Farmers hear updates on crops, research at LSU AgCenter field day in St. Joseph
Writer: Olivia McClure at 225-578-3262 or omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu Writer: Tammi Arender at 318-323-2251, 225-773-3491 (cellphone) or tarender@agcenter.lsu.edu (06/20/16) ST. JOSEPH, La. – Farmers... read more
Buddleia adds color, attracts butterflies to landscapes Writer: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu Creep Feeding: Some things to Think About Chelsey Ahrens, Ph.D., Assistant Professor – Specialty Livestock/Youth Education Specialist, University of Arkansas Creep feeding provides a way to supply extra nutrition to young kids and lambs while helping to facilitate weaning.... read more Feral hog damage topic of workshop La. farmers should scout for soybean rust disease Writer: Olivia McClure at 225-578-3262 or omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu Mulching trees needs to be done right Writer: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu Where is the Love? Senate Examines EPA's Unfunded Mandates Source: Beltway Beef Newsletter On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight held a hearing entitled, "Oversight of EPA Unfunded Mandates on State, Local, and Tribal Governments." Senator Jim Inhofe... read more Interior Appropriations Bill Advances through Committee Source: Beltway Beef Newsletter The House Committee on Appropriations favorably reported the FY 2017 Interior and Environment appropriations bill to the House of Representatives on Wednesday by a vote of 31-18. The bill addresses a number of priorities for the livestock industry, including language regarding the Greater Sage Grouse and full defunding of EPA's problematic "waters... read more Cover crops offer farmers benefits You can control fire ants Editor: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu By Dan GillLSU AgCenter Horticulturist at 225-578-2222 or dgill@agcenter.lsu.edu Farm Bureau Hails Supreme Court Victory: Farmers and Ranchers May Sue to Stop Clean Water Regulation of Ordinary Farmland Source: www.fb.org Reducing the RFS, Bad for the Environment and Economy, Farmers Tell EPA KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, June 9, 2016 - The Environmental Protection Agency must protect the Renewable Fuel Standard as Congress originally defined it nearly a decade ago, Iowa farmer Randy Caviness told the EPA at a public hearing today. He testified on behalf of Iowa Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation.... read more Environmental Best Management Practices for Poultry Production in Louisiana Source: William Owens, Lavergne, Theresia, Holmes, Jason E., Morgan, Donna S., Girouard, Ernest—LSU AgCenter Louisiana’s poultry industry, which is the largest animal industry in the state, generated $1.7 billion for the state’s economy in 2015. The LSU AgCenter Hill Farm Research Station in Homer, which is in the heart of... read more Fan Dust Evaluation To evaluate the impact of fan dust on runoff water quality, water samples were collected from plots at areas of high and low fan dust accumulation. Plots with and without grass buffer strips were utilized. Samples were collected after each sufficient rain event and evaluated for total phosphorus,... read more Red River Station field day focuses on water use Writer: Tammi Arender at 225-773-3491 (cell) or tarender@agcenter.lsu.edu 4 H Day at the Capitol provides an opportunity for youth to learn about governmental procedures and emphasizes the importance of citizen involvement in the governmental process. Participants visit with legislators sharing their 4-H experiences and learning about the role of legislators in government. They observe the legislative process in action, have opportunities to learn about the Congressional Aides and Pages Programs, and have an opportunity to tour the Capitol, museums, or other historical sites in the Baton Rouge area. Louisiana state 4-H, FFA horse show set for July 9-13 in Gonzales : Olivia McClure at 225-578-3262 or omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu 06/06/16) BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana and Mississippi county agent associations held their joint annual professional improvement conference in Natchez, Mississippi, on May 24 to 26. During the meeting, the Louisiana... read more Just Rambling:
(06/14/16) HAMMOND, La. – Known to most home gardeners as butterfly bush, buddleia is a popular perennial landscape plant that is highly regarded by butterflies as a nectar plant.
