May 2020 Articles

Archives by Months

Just Rambling May 2020

Just Rambling May 2020: The Louisiana Farm Bureau Poultry Committee has been meeting by conference call for the last few weeks trying to put together a plan to reach out to our elected delegation in Washington D.C. and to the USDA, specifically Secretary of Agriculture, Mr. Sonny Perdue. Our Louisiana Farm Bureau Poultry Committee is composed of Mr. Ron Harrell and Mr. Andy Brown, who are commodity representatives with LA Farm Bureau. Mr. Butch Oaks, poultry farmer from Ouachita... read more

 Scripture To Live By : Colossians 3:16-17 NKJV

Scripture To Live By : Colossians 3:16-17 NKJV 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing... read more

Spiritual Corner: Like a Child

Spiritual Corner: Like a Child
There have been many days, recently, where I will watch my son, Rebel, play in his crib. He was 3 months old on April 29th and he is growing and learning so much, so fast. He loves his farm animal mobile that hangs above him in his crib. Whenever I wind it up so that it will play music, his little face lights up with the biggest smile and he will usually squeal with excitement and begin to kick and wiggle his arms. As he watches the farm animals... read more

Poultry, livestock producers face economic challenges 

Poultry, livestock producers face economic challenges
Writer: Bruce Schultz at bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/24/20) FARMERVILLE, La. — The LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation have drafted a request for federal aid for poultry producers, who are not included in the most recent farm aid package — but the request has been turned down. Poultry is the largest agricultural... read more

LSU AgCenter assesses tornado damage, plans alternative pro

LSU AgCenter assesses tornado damage, plans alternative programs Writer: Bruce Schultz at bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/28/20) ALEXANDRIA, La. — Cleanup is underway at the LSU AgCenter Dean Lee Research and Extension Center, which was hit by a devastating tornado on the night of April 22. AgCenter Central Region director Tara Smith said the damage totals from... read more

Beware the coming termite swarm

Beware the coming termite swarm Writer: Johnny Morgan at jmorgan@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/27/20) BATON ROUGE, La. — This is the time of year when you can expect to begin seeing swarms of Formosan subterranean termites. Beginning in late... read more

Quote

Quote: If we lose freedom here, There is no place to escape to, This is the last stand on earth. Ronald Reagan

AgCenter participates in financial management workshop

AgCenter participates in financial management workshop
Writer: Olivia McClure at omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/30/20) BATON ROUGE, La. — Two LSU AgCenter experts offered advice for those looking to stretch their dollars amid the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic during a workshop April 30.... read more

It’s a rare person who doesn’t get discouraged.

It’s a rare person who doesn’t get discouraged. Whether it happens to us or to an associate we’re trying to cheer up, the answer centers around one word. Perseverance. The value of courage, persistence, and perseverance has rarely been illustrated more convincingly than in the life story of... read more

A Balancing Act

A Balancing Act J. Holmes – LSU AgCenter It is nearly impossible to open any type of media source today and not hear or read something concerning the effects of COVID-19 on the meat protein industry. This is causing many livestock producers to burn the midnight oil trying to make decisions for the family farm. So where do we start? First, we must know what our costs are. This can most efficiently be answered with sound record keeping.... read more

It’s blackberry time in Louisiana

It’s blackberry time in Louisiana Editor: Rick Bogren at rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu By Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter Horticulturist “When the blackberries hang swollen in the woods, in the brambles nobody owns, I spend all day among the high branches, reaching my ripped arms, thinking... read more

Youth Wetlands curriculum available for at-home use

Youth Wetlands curriculum available for at-home use Writer: Craig Gautreaux at cgautreaux@agcenter.lsu.edu
(04/22/20) BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana is home to some of the nation’s most productive wetlands. To get students educated on their importance, the LSU AgCenter Youth Wetlands Program has launched several education initiatives.
The program is creating content that involves activities that can be done at home while students across the state shelter in place.
“The... read more

Quote from George Washington

Quote from George Washington: My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.

