Agriculture

Ag census released

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the 2017 Census of Agriculture final results today, Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said.

St. Landry, Acadia parishes added to USDA natural disaster areas

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared two parishes as primary natural disaster areas due to damage and losses caused by excessive rain and flooding that occurred from Sept. 1 to Dec. 12, 2018.

AgCenter rice station hosts leadership class, African visitors

The LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station hosted two agricultural groups on March 28. The Rice Leadership Development Class made its annual tour of the station, and a group of 11 Africans also visited the facility.

Wheat crop survives below-freezing temperatures

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. LSU AgCenter wheat specialist Boyd Padgett said the wheat crop may not have been hit as hard as anticipated in most areas.

New rice varieties show promise

With planting only weeks away, LSU AgCenter rice experts held a meeting on Feb. in Manssura 21 to bring farmers up to date on what they should consider in the upcoming crop.

J.S. Aucoin garden teaches growing, eating veggies

AMELIA — Kmberly Perez ate her share of cauliflower, and then she asked for more. “I normally don’t eat vegetables,” said the fourth-grader, a member of the garden club at J.S. Aucoin Elementary School in Amelia.

Sugarcane acreage likely to increase in 2019

Sugarcane acreage in Louisiana is likely to increase this year after the recent successful harvest, LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois predicted at a recent meeting for sugarcane growers in Iberia and St. Mary parishes.

USA Rice reports to industry in Jennings; sees an old friend

More than 230 rice industry members gathered here for the annual meetings of the Louisiana Rice Council (LARC) and the Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LARGA), and to hear reports and updates from Baton Rouge and Washington, DC.

Louisiana Master Farmer Program recently graduates 13, honors outstanding participant

Thirteen farmers who completed an LSU AgCenter environmental stewardship training program were recognized at a ceremony Jan. 10.

Long, difficult sugar cane season finally grinds to halt

ST. MARTINVILLE — The 2018 Louisiana sugar cane harvest resulted in record yield in terms of tonnage but a reduced sugar recovery from last year.