August 2019 Articles

Archives by Months

Spiritual Corner: Thanks or Complaints?

Spiritual Corner: Thanks or Complaints?

I want you to stop and think for a moment. How often do you complain? I’m afraid that my answer would be embarrassing. Just today I was complaining because we had a lot of leftover pizza that I had already eaten the past two days and I wanted something different. I stop and think about that complaint now and I am embarrassed. How many people in this world would feel lucky to have a fridge full of leftover Johnny’s pizza?... read more

Producers Complete Master Cattleman Course

Producers Complete Master Cattleman Course

The LSU AgCenter Northwest Region annual Master Cattleman Course completed its ten week run on Monday, May 6, 2019 with 19 producers graduating. This year’s course was held at the LSU AgCenter Winn Parish Extension Office in Winnfield. Over the course of ten weeks graduates learned valuable information about all phases of beef production including nutrition, reproduction, herd health, pastures and forages, cattle handling, economics... read more

Bahiagrass: Extensively Grown, But Often Mismanaged

Bahiagrass: Extensively Grown, But Often Mismanaged — Ed Twidwell, Professor—Extension Agronomist, LSU AgCenter Despite being planted on over several million acres in the Southeastern United States, bahiagrass has always seemed to me to be the “Rodney Dangerfield” of perennial warm-season forage grass species. It just doesn’t... read more

Managing Heat Stress in Beef Herds this Summer

Managing Heat Stress in Beef Herds this Summer — Dr. Kim Mullenix, Extension Animal Scientist, Auburn University, Department of Animal Sciences What is Heat Stress? Heat stress in the cattle herd may be a concern during the warmest months of the year in the Southeast USA (June through early September;... read more

Field day stresses need for young people in agriculture

Field day stresses need for young people in agriculture Writer: Karol Osborne at kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu or 318-574-2465 (07/26/19) BONITA, La. — The importance of connecting young people to agriculture and securing the future of farming in America emerged as central themes at the 2019 Morehouse Farm Field Day held July 19 in Bonita. “Do it because you love it,” said Southern... read more

Field day expo teaches about many aspects of agriculture

Field day expo teaches about many aspects of agriculture Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu Writer: Olivia McClure at 225-578-3262/ omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu (07/01/19) ALEXANDRIA, La. — About 175 people turned out June 27 for the LSU AgCenter’s second annual field day expo — a wide-ranging educational event that began last year in northeast Louisiana and this year... read more

Guest-Worker Reforms Essential as Enforcement Increases

Guest-Worker Reforms Essential as Enforcement Increases Source: www.fb.org The federal government’s announcement of plans to expand and expedite the deportation of undocumented workers prompted a forceful call for guest-worker reforms by AFBF President Zippy Duvall.... read more

Dangers to Cattle Health after the Floodwaters Recede

Dangers to Cattle Health after the Floodwaters Recede Heidi Ward, DVM, PhD, Assistant Professor & Extension Veterinarian University of Arkansas
Now that Arkansas floodwaters are starting to recede, it is time to discuss some potential health issues that cattle may face in the next couple of months. Normally, special attention is paid to the actual flooding event – isolation of cattle, no access to feed or water sources, movement... read more

Horse Grazing on Small Acreages

Horse Grazing on Small Acreages Dirk Philipp, PhD, Associate Professor - Forages, University of Arkansas Property owners who want to keep horses often face a dilemma: how to fulfill a longtime wish for you loved ones with perhaps little land available. At the urban-rural interface, 5 to 10-acre patches are sometimes developed into so-called ‘ranchetts’ with the purpose of providing larger lots... read more

Mexico First to Approve USMCA

Mexico First to Approve USMCA Source: www.fb.org The Mexican Senate this week approved the U.S.–Mexico–Canada agreement, making Mexico the first country to ratify the pact. Canada has started the ratification process through its Parliament and, as required, Trump administration trade officials have sent to Congress a draft... read more

FCC Prepares to Launch Precision Agriculture Connectivity Task Force

FCC Prepares to Launch Precision Agriculture Connectivity Task Force Source: www.fb.org The Federal Communications Commission is forming a new task force to advise the commission on how to ensure farmers and ranchers have the connectivity they need to use and benefit from precision agriculture. The task force will work with... read more