What I’m Most Thankful For:

What I’m Most Thankful For:
I am thankful for life that was created by God who is the giver of all life. I am thankful for freedoms enjoyed in America that were bought with the lives of men and women through the generations. I am thankful to those individuals that sacrificed, some the ultimate sacrifice of death, for our freedoms. I am thankful for the nation we live in and what it represents to the world—the flagship of freedom. I am thankful for my family and friends that God has blessed... read more

Investigating purple Bermudagrass – it’s a cold case

Investigating purple Bermudagrass – it’s a cold case Source: U of A Animal Science jjennings@uaex.edu Producers have recently noticed bermudagrass turning purple and are trying to root out the cause. The evidence indicates that many cases involve well-managed hay fields. Many of these fields were treated for winter weeds and fertilized to support early bermudagrass growth. No obvious insect problems have... read more

President Trump Signs Order to Keep Beef Plants Operating

President Trump Signs Order to Keep Beef Plants Operating DENVER (April 28, 2020) - Today, President Trump signed an executive order that orders beef packing plants to remain open and employees in those plants to remain at work through the COVID-19 pandemic. The action taken by President Trump will help keep the beef supply chain intact, ensure beef remains available to consumers and ultimately provide... read more

NCBA Applauds Bipartisan Senate Effort to Provide Flexibility to Livestock Haule

NCBA Applauds Bipartisan Senate Effort to Provide Flexibility to Livestock Haulers WASHINGTON (April 27, 2020) - National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Executive Director, Government Affairs, Allison Rivera, today released the following statement in response to a bipartisan letter from 24 U.S. Senators to U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)... read more

NCBA Helps Lead Ag Coalition Letter Urging Improvements to Paycheck Protection P

NCBA Helps Lead Ag Coalition Letter Urging Improvements to Paycheck Protection Program WASHINGTON (April 27, 2020) -- The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) today helped lead a coalition of more than 35 different agricultural groups in sending a letter to leaders on Capitol Hill urging specific improvements in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
A second round of PPP relief is being rolled out after winning final... read more

Farm Bureau Applauds $19 Billion in Coronavirus Aid for Farmers

Farm Bureau Applauds $19 Billion in Coronavirus Aid for Farmers The American Farm Bureau applauds the $19 billion economic aid package for America’s farmers and ranchers announced by Secretary Perdue this evening. We understand the package includes $16 billion in much-needed direct payments to producers with another $3 billion to purchase meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “We’re... read more

Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall Named to Economic Revival Group

Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall Named to Economic Revival Group Source: www.fb.org American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall will join the Great American Economic Revival Industry Group focused on agriculture. President Donald Trump created 17 groups to help shape plans to reopen the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic.... read more

Get ahead of fire ants

Get ahead of fire ants
Editor: Rick Bogren at rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu By Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter Horticulturist Fire ants can be a formidable foe in the garden and landscape. They come with a one-two punch for sure. Did you know that fire ants both bite and sting? But the pain comes primarily from their sting containing venom.... read more

Survey shows crawfish income down, season shortened

Survey shows crawfish income down, season shortened
Writer: Bruce Schultz at bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu (04/20/20) CROWLEY, La. — Results from a survey of crawfish producers show that decreased demand for their product is resulting in lost income of about $500 an acre and a season that could end about 40 days sooner than usual in some cases. “When you look at... read more

FSA Reminds Producers of Ongoing Disaster Assistance Program Signup

FSA Reminds Producers of Ongoing Disaster Assistance Program Signup
Payments Have Started for Producers Impacted by Drought, Excess Moisture
WASHINGTON, May 1, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has started making payments through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) to agricultural producers who suffered eligible losses because of drought or excess moisture in 2018 and 2019. Signup for these causes of loss opened March 23, and producers who suffered losses from drought (in counties... read more

About the Front Cover:

About the Front Cover:
Our baby daughter, Barbara Blair Bennett, graduated on April 29th, as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State University. She has now been selected to attend Auburn University to improve her surgery skills and to work with incoming vet students there. While receiving her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, she was also awarded the Small Animal Surgery Award and the Neurology Award for the graduating class. Blair graduated from Cedar Creek High School in Ruston, where she was selected... read more

USDA Reports Record Enrollment in Key Farm Safety-Net Programs

USDA Reports Record Enrollment in Key Farm Safety-Net Programs

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2020 – Producers signed a record 1.77 million contracts for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2019 crop year, which is more than 107 percent of the total contracts signed compared with a 5-year average. USDA also reminds producers that June 30 is the deadline to enroll in ARC and PLC for the 2020 crop year.
“Producers for several years have... read more

Enrollment for 2020 Safety-Net Programs Fast Approaching – June 30 Deadline

Enrollment for 2020 Safety-Net Programs Fast Approaching – June 30 Deadline
USDA Reports Record Enrollment for 2019 Crop Year
By Craig A. McCain, State Executive Director in Louisiana, USDA Farm Service Agency

Challenges and uncertainties are synonymous with farming and ranching. To say these are challenging, uncertain times is an understatement. But, as is their inherent nature, farmers and ranchers will certainly adapt and persevere, and we at USDA are here to help them.
Our USDA Service Centers are open for business,... read more