March 2017 Articles

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Just Rambling March 2017

Just Rambling:

When our President Donald Trump was campaigning, he said he wanted to go to Washington to drain the swamp. Now that he is there, I wonder will he be able to drain the swamp. When I think of this swamp, I immediately think of beavers. Beavers are animals that live in and near lakes and streams. They gnaw down trees to build dams and lodges in the water. If you are familiar with beavers, you know how destructive they are. They continually build dams and their lodges, destroying... read more

Spiritual Corner:

Spiritual Corner: There are few things that I am completely and utterly confident about. I might have some confidence about a few of my skills, but when you measure my skills up against another, that confidence fades a little. The one thing that I am 100% confident about is that there is a God and He loves us all very, very much. In fact, He loved us so much that He gave up His only son to die a cruel... read more

Northeast Louisiana landowners hear about conserv

Northeast Louisiana landowners hear about conservation programs Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu
(02/02/17) WEST MONROE, La. – Northeast Louisiana landowners learned more about enhancements available through a national conservation program at a meeting held Jan. 25 at the West Monroe Convention Center.
Thirty-seven people attended the event, which aimed to help landowners understand the value... read more

Farmers hear about worker protection rules

Farmers hear about worker protection rules Writer: Bruce Schultz at 337-788-8821 or bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu

(02/13/17) DELHI, La. – New worker protection standards will require more work and record-keeping on farm operations, Carol Pinnell-Alison, LSU AgCenter county agent in Franklin Parish, told producers at the Northeast Louisiana Crops Forum on Feb. 9.
Some of the new regulations went into effect in 2016, with additional changes being phased in this year... read more

Farmers hear latest crop production information

Farmers hear latest crop production information Writer: Bruce Schultz at 337-788-8821 or bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu
(02/13/17) DELHI, La. – Continuously growing cotton or soybeans in the same field can result in a buildup of reniform nematodes, LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Charles Overstreet
told producers at the Northeast Louisiana Crops Forum on Feb. 9.... read more

Experts see new innovations for rice farmers

Experts see new innovations for rice farmers Writer: Bruce Schultz at 337-788-8821 or bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu
Several new innovations will make rice production easier in the coming years, LSU AgCenter experts told farmers at the Northeast Louisiana Rice Forum recently (Feb. 8).
LSU AgCenter rice breeder Steve Linscombe said Provisia rice will enable farmers to kill red rice that has become resistant to Newpath herbicide.read more

Sweet potato farmers hear updates on industry, LSU AgCenter research

Sweet potato farmers hear updates on industry, LSU AgCenter research
Writer: Olivia McClure at 225-578-3262 or omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu (01/23/17) MANSURA, La. – The Louisiana 2016 sweet potato harvest, which was delayed by flooding rains in August, yielded 35 percent fewer bushels than the year before, farmers were told on Jan. 18 at a meeting of the Louisiana Sweet Potato Association.... read more

A "Huge Victory:" Cattlemen Hail U.S. House Passage of Resolution to Repeal BLM'

A "Huge Victory:" Cattlemen Hail U.S. House Passage of Resolution to Repeal BLM's Planning 2.0 Rule
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) today hailed U.S. House passage of a resolution that would repeal the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM's) Planning 2.0 Rule, calling it a "huge victory" for America's ranchers. If the U.S. Senate also quickly passes the resolution, it would go to the White... read more

Cattlemen Applaud Bipartisan House Passage of Red River Bill

Cattlemen Applaud Bipartisan House Passage of Red River Bill Source: Beltway Beef Newsletter
WASHINGTON (Feb. 14, 2017) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council applaud the House passage of H.R. 428 the Red River Gradient Boundary Survey Act. The bill, introduced by Congressman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) would seek to settle all federal ownership claims by providing legal certainty to landowners along the Red River.
“Private landowners... read more

Be aware of poisonous plants

Be aware of poisonous plants Editor: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu
By Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter Horticulturist
The fact that many of the plants that we grow as ornamentals are considered poisonous is a topic that horticulturists don’t often discuss. After all, cases of people eating poisonous plants are relatively rare, and there is no need to cause the public undue alarm. However, there is a need for people – particularly those with children and pets... read more

Strain Appointed to National Agricultural and Science Board

Strain Appointed to National Agricultural and Science Board
Baton Rouge, La. (February 14, 2017) — Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., is the newest member of the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) Board of Trustees (BOT). CAST, which is based in Iowa, includes members with agricultural, research, biotechnology, business and nonprofit backgrounds.
CAST addresses issues pertaining to animal sciences,... read more

From Trade to Regulations, American Farm Bureau

From Trade to Regulations, American Farm Bureau President Urges Farmers and Ranchers to Engage on Full Range of Issues The American Farm Bureau Federation’s public policy agenda shares much in common with the Trump administration on issues like regulatory reform and tax reform. But even harder issues such as farm labor and trade should present opportunities to engage with Congress and the White House, alike, AFBF President Zippy Duvall told participants at the USDA’s Agricultural Outlook... read more

Farm Bureau Hails Pruitt Confirmation

Farm Bureau Hails Pruitt Confirmation The following may be attributed to Zippy Duvall, president, American Farm Bureau Federation:
“Scott Pruitt’s confirmation to lead the Environmental Protection Agency will bring a breath of fresh air to the post. America’s farmers and ranchers look forward to working with Administrator Pruitt as he leads the EPA with a welcome level of common sense in the important job of protecting the environment.
“For... read more

Going gluten-free can remove nutrients from diet

Going gluten-free can remove nutrients from diet The gluten-free label is becoming more popular on items in the grocery store. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and triticale. People who have the autoimmune disease, celiac disease, experience a toxic immune response when they ingest... read more

Beef Herd Health Program—Vaccinations

Beef Herd Health Program—Vaccinations—A herd health program for any phase of the cattle business should focus on
preventing, rather than treating, diseases (an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!). This does not reduce the importance
of the observation and treatment of any animals that become sick, but preventive, rather than therapeutic, medicine is the key.
Recommendations will vary, depending on geographic location. All herd health programs should be developed with the advice
of... read more

USDA Reminds Individuals and Small Businesses in Georgia, Louisiana and Mississi

USDA Reminds Individuals and Small Businesses in Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi
that USDA Offers Disaster Assistance Programs to Help
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 2017 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses that could potentially be affected by the recent storms that USDA has several programs that provide assistance before, during and after disasters. USDA staff in the regional, State and county offices in the states of Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi... read more

Drone workshop set for March 16 in Alexandria

Drone workshop set for March 16 in Alexandria
Writer: Bruce Schultz at 337-788-8821 or bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu (01/31/17) ALEXANDRIA, La. – An LSU AgCenter workshop on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, in agriculture will be held March 16 at the State Evacuation Shelter on U.S. Highway 71 south of Alexandria. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., and the session will... read more

Forestry forum scheduled for March 17 in Hammond

Forestry forum scheduled for March 17 in Hammond
Writer: Johnny Morgan at 225-578-8484 or jmorgan@agcenter.lsu.edu (02/15/17) The 27th annual Florida Parishes Forestry Forum will be held on March 17 at the University Center at Southeastern Louisiana University. The forum will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 2:45 p.m. The theme is Updating Forest Landowners,... read more