February 2019 Articles

Archives by Months

Just Rambling February 2019:

Just Rambling: During this year’s Ag Expo, State Senator Francis Thompson was awarded the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. When receiving this award Senator Thompson referred to Agriculture as the backbone of this nation and he went on to say that President Trump had stole his words referring to Agriculture as the backbone of our state and nation. After hearing these remarks I thought about a speech I wrote and delivered in January 1967, as a seventeen... read more

Spiritual Corner: Mundane to Magnificent

Spiritual Corner: Mundane to Magnificent Lately, I’ve been reading in the book of Genesis. It’s amazing to me how the book that we often think is simply dealing with creation, is so packed full of scriptural jewels that we can apply to our lives and learn from. I want to look specifically at Genesis chapter 2 and verse 7. It reads, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his... read more

Thompson, area farmers honored at Ag Expo event

Thompson, area farmers honored at Ag Expo event State Sen. Francis Thompson and three area farmers were honored for their contributions to northern Louisiana agriculture last week during the North Louisiana Agri-Business Council’s annual event.... read more

The Importance of Energy —

The Importance of Energy — Managing the feed and forage resources during extremely cold periods is critical to the cow herd. To combat cold stress, the animal must increase its metabolic rate to supply more body heat. This increases dietary requirements, particularly for energy. Research has indicated that energy requirement for maintenance of beef cows with a wet hair coat is much greater. Cows that are exposed to falling precipitation and have wet hair coats are considered to... read more

Conventional Versus Non-Conventional Beef Production

Conventional Versus Non-Conventional Beef Production J. D. Rivera* & T. Dinh**, *MAFES-South MS Branch Experiment Station **Department of Animal & Dairy Science, Mississippi State U There is an abundance of misinformation that exists in regards to “Grass fed”, “Natural”, “Organic” and how they relate to conventional beef... read more

Beef Cattle Market: 2018 in Review and a Look Ahead

Beef Cattle Market: 2018 in Review and a Look Ahead — Large supplies, record exports, and trade concerns are just a few of the topics that dominated the beef headlines in 2018. Amidst all of these factors, U.S. calf and yearling prices have showed relatively consistent strength throughout the year. 2019 will likely bring a mostly flat year for national herd growth which will position the industry at a pivotal point for supplies and prices moving forward. In this article, we'll dig... read more

Louisiana Master Farmer Program graduates 13, honors outstanding participant

Louisiana Master Farmer Program graduates 13, honors outstanding participant Writer: Olivia McClure at 225-578-3262 or omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu (01/10/19) BATON ROUGE, La. — Thirteen farmers who completed an LSU AgCenter environmental stewardship training program were recognized at a ceremony Jan. 10. Members of the 2018 class... read more

AgCenter holds digital agriculture conference

AgCenter holds digital agriculture conference Writer: Olivia McClure at 225-578-3262 or omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu (02/01/19) ALEXANDRIA, La. — Farmers were encouraged to take advantage of new data-driven technologies at the LSU AgCenter digital agriculture conference Jan. 29 at the State Evacuation Shelter near Alexandria. About 90 people came to event, which was part of a new push at the AgCenter... read more

Timber producers told of changes, opportunities at Ag Expo meeting

Timber producers told of changes, opportunities at Ag Expo meeting Writer: Johnny Morgan at 225-578-8484 or jmorgan@agcenter.lsu.edu (01/22/19) WEST MONROE, La. — How to remain productive during changing times in the timber industry was a key topic covered at the 2019 Ag Expo Forestry Forum held Jan. 18 at the West Monroe Convention Center.... read more

Farm safety highlighted at field day

Farm safety highlighted at field day Writer: Johnny Morgan at 225-578-8484 or jmorgan@agcenter.lsu.edu (02/01/19) BATON ROUGE, La. — Fruit and vegetable growers attending a Jan. 29 field day on farm safety at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden heard the latest information on the new Food Safety Modernization Act, or FSMA. Growers from as far away as northern Louisiana braved some of the coldest temperatures... read more

