Agriculture

Louisiana rice acreage down 8%

This year’s Louisiana rice planting, estimated at 400,000 acres, is 8 percent less than last year, according to LSU AgCenter rice extension specialist Dustin Harrell. AgCenter estimates for the 2016 crop were 432,168 acres.

Wheat acreage affected by diseases, weather

Poor prices, weather and diseases have caused Louisiana wheat production to drop to 16,000 acres, LSU AgCenter experts said at a field day held April 19 at the Macon Ridge Research Station. Statewide wheat acreage was about 150,000 just three years ago, according to the 2014 AgCenter Ag Summary.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office arrests

The following are arrests reported by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. March 27 Randy James Faul, 37, 1100 block of Praire Ronde Highway, Opelousas. Issuing worthless checks. Dylan James Roberie, 28, 200 block of Herbert Ortego Road, Washington. Possession of stolen things, simple burglary.

Workshop features drones in agriculture

Drones can provide an aerial view of a crop’s progress and health, but they won’t replace scouting fields on foot, LSU AgCenter researchers advised on March 16 at a drone workshop held at the AgCenter Dean Lee Research Station.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office arrests

The following are arrests reported by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. March 14 Carl J. Batiste, 45, 700 block of South West Railroad, Ville Platte. Bench warrant, simple burglary. Arrested by Opelousas Police. Eugene Boxie, Jr., 31, 400 block of Vatican Road, Carencro.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office arrests

The following are arrests reported by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. March 10 Bryant K. Edwards, 46, 2100 block of Hwy. 167, Opelousas. Obstruction of justice, distribution-harmful material/publications-minors, possession of schedule II drugs, six counts of drug paraphernalia.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office arrests

The following are arrests reported by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. March 3 Ernest Polotzola, 24, 200 block of Division Road, Krotz Springs. Simple burglary, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Joseph Leon Adams Johnson, 29, 100 block of Third Street, Melville. Home invasion.

How not to commit crape murder

“A tree which has lost its head will never recover it again, and will survive only as a monument of the ignorance and folly of its tormentor.

Eunice Police radio logs

The following are experts from the Eunice Police Department radio dispatch logs. Jan. 17 05:31 Theft in the 600 block of North 3rd. 08:50 Abandoned duffle bag behind Winn Dixie with keys and other items. 09:40 Disturbance at Acadian Medical Center OB unit. 14:05 Animal complaint on West Dudley.

Root rot appearing in shrubs, trees

Many homeowners and commercial landscapers are noticing clusters of honey-colored mushrooms in their landscapes. These mushrooms are fruiting bodies of Armillaria root rot caused by the species of the fungus Armillaria, said LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Raj Singh.