May 2016 Articles

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Just Rambling May 2016

Louisiana Farm Bureau Beef Tour traveled throughout Mississippi on March 31 through April 3rd. A tour bus carrying over fifty cattlemen and women traveled first to Mississippi State University where we met with Dr. John Blanton, head of the Animal Science Department. Dr. Blanton, along with other professors in the department presented some of their educational programs to the group. Following the presentations a grass-fed beef lunch was provided to our group before... read more

Louisiana soybean planting off to slow start

Louisiana soybean planting off to slow start Writer: Craig Gautreaux at 225-578-5673 or cgautreaux@agcenter.lsu.edu
(04/27/16) WINNSBORO, La. – Wet fields have been an all-too-common sight across Louisiana. Many soybean farmers have yet to begin planting because of the wet conditions even though the optimum planting window for soybeans has been open for nearly two weeks.
Less than 10 percent of the state’s anticipated soybean crop has been planted, according... read more

Fresh Apple Cake

Fresh Apple Cake

4 1/2 cups, raw apple—lemon juice—1 1/2 cups salad oil—2 cups sugar—2 large eggs—2 1/2 cups flour 1 t salt—1 t baking soda—2 t baking powder—- 2 t vanilla—1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped Frosting... read more

Creep-feeding considerations

Creep-feeding considerations— The primary objective of this management practice is to put additional weight on the calf before weaning without making the calves fleshy, especially if sold at weaning. The decision whether to creep-feed calves really boils down to if it can be accomplished economically to increase the profit potential for the cow-calf producer. Types of creep feed—There are a number of creep rations that producers can consider. Most creep... read more

Global meat market overview

Global meat market overview The Foreign Agricultural Service of USDA recently released the latest Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade publication. This provides an opportunity to review meat production, consumption and trade among major countries. Pork production is the number one meat with 2016 production forecast at 109.3 million metric tons (MMT), 42 percent of global meat production.... read more

Protecting the Flock

Protecting the Flock Source: Linda Coffey, Sustainable Agriculture Specialist – Sheep and Goats, NCAT You walk out to check your sheep, and find the best lamb is missing. Your dairy goats go out to graze with their kids, and come home later without your daughter’s best show prospect. One day you come home to find a dog has ravaged your animals, and the carnage is sickening. How do you make sure this doesn’t happen on your farm? If... read more

Field day focuses on beef economics

Field day focuses on beef economics
Writer: Tammi Arender at 318-323-2251, 225-773-3491 (cellphone) or tarender@agcenter.lsu.edu (05/03/16) HOMER, La. – Cattle producers in northwest Louisiana got some insight into the economic outlook of the cattle industry and how to manage their operations more efficiently at the Northwest Beef and... read more

Riparian Buffers Are Important Landscape Features

Riparian Buffers Are Important Landscape Features Source: Dirk Philipp, Associate Professor - Forages, U of A Riparian buffers help maintain water quality in grassland ecosystems by filtering runoff, holding back nutrients, providing wildlife habitat and cooling water temperatures in streams. In many cases, riparian buffers also provide shade and water access points for livestock. Unfortunately, many of our riparian buffers are in bad shape and do not function as intended, so let’s... read more

EPA Continues Tide of Covert Propaganda

EPA Continues Tide of Covert Propaganda By: Tracy Brunner, NCBA President Cattle producers stormed Capitol Hill during the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's Legislative Conference last week, in part to get to the bottom of why federal grant money from the EPA ended up paying for a public relations campaign against livestock producers. The campaign included... read more

Researchers Discover Methane Traits Are Heritable in Beef Cattle

Researchers Discover Methane Traits Are Heritable in Beef Cattle Source: (HollyWebb and Chloe Mitchell) Taking Stock,American Society of Animal Science, March 24, 2016 For the first time ever, researchers in Australia have discovered that methane emissions from beef cattle are a heritable trait. The milestone research, published online in the Journal of Animal Science, offers the potential... read more

Farm Bureau Announces Photo Contest Winners

Farm Bureau Announces Photo Contest Winners Source: www.fb.org WASHINGTON, D.C., April 15, 2016 - Twelve photographs submitted by 10 Farm Bureau members and staff were selected as the winners of the 2015 Farm Bureau Photo Contest. Winners were selected... read more

Farm Bureau Asks Senate Subcommittee to Rein in Out-of-Control EPA

Farm Bureau Asks Senate Subcommittee to Rein in Out-of-Control EPA WASHINGTON, D.C., April 12, 2016 – Congress should hold the Environmental Protection Agency accountable for its repeated violations of open government laws, American Farm Bureau Federation board member and Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Tom Buchanan told a Senate subcommittee today.... read more

Farmers and Ranchers Need Government Support, Not Opposition, Farm Bureau Tells

Farmers and Ranchers Need Government Support, Not Opposition, Farm Bureau Tells Congress Washington, D.C, April 27, 2016 - Low commodity prices, tightening credit, expensive land and rising costs for expenses such as seed and fertilizer will lead to financial losses for many farmers and ranchers this year, Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert, Jr. told a House subcommittee today. Testifying... read more

LSU poultry judging team wins big at annual competition

LSU poultry judging team wins big at annual competition Writer: Johnny Morgan at 225-578-8484 or jmorgan@agcenter.lsu.edu
(04/14/16) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU poultry judging team took numerous awards at this year’s U.S. Poultry Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest held April 6-8.
For 69 years, LSU has hosted the event, and this year’s team competed against... read more

March flooding will cost Louisiana farmers at least $10 million

March flooding will cost Louisiana farmers at least $10 million Writer: Olivia McClure at 225-578-262omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu
(04/18/16) BATON ROUGE, La. – Excessive rains that brought historic floods to many parts of Louisiana last month will cost farmers at least $10 million in lost revenues and damage to their crops and... read more

Wooden breasts may show up in larger chickens

Wooden breasts may show up in larger chickens
Writer: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu(04/06/16) BATON ROUGE, La. – Wooden breast is a recent phenomenon in chicken meat, but Louisiana consumers aren’t likely to come across it, according to LSU AgCenter experts. The condition is most obvious on skinless chicken breasts, said AgCenter meat researcher Shannon Cruzen. “It’s hard to the touch, that’s why it’s... read more

Turkey gnats can threaten chickens

Turkey gnats can threaten chickens Writer Bruce Schultz 337-788-8821 or bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu
(04/18/16) BATON ROUGE, La. – Swarms of turkey gnats are an aggravation for people this time of year, but for chickens, the small insects can be deadly.
The bite of the pests can contain a toxin that is deadly for chickens, according to LSU AgCenter poultry specialist Theresia Lavergne.
Also, the insects swarm, and chickens become frantic, piling on top of each other and suffocating the birds on the bottom of the... read more

LSU AgCenter continues fig research

LSU AgCenter continues fig research Writer: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu
(04/01/16) HAMMOND, La. – Figs have been an important fruit crop in Louisiana for over 150 years and are one of the most popular small fruit crops grown in the state, according to experts in the LSU AgCenter.
Small orchards supporting local market areas can be found primarily in south Louisiana, but trees are grown as a residential backyard fruit crop in every parish, said AgCenter horticulturist Allen... read more

LSU AgCenter scientists develop cataract-reducing eye drops

LSU AgCenter scientists develop cataract-reducing eye drops
Writer: Olivia McClure at 225-578-3262 or omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/28/16) BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU AgCenter scientists have formulated a nanoparticle matrix that could be used in eye drops to both prevent and treat cataracts, a leading cause of vision loss in older adults.... read more