May 2019 Articles

Archives by Months

Just Rambling May 2019

Just Rambling:
The Union Parish Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet was held on April 11, 2019. During this banquet individuals that have had a positive impact on our parish were recognized. The Agriculture Community Service Award was given to my daughter Velvet Bennett Roberts, who passed away on October 30, 2018. The award was accepted by her two children, Dusty and Savanah Roberts. Velvet loved all things agriculture and was involved in several agriculture organizations.... read more

Spiritual Corner: Lessons from Cain

Spiritual Corner: Lessons from Cain

I don’t know why, but I had a hard time figuring out what to write about this month. I just wasn’t feeling inspired, I guess you could say. However, I started to think back to a few years ago, whenever my husband was still my fiancé. I remembered a discussion we had and how it had served as a sort of epiphany for me. I had been reading in the book of Genesis, specifically about Cain and Abel. The Bible mentioned that Abel was... read more

U.S. Army Air Corps Corporal Willis Andrews: Veteran,

U.S. Army Air Corps Corporal Willis Andrews: Veteran, Mentor, Hero By Senior Airman Luke Hill, 8th Air Force Public Affairs Published April 08, 2019 BARKSDALE AFB La.— -A young man of 26 years has just returned from the largest war in world history. He has seen men saved. He has seen men die. He has served in a constant heat of battle.... read more

Scripture to Live By: Matthew 15:8-9

Scripture to Live By: Matthew 15:8-9
8 These people draw near to ME with their mouth, And honor ME with their lips, But their heart is far from ME. 9 And in vain they worship ME. Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.

Ag-mazing Speech by Stephanie Cruse

Ag-mazing Speech by Stephanie Cruse The establishment of NRCS is credited to the efforts of Hugh Hammond Bennett (known as the Father of Soil Conservation) to raise public awareness of the problem of soil erosion. Bennett understood how soil erosion by wind or water reduced the ability of the land to sustain agricultural productivity. With Franklin... read more

Legal Trivia:

Legal Trivia: If your horse neighs (or duck quacks, or dog barks) between 10 pm and 6 am and you happen to be in Essex Falls, New Jersey, you can be arrested. In Illinois, it is within the law to arrest and prosecute horses or other animals.

Louisiana-named fungus troubles wheat crop

Louisiana-named fungus troubles wheat crop Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/23/19) WINNSBORO, La. — While Louisiana can boast of many things — great food, fun festivals and places famous for history and hospitality — having a Louisiana-named fungus is not likely to top the list. Fusarium louisianense is a fungal species... read more

Magnolias are an iconic Southern tree

Magnolias are an iconic Southern tree Editor: Rick Bogren at 225-578-5839 or rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu Heather Kirk-Ballard, LSU AgCenter Horticulturist Nothing describes the iconic Southern magnolia better than its given scientific name Magnolia grandiflora. Its flowers truly are grand, and most trees are now fully set with... read more

LSU AgCenter researcher works to control sweet potato shape

LSU AgCenter researcher works to control sweet potato shape Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 r kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/23/19) WINNSBORO, La. — Candied, baked, boiled, roasted, mashed or fried, sweet potatoes are a culinary staple in Louisiana. The versatile vegetable is available in a wide array of colors, shapes and sizes as a result of extensive research and breeding protocols designed to match develop what consumers want. LSU AgCenter... read more

Louisiana homeowners should prepare for upcoming termite swarms

Louisiana homeowners should prepare for upcoming termite swarms Writer: Olivia McClure at 225-578-3262 or omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/24/19) BATON ROUGE, La. — With Formosan subterranean termites’ annual swarming season approaching, an LSU AgCenter entomologist is advising Louisiana homeowners to take steps to lower the risk of damage from the insects. When the termites come out of their colonies, they... read more

