June 2016 Articles

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Just Rambling June 2016

Just Rambling:
About the Front Cover:
Sunday, May 22, 2016 was the day we had planned for during the past few months—this was the day that our 4th daughter, Dana Bennett, was married to Randy Alexander of Alex, Oklahoma. Dana and Randy had met at a church camp in Oklahoma several years before. Since that time, Dana had received her B. S. degree in Animal Science from Louisiana Tech University, and her Master’s degree in Education there as well (she graduated on May... read more

at better, move more, food expert says

Eat better, move more, food expert says Writers: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu
Tobie Blanchard at 225-578-5649 or tblanchard@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/25/16) BATON ROUGE, La. – The world has about 6.2 million square miles of cropland, about the size of South America, and 11.6 million acres of pastures, about the size of Africa. And that’s all we’re... read more

Landowners learn about value-added business at agritourism workshop

Landowners learn about value-added business at agritourism workshop
Writer: Tammi Arender at 318-323-2251 or tarender@agcenter.lsu.edu (05/16/16) KEACHI, La. – Keachi Acres in DeSoto Parish is more than just a destination. It’s recreation in its most natural form that was started by Mary Nesbitt as an agritourism business in 1999.... read more

hirty-five graduate from Louisiana Master Cattleman course

Thirty-five graduate from Louisiana Master Cattleman course
Delhi, La. – Thirty-five cattle producers and industry professionals graduated on May 9 from a Louisiana Master Cattleman course hosted in Delhi by the LSU AgCenter.
The Louisiana Master Cattleman Program is a commodity-specific program designed to help beef producers become more profitable and environmentally sustainable, said Jason Holmes, AgCenter agent in Union Parish and regional livestock specialist. The program,... read more

USDA grant to aid grass-fed beef study

USDA grant to aid grass-fed beef study Writer: Tobie Blanchard at 225-578-5649 or tblanchard@agcenter.lsu.edu
(05/25/16) BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU AgCenter researchers have received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study the production and marketing of grass-fed beef.
Guillermo Scaglia, who conducts beef cattle research at the AgCenter’s Iberia Research Station, is working with AgCenter economists to evaluate grass-fed beef breeds... read more

Students learn how to be safe on the farm

Students learn how to be safe on the farm Writer: Tammi Arender at 318-323-2251 or tarender@agcenter.lsu.edu
(05/18/16) OAK GROVE, La. – From machinery to farm implements, there are potential dangers at every turn on the farm.
That’s why the LSU AgCenter and the Progressive Agriculture Foundation have joined forces to teach fifth graders in Oak Grove and other West Carroll Parish communities how to be safe.
“We have to do this because so many children in our... read more

Check out this alternative hydrangea

Check out this alternative hydrangea Writer: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu

(05/17/16) HAMMOND, La. – May is when hydrangeas in Louisiana landscapes begin bursting into flower. Part of our Southern landscape heritage, garden hydrangeas, with their pink or blue flowers, have been around the southeastern United States for 250 years since their introduction from Japan.
“We do, though, have other species of hydrangeas that are native that... read more

Emerald Ash Borer Found in Union Parish

Emerald Ash Borer Found in Union Parish
Baton Rouge, La. (May 18, 2016) – Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a federally regulated insect pest of ash trees, has been confirmed in Union Parish making it the fourth parish in Louisiana to have EAB. EAB is a native insect of Asia. It was discovered in Michigan in 2002 and is now in 25 states, including Louisiana. EAB is a serious pest to all types of ash trees and the white fringetree, but does not attack other hardwoods or pine.
On April 28, 2016,... read more

House Ag Committee Examines Impact of Environmental

House Ag Committee Examines Impact of Environmental Regulations Source: Beltway Beef Newsletter Earlier this week, House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry held a hearing to highlight the impacts of environmental regulation and voluntary conservation solutions. Members heard from two panels of witnesses, including farmers and ranchers who... read more

Protecting Our Nation's Cattle Herd

Protecting Our Nation's Cattle Herd Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) From the Kansas-bound cattle drives of the 19th century to the more diversified methods of product transportation of the 21st century, the cattle industry is deeply embedded in our nation's culture and history. Supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs across Texas, it is a fundamental part of who... read more

As USDA considers new biotech approval approaches, farmers emphasize the signifi

As USDA considers new biotech approval approaches, farmers emphasize the significance of ag innovation

May 3, 2016-With USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service considering potential major departures from its current regulatory framework regarding biotech products, the American Farm Bureau Federation is urging the agency not to lose sight of the importance of agricultural innovation.
"Between today and the year 2050, farmers will be required to grow twice as much food to feed... read more

EPA Disparages Farmers, Hinders Progress, Farm Bureau Tells Congress

EPA Disparages Farmers, Hinders Progress, Farm Bureau Tells Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C, May 17, 2016 – Three Farm Bureau members today called on the federal government to use more carrots and fewer sticks with farmers who care for land that has often been in their families for generations. Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Richard Ebert, former Ohio Farm Bureau President Terry McClure and Florida Farm Bureau member Kate English testified before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.... read more

Fifty-Plus Ag Groups Show Support for Farm Credit System

Fifty-Plus Ag Groups Show Support for Farm Credit System Source: www.fb.org
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 19, 2016 - With farm and ranch commodity prices increasingly under pressure, concerns are growing that the agriculture economy may be entering a prolonged period of instability, making the role of the Farm Credit System more important than ever, the American Farm Bureau Federation and more than 50 agricultural groups wrote to the Senate Agriculture Committee.... read more

Statement of American Farm Bureau Federation Regarding China

Statement of American Farm Bureau Federation Regarding China Poultry Dispute Source: www.fb.org
Statement by Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Regarding China Poultry Dispute
Washington, D.C., May 10, 2016 -- "United States Trade Representative Michael Froman today announced he would bring a challenge in the World Trade Organization against Chinese tariffs that unfairly tax U.S. poultry exports. We are enthusiastic supporters of Ambassador Froman's... read more

New orchards, research results highlight fruit, vegetable field day

New orchards, research results highlight fruit, vegetable field day Writer: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu
(05/23/16) HAMMOND, La. – Louisiana fruit and vegetable growers had an opportunity to view two new orchards for olives and figs during an industry field day on May 19 at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station... read more

AgCenter scientist uses ‘nanosalt’ to reduce sodium content of foods

AgCenter scientist uses ‘nanosalt’ to reduce sodium content of foods Writer: Olivia McClure at 225-578-3262 or omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu
(05/23/16) BATON ROUGE, La. – Marvin Moncada, an LSU AgCenter food scientist, has found a way to use less salt in foods without sacrificing flavor.
Moncada developed nanosalt, which is a powder made of salt particles about 1,000 times smaller than kosher salt. By reducing the size of the particles... read more