Farm Bureau Welcomes Progress on Water Rule Changes

Farm Bureau Welcomes Progress on Water Rule Changes The following statement regarding repeal of the 2015 Waters of the United States rule can be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “The Administration has moved its effort to repeal the 2015 Waters of the United States rule to the Office of Management and Budget, the last step before formal issuance. This is good news and welcome news.... read more

Forging a Way Forward in Urban Agriculture

Forging a Way Forward in Urban Agriculture By Bailey Corwine With the population of Americans living in rural parts of the country growing ever smaller, the agricultural community must begin to consider the ways in which it engages with the urban population. Recently a group of key stakeholders, including state and county Farm Bureau leaders and staff, met to discuss the role Farm Bureau plays in cultivating... read more

New Homegrown by Heroes Logo Representing Female Veterans

New Homegrown by Heroes Logo Representing Female Veterans
Baton Rouge, La. (July 22, 2019) – The Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) recently revamped its state collaborated Homegrown by Heroes labels with the inclusion of a female service member to complement the existing male figure. Currently, 12 states, including Louisiana, are participating in the program which brings awareness to consumers of agricultural products that are produced by U.S. military veterans. Veterans who are part of the program... read more

Passing USMCA Will Help Cattle Producers

Passing USMCA Will Help Cattle Producers Source: National Cattlemen’s Association Texas rancher and NCBA member Kelley Sullivan Georgiades testified before a House Agriculture subcommittee. In her comments, Sullivan explained why trade with Canada and Mexico has benefitted cattle and beef producers across the country. “The most important thing this Congress can do for cattle producers is approve... read more

New Farmers.gov Feature Helps Producers Find Farm Loans that Fit Their Operation

New Farmers.gov Feature Helps Producers Find Farm Loans that Fit Their Operation WASHINGTON, July 17, 2019 – A new online tool can help farmers and ranchers find information on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) farm loans that may best fit their operations. USDA has launched the new Farm Loan Discovery Tool as the newest feature on farmers.gov, the Department’s self-service website for farmers.... read more

Growing an edible landscape

Growing an edible landscape Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter Horticulturist There’s a whole lot of mowing going on around town and all over the state this time of year. Grasses thrive in this hot and humid weather. Drive anywhere, and you will see landscape crews and homeowners out on mowers and with weed whackers or string trimmers trying to tame the weeds and grass. All to start the cycle over again in a week’s time.... read more

AgCenter sweet potato field day set for Aug 22 at Black Gold Farms

AgCenter sweet potato field day set for Aug 22 at Black Gold Farms Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu (07/02/19) CHASE, La. — The annual LSU AgCenter sweet potato field day is set for Aug. 22 at Black Gold Farms headquarters at 2305 La. Highway 17 in Delhi. “This field day offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with our industry and tour... read more

AgCenter sweet potato field day set for Aug 22 at Black Gold Farms

AgCenter sweet potato field day set for Aug 22 at Black Gold Farms Writer: Karol Osborne at 318-574-2465 or kosborne@agcenter.lsu.edu (07/02/19) CHASE, La. — The annual LSU AgCenter sweet potato field day is set for Aug. 22 at Black Gold Farms headquarters at 2305 La. Highway 17 in Delhi. “This field day offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with our industry and tour an on-farm site to... read more

Northeast Louisiana Beef & Forage Field Day

Northeast Louisiana Beef & Forage Field Day - In its 7th year, the LSU AgCenter will be hosting a beef & forage field day at Goldmine Plantation in south Richland Parish on Thursday, September 19, 2019. We’ve got an excellent program with planned topics including: ● Fly Control Strategies ● Chute Out (live animal squeeze chute demonstrations) ● Feral Hog Trap Demonstration ● Importance of Minerals ● Efficient Hay Feeding ● Hay Sampling for Analysis Demonstration... read more

Just Rambling August 2019 Issue:

Just Rambling: I hope each of you don’t object but I am going to write about my family this month since so many things have happened and are happening with my family. To begin with I had a new grandson, Hudson Shiloh, born on December 21, 2018 not long after my daughter, Velvet, passed away. He is the son of my daughter, Avery Vanessa and her husband, Jerome Wilson. For many years they said they didn’t want children so Avery was thirty-six when Hudson was born. You should see them NOW! They are proud parents and needless... read more

August Scripture to Live By:

August Scripture to Live By: Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen,... read more