May 2018 Articles

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Just Rambling May 2018

Just Rambling: During this month we recognize Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, which is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. The holiday, which is currently observed every year on the last Monday of May, will be held on May 28th this year. It was held on May... read more

Spiritual Corner: Love Like Jesus

Spiritual Corner: Love Like Jesus
You never know what someone is going through. Just like others don’t always know what YOU are going through. People hide behind fake smiles and laughter every single day. They act outgoing and extroverted when really they are just trying to hide their pain. People cover up their weaknesses so that they can appear strong. That person who is rude to you in the checkout line…they just might be dealing with something... read more

FARM Act Website Update for CERCLA EPCRA Reporting

FARM Act Website Update for CERCLA EPCRA Reporting —
The Office of Emergency Management updated its web content today (5/1/18) to reflect the impact of recent legislation that that affects reporting requirements under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).
The Fair Agricultural Reporting Method (FARM) Act exempted farmers from reporting “air emissions... read more

Flushing - Is it for me?

Flushing- is it for me? Toilets, always; cows maybe. Flushing is a term used to ramp up nutrient intake with supplemental feed during the breeding season. The most important factor affecting the time from calving to rebreeding and overall pregnancy rate is body condition at calving. Pastures haven’t been growing as good as expected for... read more

It’s probably not mosquitoes but gnats biting

It’s probably not mosquitoes but gnats biting Writer: Craig Gautreaux at 225-578-5673 or cgautreaux@agcenter.lsu.edu(4/30/18) BATON ROUGE, La. — They have many different common names and cover several different species, but one thing they all have in common is they are a nuisance to people and livestock. These pests are called turkey gnats, buffalo gnats and... read more

Cattle producers, beekeepers encouraged to collaborate

Cattle producers, beekeepers encouraged to collaborate Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu
(05/01/2018) WINNSBORO, La. — Clover-covered pastures benefits both cattle and pollinators like honeybees, according to LSU AgCenter experts who are encouraging cattle producers and beekeepers to work together. “If beekeepers can find cattle ranchers with good forage... read more

AgCenter field day features pasture, cattle information

AgCenter field day features pasture, cattle information Writer: Olivia McClure @ 225-578-3262 / omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu
(05/01/18) HOMER, La. — Cattle producers should not be overeager to plant multiple forage crops in their pastures, particularly if they do not have a specific purpose in mind, an LSU AgCenter scientist said at a recent field day. “We don’t need to plant a lot of different things... read more

Cool weather delays spring crops

Cool weather delays spring crops Writer: Bruce Schultz @ 337-788-8821 or bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/20/18) CROWLEY, La. — Cool April weather has slowed growth of recently planted crops, especially rice. The season started with good planting conditions in March. “But the cool weather... read more

Make gardening easier with mulches

Make gardening easier with mulches Editor: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu By Dan Gill LSU AgCenter Horticulturist Mulching is an easy-to-do, labor-saving gardening technique all gardeners should take advantage of. A mulch is a material, usually organic but sometimes inorganic, that we use to cover the... read more

LSU AgCenter field day highlights wheat, oat research

LSU AgCenter field day highlights wheat, oat research Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/23/2018) WINNSBORO, La. — LSU AgCenter experts, speaking at the annual wheat and oat field day held April 18 at the LSU AgCenter Tom H. Scott Research, Extension and Education Center in Winnsboro, reported impressive wheat production this year, which could offset depressed prices.... read more

NCBA Lays Out Principles for Regulating Fake Meat

NCBA Lays Out Principles for Regulating Fake Meat Source: www.beefusa.org WASHINGTON (April 10, 2018) – Today the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association submitted official comments to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) outlining key principles for the regulation of fake meat products. The comments, filed in response to... read more

Farm Bureau to Congress: Tariffs’ Impact on U.S. Agriculture Must be Consider

Farm Bureau to Congress: Tariffs’ Impact on U.S. Agriculture Must be Considered Source: www.fb.org Any effort to impose tariffs on Chinese imports by the U.S. runs the risk of retaliatory measures against the nearly $20 billion in agricultural products U.S. farmers and ranchers sent to China in 2017, the American Farm Bureau Federation recently told Congress. “The impact on American farmers... read more

Farm Bureau Encourages Lawmakers to Support Death Tax Repeal Bill

Farm Bureau Encourages Lawmakers to Support Death Tax Repeal Bill Source: www.fb.org Many farms and ranches will be helped by the recently enacted estate tax exemption of $11 million per person indexed for inflation and the continuation of stepped-up basis, but the threat of a return to the $5.5 million per-person exemption in 2026 highlights the need for permanent relief, according... read more

Bridging the Rural Digital Divide

Bridging the Rural Digital Divide
Farmers take great pride in our work and the tools we use to grow and raise an affordable and sustainable food supply. You can’t get much done on the farm without getting your hands dirty, and the same is true for the tools and machinery a farmer relies on. Farm equipment today is getting “smarter” and accomplishing things we never dreamed of, and high-speed internet is the key to making it all work. Thanks... read more

Planning summer flower gardens

Planning summer flower gardens Editor: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu By Dan Gill LSU AgCenter Horticulturist As May approaches, we transition from the warm days and cool nights of spring and early summer to the hot days and warm nights that will be with us until September. With the increasing heat, you should be noticing the inevitable decline of your cool-season bedding plants.... read more

Blackberries and Dewberries

Blackberries and Dewberries — Blackberry and dewberry are closely related, but they are very different in growth habits and physical characteristics. Dewberry exhibits a low, vine-like, trailing growth habit that forms mats that are rarely taller than 2 feet above the ground. Blackberry typically has an upright rambling growth habit, which can form impenetrable thickets that are often 4 to 6 feet tall. Stems of dewberry have slender thorns and numerous red hairs, while upright blackberry stems have few to no hairs... read more

Low Interest Emergency Physical Loss Loans Available for 10 Arkansas Counties wi

Low Interest Emergency Physical Loss Loans Available for 10 Arkansas Counties with Assistance to Producers in Surrounding Counties and States LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 1, 2018 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting Administrator Steve Peterson today announced that physical loss loans... read more

Food processors conference set for June 5-6 in Baton Rouge Writer: Rick Bogren a

Food processors conference set for June 5-6 in Baton Rouge Writer: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu(05/01/18) BATON ROUGE, La. — Growing trends in the food industry will be featured at the 2018 Louisiana Food Processors Conference on June 5-6 in Baton Rouge. Several presentations will focus on changes in the retail food products industry... read more

LSU AgCenter field day expo set for June 19 in Winnsboro

LSU AgCenter field day expo set for June 19 in Winnsboro Writer: Karol Osborne @318-574-2465/ kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/27/2018) WINNSBORO, La. — The LSU AgCenter will hold a crop production and pest management field day expo June 19 at the Tom H. Scott Research, Extension and Education Center in Winnsboro. The expo represents a new field day model intended... read more

Spaghetti with Garlic-Shrimp & Broccoli

Spaghetti with Garlic-Shrimp & Broccoli
You can make this in less than 30 minutes, it suppose to feed 6 but I would need to double the recipe if I was to feed 6 of my family.

1/2 lb spaghetti, uncooked 4 cups small broccoli florets 1/2 cup Tuscan House Italian Dressing 1 lb uncooked deveined peeled large shrimp (you may use frozen) 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

Cook spaghetti in large saucepan as directed... read more