science with Politics

Egg Legislation Replaces Science with Politics WASHINGTON, D.C., January 24, 2012 – The American Farm Bureau Federation today strongly criticized a bill pushed by the Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers to implement an agreement they reached to replace decades of science-based animal care practices with strict government control.... read more

AFBF Urges Congress to Reject Antibiotic Restrictions

AFBF Urges Congress to Reject Antibiotic Restrictions WASHINGTON, D.C., January 25, 2012 – The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging congressional members to oppose legislation that would restrict the use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry. In letters to Senate and House members, AFBF said the legislation would handicap veterinarians and farmers in their efforts to maintain animal health and protect... read more

Farmer: Child Labor Regs Need Further Revision

Farmer: Child Labor Regs Need Further Revision WASHINGTON, D.C., February 2, 2012 – Young people and the contributions they make as members of farm and ranch families are vital to American agriculture, according to Missouri hog farmer Chris Chinn. Testifying on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation, she told the House Small Business’ Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy... read more

Statement by Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Regarding

Statement by Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Regarding Child Labor Rule Decision WASHINGTON, D.C., February 1, 2012 – “The decision today by the Labor Department to re-propose the ‘parental exemption’ in the child labor rule is a positive step, but much more work is needed. We will continue to work with the administration to address our concerns with the rule. Any final regulation must make sense, not infringe on the traditional rights of family farms and not unnecessarily... read more

Notes from Germany

After a great Christmas at home with family and friends, I traveled back to Germany at the beginning of January, leaving from the Monroe airport to Houston and then flying the 5,000 miles from there to Frankfurt. Upon arrival in Germany, I took a two hour train ride south to Freiburg, and then another train from there through the mountains of the Black Forest to the small town where I live in Neustadt. Finally, all I had left to do was climb the mountainside up from the train station to my house, but in the falling snow, that was easier said than done. Behind... read more

Ag Expo

Ag Expo
I would like to congratulate the North Louisiana Agri-Business Council on a successful 2012 Ag Expo. It was another great event to spotlight and promote the agriculture industry in our state. I know all the officers and members of the Agri-Business Council put in a lot of hard work and spent many hours preparing for this event. I would especially like to thank Sandy Lyons, Executive Director, Kay Shipp, Past President and Janet Rutledge. I can always depend on these ladies to help me out when I have questions or need something. I don’t... read more

Cutting Corners

This recipe belongs to Velvet Roberts (the oldest of our 6 children) and was recently spotlighted in the Taste of Louisiana Magazine.

Squirrel Mulligan

6 squirrels boiled tender and deboned
Approximately 1 gallon of broth
6 large red potatoes –diced
4 med to large onions –diced
1 1/2 lbs real butter ( unsalted)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon black pepperread more