Chicken Enchilada Dip

Chicken Enchilada Dip
1 can chunk chicken, from can
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (8 ounce) jar mayonnaise
1 (8 ounce) package shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chile peppers
1 jalapeno pepper, finely diced ( I only used juice)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees .
Place shredded chicken in a medium bowl, and mix in cream cheese, mayonnaise, Cheddar cheese, green chile peppers and jalapeno pepper. Transfer the chicken mixture... read more

Farm Bureau Details Ag Program Funding Priorities, Calls for Disaster Relief

Farm Bureau Details Ag Program Funding Priorities, Calls for Disaster Relief Source: www.fb.org As lawmakers on both sides of Capitol Hill work on funding agriculture programs for 2020, the American Farm Bureau Federation is urging them to move past the political impasse that has stalled the supplemental disaster relief bill. In a statement to the House... read more

Farm Bureau Calls for House Approval of Disaster Aid

Farm Bureau Calls for House Approval of Disaster Aid Source: www.fb.org The American Farm Bureau Federation is calling on the House to pass the Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 2157) to help farmers, ranchers and rural communities devastated by catastrophic weather events. “Farms... read more

Rep. Jason Smith Fires Up Family Business Estate Tax Coalition

Rep. Jason Smith Fires Up Family Business Estate Tax Coalition Helping lawmakers, especially new members of Congress, get a good handle on the overall importance of farming and ranching is the first step to securing support for repealing the estate tax, Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) recently told several members of the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition. The American Farm Bureau Federation is a... read more

American Farm Bureau Relieved that Border Will Remain Open

American Farm Bureau Relieved that Border Will Remain Open Source: www.fb.org The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “We are relieved by the... read more

Mississippi Farm Bureau: Accurate Broadband Maps are Crucial

Mississippi Farm Bureau: Accurate Broadband Maps are Crucial With farmers as dependent on broadband as they are on highways, railways and waterways to ship their products across the country and around the world, the Federal Communications Commission must improve its maps to more accurately reflect rural Americans’ access to high-speed broadband internet — or lack thereof, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Mike McCormick... read more

How Farmers Hold onto Hope in the Tough Times

How Farmers Hold onto Hope in the Tough Times Spring is one of my favorite seasons on the farm. It’s a time of new life, fresh starts and, most of all, hope. Farmers and ranchers are some of the most hopeful people around. We can’t help it: it’s part of our DNA. We have to believe that the next season will be better than the last because we love the work we have been called to do.... read more

USDA Announces Buy-Up Coverage Availability & New Service Fees for Noninsured

USDA Announces Buy-Up Coverage Availability & New Service Fees for Noninsured Crop Coverage Policies Changes apply Beginning April 8, 2019 WASHINGTON, April 8, 2019 – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that higher levels of coverage will be offered through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance... read more

LSU hosts National Poultry Judging Contest

LSU hosts National Poultry Judging Contest Writer: Olivia McClure at 225-578-3262 or omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/10/19) BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU hosted the 72nd annual U.S. Poultry Foundation Ted Cameron National Poultry Judging Contest April 3 to 5. Teams from 10 universities competed in production, breed selection and market products judging categories. The University of Arkansas team placed first overall. The LSU team, coached by retired poultry science professor Dennis Ingram, placed... read more

Higher Limits Now Available on USDA Farm Loans

Higher Limits Now Available on USDA Farm Loans
2018 Farm Bill Increases Limits and Makes Other Changes to Farm Loans WASHINGTON, April 12, 2019 – Higher limits are now available for borrowers interested in USDA’s farm loans, which help agricultural producers purchase farms or cover operating expenses. The 2018 Farm Bill increased the amount that producers can borrow through direct and guaranteed loans available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and made changes to other loans, such as microloans... read more

Master Farmer Training

Master Farmer Training
Four LA Master Farmer Program Phase 1 Training Sessions have been scheduled for 2019. The dates and locations are listed below:
Phase I Training: May 21, 2019 - Phase 1 Training; Tangipahoa Extension Office Meeting Room; Amite, LA 1:00 PM. Contact Ronnie Levy or Allen Hogan (337) 788-7547... read more