April 2019 Articles

Archives by Months

Just Rambling April 2018:

Just Rambling: The Ag-mazing museum opened to the public on March 27th. A special reception was held on March 26 to officially open the museum with Dr. Mike Strain, Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry doing the honors. As I stated in our March Ag Trader, my daughter, Velvet, who passed away on October 30, 2018, went before the museum board to get this Ag-mazing exhibit approved. Having forgotten when my daughter was first operated... read more

Spiritual Corner: Just Like Johnsongrass 

Spiritual Corner: Just Like Johnsongrass
The other night, my husband, dad, brother-in-law, and I were at a Union Parish Cattlemen’s meeting. We were enjoying a wonderful meal and listening to Mr. Ron Strahan speak on weeds and how to get rid of them. For whatever reason, one phrase that Mr. Strahan said stuck out to me and prompted me to type it in the notes of my phone. He said, “Johnsongrass is a good forage, but can be toxic when under stress”. This... read more

Winners of the 1st Annual Velvet Bennett Roberts photography contest

Winners of the 1st Annual Velvet Bennett Roberts photography contest
ADULT DIVISION:
Scenery
1st – Ashley Dison, Spearsville (Horse silhouette @ sunset) *FAMILY CHOICE AWARD
2nd – Victoria Dorgan, Spearsville (Sky/pond reflection)
3rd – Amelia Warden, Bernice (Sunset & Ok-state weathervane)
Animals
1st - Ashley Dison, Spearsville (B&W Horse & Foal)
2nd – Sandi Thurston,... read more

Scripture to Live By: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Scripture to Live By: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 16—Rejoice Always 17—Pray without ceasing 18—In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Suns Out, Fertilizer Out?

Suns Out, Fertilizer Out? After a cold, dreary winter we get anxious about our warm season perennial pastures and hay meadows. We start panicking about the winter weeds we see growing, the volunteer ryegrass we see growing and we start making calls to our local fertilizer retailer. Now, let’s take a moment and talk about the RIGHT... read more

Update on the cattle cycle: what’s next?

Update on the cattle cycle: what’s next? The January 1, 2019 inventory of all cattle and calves in the U.S. grew to 94.76 million, head, up 0.5 percent from one year ago. This puts the number of cattle in the country just slightly higher than 2009 levels after dropping to a low of 88.53 million head in 2014, with an increase of 6.23 million head in the last five years. The inventory... read more

Louisiana January 1 All Cattle Inventory Down

Louisiana January 1 All Cattle Inventory Down 2 Percent: All cattle and calves in Louisiana, as of January 1, 2019, totaled 800,000 head, were down 2 percent from January 1, 2018. The calf crop for the full year of 2018 was 360,000 head, down 3 percent from last year. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 470,000 head, were down 3 percent from January 1, 2018; beef cows, at 459,000 head, were down 3 percent; and milk cows, at 11,000 head, were down 8 percent from 2018. All heifers weighing 500 pounds and over... read more

Timber markets face challenges

Timber markets face challenges Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu (03/21/19) Shreveport, La. — Market opportunities, management practices and tax incentives were among the topics presented at the 34th Ark-La-Tex Forestry Forum held March 12 at the LSU Shreveport University Center. “It’s not what you... read more

Wildflowers can cause cattle problems

Wildflowers can cause cattle problems Writer: Bruce Schultz at 337-788-8821 or bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu (03/13/19) JEANERETTE, La. — Experts from the LSU AgCenter talked at a field day on March 9 about wildflowers being potentially fatal to cattle, determining cattle age by dental inspection, the current cattle market and the basics of cattle digestion. About 85 people attended the event at the AgCenter Iberia... read more

Wheat crop survives below-freezing temperatures

Wheat crop survives below-freezing temperatures Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu (03/20/19) WINNSBORO, La. — Wheat producers may fare better than expected from the arctic blast that plunged temperatures into the mid- to upper 20s in early March and threatened the crop across Louisiana.... read more

Azaleas herald arrival of Louisiana spring

Azaleas herald arrival of Louisiana spring Editor: Olivia McClure at 225-578-3262 or omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter Horticulturist Welcome spring! In the Louisiana landscape, nothing heralds the first official day of the season like the azalea and its grandiose flowers. It is one of the most commonly used ornamental plants in both home and commercial landscapes. The Indiana azaleas (Rhododendron... read more

Farm Bureau Statement on Gray Wolf Delisting

Farm Bureau Statement on Gray Wolf Delisting Source: www.fb.org The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “The Fish and Wildlife Service today announced they will soon begin a rulemaking to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list. This is welcome news to farmers and ranchers.... read more