Try starting plants from seeds

Try starting plants from seeds Editor: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu By Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter Horticulturist, retired At some point, many gardeners discover seed catalogs offer a much greater selection of annual flowers and vegetables than can be found at the local nursery. To grow those wonderful plants, however, you must be able to grow your own transplants from seed.... read more

Duvall Reviews Achievements, Plots Course as Farm Bureau Moves Toward Centennia

Duvall Reviews Achievements, Plots Course as Farm Bureau Moves Toward Centennial Source: www.fb.org In front of a celebratory gathering of approximately 6,000 farmers and ranchers from across the nation, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall opened AFBF’s 100th Annual Convention by outlining a few of the organization’s many historic accomplishments – from leading the way... read more

Farm Bureau Adopts Policies on Government Shutdown, Trade, Opioids, Cell-Base

Farm Bureau Adopts Policies on Government Shutdown, Trade, Opioids, Cell-Based Food and Broadband Farmer and rancher delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention today adopted policies to guide the organization’s work during its centennial year on key topics such as farm bill implementation, cell-cultured food products, trade, rural broadband access and rural mental health programs. “As our... read more

Farm Bureau Ready to Work With Lofgren On Immigration

Farm Bureau Ready to Work With Lofgren On Immigration The American Farm Bureau Federation today commended Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), the new chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee, for setting a high priority on solving the agricultural labor crisis. “The labor shortage is a major constraint to farm production and growth across the country, and solving this problem is... read more

Attract birds to your garden

Attract birds to your garden Editor: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu By Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter Horticulturist, retired The presence of birds is almost universally welcome among gardeners. Their contributions of movement, color, sounds and pest control... read more

Annual crops and cattle forum set for Feb. 26 in Alexandria

Annual crops and cattle forum set for Feb. 26 in Alexandria Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu (01/15/19) ALEXANDRIA, La. — Farmers can get the latest research updates and recertify private pesticide applicator licenses at a crops and cattle forum set for Feb. 26 at the State Evacuation Shelter in Alexandria.... read more

Acadiana Beef Cattle Producers Field Day

Acadiana Beef Cattle Producers Field Day Date: Saturday, March 9, 2019 Time: 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Place: Iberia Research Station, Jeanerette Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. Indoor Program... read more

2019 River Valley Beef Cattle Conference

2019 River Valley Beef Cattle Conference Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019 | Hughes Center, 1000 E. Parkway Ave Russellville, Ar 8 a.m.-noon. $20 per person registration includes steak lunch. This year’s agenda includes: • Reproductive technologies for genetic improvement. -... read more

La. Master Cattleman Course Offerings:

La. Master Cattleman Course Offerings: Louisiana Master Cattleman courses will be offered in LaSalle Parish (Jena) beginning Monday, March 4th and ending May 13th, and Winn Parish (Winnfield) beginning Monday, March 4th and ending May 6th. The classes will be on Monday evenings from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. The cost of these La. Master Cattle Producer courses will be $125. This fee covers curriculum, meals, and Master Cattleman... read more

FILL THE GAPS IN YOUR FORAGE PROGRAM

FILL THE GAPS IN YOUR FORAGE PROGRAM Winter Forage Conference Thursday, February 21, 2019—9:00am Woodland Heights Baptist Church Education Building Conway, AR Hear experience from other producers for these topics: Learn: How to fill forage gaps in fall,... read more

Ham Casserole

Ham Casserole
2 T butter 2-8oz tomato sauce 1 clove garlic, minced 1 T sugar 1 t each salt and pepper 2 lb ham, cubed 1 pkg 8 oz wide noodles 8 oz cream cheese 1 c sour cream 6 green onions 1 c grated cheddar cheese Grease 2 quart casserole. Heat butter in skillet. Stir in tomato sauce, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix in ham pieces. Cover and simmer for about 1 hour. Cook noodles. Beat cream cheese until smooth, add the sour cream... read more

February Scripture to Live By

February Scripture to Live By: Romans 8:38-39 38For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39Nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.