Butterfly bush is available in an increasing array of sizes, flower colors and foliage, said LSU AgCenter horticulturist Allen Owings.Creep Feeding
feral hog damage of topic of workshop
Writer: Bruce Schultz at 337-250-3876 or bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu
(05/31/16) ALEXANDRIA, La. – Controlling the feral hog epidemic will probably require chemical control, an LSU AgCenter researcher said at a workshop on May 31.
LSU AgCenter animal scientist Glen Gentry said hunting and trapping hogs is inefficient, and a large-scale contraceptive strategy has yet to be found.
Meanwhile,... read moreLa. farmers should scout for soybean rust disease
(06/10/16) BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana farmers need to make sure they’re scouting their fields for signs of diseases, including Asian soybean rust, which was found Thursday (June 9) in Iberville Parish.
The disease, which causes lesions on plants and can result in major yield losses, was observed in soybeans at the R2 growth stage in... read moreMulching trees needs to be done right
(06/21/16) HAMMOND, La. – Piling mulch too deeply around the base of trees can lead to problems, according to an LSU AgCenter
“One of the tendencies in landscapes now is to make piles of mulch – sometimes resembling the shape of a volcano or fire ant mound – around the base of trees,” said AgCenter horticulturist Allen Owings.
Oaks... read moreWhere is the Love?
As I struggled to come up with a topic to write about for this month’s Ag Trader, an old pop song came into my head. The main chorus line of the song asks, “Where is the love?” With all of the recent devastating events that have taken place, I feel like that question is valid at this point of time in our world. First, we have a child who somehow gets into a gorilla’s cage at the zoo, resulting in the gorilla having to be shot. It was a very unfortunate event and... read moreSenate Examines EPA's Unfunded Mandates
Interior Appropriations Bill Advances through Committee
Cover crops offer farmers benefits
Writer: Bruce Schultz at 337-788-8821 or bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/08/16) ALEXANDRIA, La. – LSU AgCenter researchers at the Dean Lee Research and Extension Center are studying the use of cover crops, which are grown in the off-season for erosion control, improved fertility and an increase in organic matter in the soil.... read moreYou can control fire ants
Fire ants inflict painful stings and create unsightly mounds in our landscapes, so most of us would be happier if there were no fire ants around. It’s interesting to note, however, that fire ants are excellent predators and help control... read moreFarm Bureau Hails Supreme Court Victory: Farmers and Ranchers May Sue to Stop Cl
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 31, 2016 - A unanimous Supreme Court today ruled landowners may challenge the federal government whenever the Army Corps of Engineers tries improperly to regulate land with regulations designed to protect water. Landowners have attempted many times to challenge Corps... read moreReducing the RFS, Bad for the Environment and Economy
Environmental Best Management Practices for Poultry Production in Louisiana
Fan Dust Evaluation
Red River Station field day focuses on water use
(06/21/16) BOSSIER CITY, La. – The LSU AgCenter Red River Research Station just south of Bossier City is known for and is still a leader in greenhouse tomato studies. But the new focus is water resources. The station hosted its first water resources field day on June 15.
Located only a few miles from the Red River, a major waterway leading to the Mississippi,... read more4-H day at the capitol
Louisiana state 4-H, FFA horse show set for July 9-13 in Gonzales
Writer: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu (06/15/16) GONZALES, La. – 4-H and FFA youth from throughout Louisiana will compete in the 47th Annual LSU AgCenter 4-H and FFA State Horse Show on July 9-13 at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.... read moreLouisiana, Mississippi county agents hold joint meeting
Just Rambling July 2016
During the early part of June,Donnette and I along with our two granddaughters, Katy and Savanah and my daughter Velvet with her husband, Johnny traveled to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, then to Washington DC, and to Nashville, Tennessee to the Grand Ole Opry. Johnny and Velvet did most of the driving with Donnette only filling in. I didn’t drive any but according to my granddaughter Katy, I am the best backseat driver ever. This was the first thing she told her mother, Brittany, ( Another daughter).... read more