Agriculture

Renee Castro, LSU AgCenter area ag agent, examines shredded and browned tops of sugarcane that was impacted by Hurricane Ida’s strong winds in St. John the Baptist Parish, Sept. 8, 2021. Many cane stalks in this field, such as those to the left of Castro, were bent due to the wind impact. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

Renee Castro, LSU AgCenter area ag agent, examines shredded and browned tops of sugarcane that was impacted by Hurricane Ida’s strong winds in St. John the Baptist Parish, Sept. 8, 2021. Many cane stalks in this field, such as those to the left of Castro, were bent due to the wind impact. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

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Louisiana agriculture suffers at least $584M in damage from Hurricane Ida

Olivia McClure / omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
The Louisiana agriculture industry has suffered at least $584 million in damage after Hurricane Ida walloped the southeastern portion of the state last month with strong winds and flooding, according to a new report from LSU AgCenter experts.
Trees that are severely damaged should be removed by a licensed arborist. (LSU AgCenter file photo by Dan Gill)

Trees that are severely damaged should be removed by a licensed arborist. (LSU AgCenter file photo by Dan Gill)

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Dealing with damaged trees after a storm

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, September 10, 2021
Originally published Oct. 16, 2020. Louisiana has had its fair share of storms this year. Many people are dealing with damaged trees after hurricanes Laura and Delta. According to LSU AgCenter specialists, Hurricane Laura alone took out 757,538 acres of timber.
Volunteers help to distribute hay donated for livestock affected by Hurricane Ida. (Photo by Christine Navarre/LSU AgCenter)

Volunteers help to distribute hay donated for livestock affected by Hurricane Ida. (Photo by Christine Navarre/LSU AgCenter)

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Hurricane Ida ag damage could be extensive

Tobie Blanchard / tblanchard@agcenter.lsu.edu
Friday, September 3, 2021
LSU AgCenter agents are beginning the arduous task of damage assessment and recovery from Hurricane Ida.
Hedges serve as a practical solution to create a boundary or to guide movement of people in a specific direction. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Hedges serve as a practical solution to create a boundary or to guide movement of people in a specific direction. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

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Good hedges make good neighbors

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, September 3, 2021
You may have heard the old proverb “good fences make good neighbors.” Robert Frost made the phrase popular in his poem “Mending Wall.” The debate may have begun there, but I say the same can be true of a good hedge.
Cabbage is a vegetable in the brassica family that grows well in the fall and winter. (Photo by Kiki Fontenot/LSU AgCenter)

Cabbage is a vegetable in the brassica family that grows well in the fall and winter. (Photo by Kiki Fontenot/LSU AgCenter)

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Get ready for fall, y’all

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, August 27, 2021
Although it doesn’t feel like it because it’s still so hot, it’s time to start thinking about your fall garden. Fall is my favorite time to grow vegetables because all my personal favorites thrive in the cooler weather of fall and winter.
LSU Purple is probably the most recognizable of the LSU-bred varieties because of its dark purple, glossy hue and oblong shape. (Photo by Jason Stagg/LSU AgCenter)

LSU Purple is probably the most recognizable of the LSU-bred varieties because of its dark purple, glossy hue and oblong shape. (Photo by Jason Stagg/LSU AgCenter)

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Are figs your jam? AgCenter varieties provide a sweet treat

V. Todd Miller / vtmiller@agcenter.lsu.edu
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Purple, Gold, Tiger and Champagne may sound like a brief recounting of LSU’s postgame national championship locker room celebration, but they are also four types of figs developed by the LSU AgCenter.
Assorted microgreens grow in trays. Photo by Kaylee Deynzer/ LSU AgCenter

Assorted microgreens grow in trays. Photo by Kaylee Deynzer/ LSU AgCenter

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Microgreens provide homegrown nutrition without the garden

Kyle Peveto / kpeveto@agcenter.lsu.edu
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Tiny edible vegetables known as microgreens have been rising in popularity with Americans searching for ways to add nutrition to home-cooked dishes. As many found themselves seeking do-it-yourself projects during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, microgreens became a favorite miniature gardening project.
Pink muhly grass. (LSU AgCenter file photo by Allen Owings)

Pink muhly grass. (LSU AgCenter file photo by Allen Owings)

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Muhly grass adds class, texture to landscapes

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, August 20, 2021
Ornamental grasses are some of the best plant selections for an ornamental focus for the landscape, but they are often underutilized. In addition to being an excellent choice for their aesthetic appeal, ornamental grasses are great for wildlife, especially birds.
If the plants are showing signs of black spot or mildew, be sure to rinse your pruners in 10% bleach solution then in water before moving onto healthy shrubs to prevent the spreading of any disease. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

If the plants are showing signs of black spot or mildew, be sure to rinse your pruners in 10% bleach solution then in water before moving onto healthy shrubs to prevent the spreading of any disease. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

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What to do in the garden in August

Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, August 13, 2021
The heat is turned up and the rain is unrelenting. What can you do this month in the garden? As we look forward to cooler fall weather there are things to do to prepare for the fall and still time to tackle summertime gardening tasks.