Broad Coalition Urges Congress to Protect Farm Program Funding

Broad Coalition Urges Congress to Protect Farm Program Funding Source: www.fb.org As farmers, ranchers and rural communities grapple with a devastatingly weak farm economy, nearly 200 organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and several state Farm Bureaus, are urging congressional budget writers to reject calls for additional cuts to farm bill programs.... read more

New Legislation Provides Economic Boost to 4-H, FFA Students

New Legislation Provides Economic Boost to 4-H, FFA Students A recently introduced House bill would give an economic boost to young people in agriculture by allowing 4-H and FFA students aged 21 and younger to keep more of the modest income they earn. The students can turn around and put the money toward higher education or future agricultural projects. The Student Agriculture Protection Act of 2019 (H.R.... read more

American Farm Bureau Supports Year-Round E15 Proposal

American Farm Bureau Supports Year-Round E15 Proposal Source: www.fb.org The following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of its proposed rule to allow expanded E15 fuel sales may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “The Environmental Protection... read more

Nation’s Ag Leaders Urge Ratification of USMCA

Nation’s Ag Leaders Urge Ratification of USMCA
Baton Rouge, La. (February 26, 2019) – Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., praised the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) which modernizes the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). “I’m pleased that Canada and Mexico have taken this important step in the right direction toward fair trade and increased market access for American farmers and ranchers,” Strain... read more

Home gardening featured at spring seminar

Home gardening featured at spring seminar Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu (03/18/19) ALEXANDRIA, La. — Gardeners, landscapers and vegetable growers gathered tips at the LSU AgCenter spring garden seminar and expo held March 8 at the State Evacuation Shelter near Alexandria. “The show is an inaugural event for the central region and serves as a launching pad for new outreach... read more

LSU AgCenter presents AgMagic this spring in Baton Rouge, New Orleans area

LSU AgCenter presents AgMagic this spring in Baton Rouge, New Orleans area Writer: Olivia McClure at 225-578-3262 or omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu (03/18/19) BATON ROUGE, La. — The LSU AgCenter will present two editions of AgMagic, an interactive exhibit about Louisiana agriculture, this spring.... read more

Azalea Toxicity in Goats

Azalea Toxicity in Goats Source: Christine B. Navarre, DVM, LSU AgCenter and M.S. Gill, DVM Azaleas are toxic to goats, and even small amounts of the plant’s foliage can result in poisoning. The poisoning may occur when goats browse azaleas (Rhododendron indica) or when well-meaning individuals throwing azalea clippings to nearby goats. Azaleas are found worldwide and have been responsible for numerous instances of poisoning... read more

New Certification Process for Sales Tax Exemption

New Certification Process for Sales Tax Exemption Everyone, The process for receiving the state sales and use tax exemption for purchasing of agricultural inputs will be changing. Historically, a producer would complete an exemption certificate form and provide to the input supplier. For example, a cattle rancher or row-crop producer would complete the Louisiana Department of Revenue’s (LDR) Form R-1007 and provide it to the input supplier to be able to purchase inputs without paying state sales and use tax (or pay them at a lower... read more

Beef Cattle Artificial Insemination Class at Hill Farm Station

Beef Cattle Artificial Insemination Class at Hill Farm Station
The Hill Farm Research Station in conjunction with Louisiana Tech University will be offering a beef cattle artificial insemination class at the Hill Farm in Homer on May 9-11, 2019. Attached to this email is the registration form for the class. Space is very limited and registration will be on a first come, first serve basis. This class will fill up quickly so producers are encouraged to call Kathy at the Hill Farm (318-927-2578) and reserve their spot.

LSU AgCenter beef, forage field day set for April 25 in Bossier City

LSU AgCenter beef, forage field day set for April 25 in Bossier City Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu (03/26/19) BOSSIER CITY, La. — The LSU AgCenter will host a northwest beef and forage field day on April 25 at the AgCenter Red River Research Station in Bossier City. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. The program will begin with field tours at 9, followed at noon with... read more

USDA Designates Two Louisiana Parishes as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

USDA Designates Two Louisiana Parishes as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Parishes Also Available WASHINGTON, March 28, 2019 — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated two Louisiana parishes as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Lafayette and St. Martin parishes who suffered losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred... read more

LSU AgCenter wheat, cover crop field day set for April 12

LSU AgCenter wheat, cover crop field day set for April 12 Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu (03/21/19) WINNSBORO, La. — The LSU AgCenter will hold a wheat and cover crop field day April 12 at the Tom H. Scott Research and Educational Center south of Winnsboro. Registration is at 8:30 a.m., with opening remarks beginning at 9. Wheat production field tours will include crop updates,... read more