• By Blake Wilson, Julian Lucero and Mark Shirley • Invasive apple snails — sometimes called giant, golden or channeled apple snails — are native to South America but have been introduced into many regions. Several species of apple snails are invasive pests in many parts of Europe, Asia, and North and South America. But the species that has been ... Read More »
Pass a good time with the Louisiana State University AgCenter at our virtual crawfish boil, noon-1 p.m. CST, Feb. 25! Bring your crawfish questions for the experts. LSU AgCenter aquaculture specialist Greg Lutz and research farm specialist John Sonnier will discuss Louisiana crawfish production — harvesting, pond management including nuisance animals, and the white spot syndrome virus. LSU AgCenter and ... Read More »
Louisiana crawfish producers hope to rebound from hurricanes, pandemic this season. • By Vicky Boyd, Editor • The 2021 Louisiana crawfish season started off on a slow note as producers hoped to rebound from a double whammy caused by coronavirus-induced restaurant closures and last year’s series of hurricanes. As crews return from the holidays and harvest ramps up, Louisiana State ... Read More »
With the start of rice planting only two months away, the LSU AgCenter has prepared a series of video presentations by its experts to help farmers prepare for the 2021 crop. These are in place of the normal in-person winter grower meetings, which have been put on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The videos can be viewed at https://lsuagcenter.com/topics/crops/rice/virtual-presentations. In ... Read More »
SW Louisiana farm family continues and expands the conservation practices that previous generations started. • By Amy Robertson Fuselier • Located in Louisiana’s Acadia and Vermilion parishes is Simon Farms, a multi-generational family farm known far and wide for their dedication to conservation. This close-knit family has a passion for soil health and a thirst for knowledge about ways to ... Read More »
• Richard Bogren • Widespread flooding from Hurricane Laura could affect crawfish production for the upcoming season, but the extent of any damage will depend on whether crawfish producers are able to get the unwanted water off their fields in a timely manner. When storm-related flood waters cover pond levees in July, August or September, crawfish have no choice but ... Read More »
If you are planning on planting rice for crawfish forage, the best time to plant is in late July or the first week of August, says Mark Shirley, Louisiana State University AgCenter crawfish aquaculture and coastal resources specialist. Last summer, researchers conducted a planting date trial to determine the optimal time to plant rice for crawfish. The objectives were to ... Read More »
Jim Harper, a rice, crawfish, sugarcane and soybean farmer in Rapides Parish, has been elected as the 12th president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau. Harper now leads the state’s largest general farm organization at a pivotal moment where farmers face a number of issues in the state and nation. He succeeds Ronnie Anderson of Ethel, Louisiana, who served for 31 ... Read More »
• By Bruce Schultz • With crawfish season winding down, a Louisiana State University AgCenter crawfish specialist has written guidelines for stocking new ponds. “Now and the next few weeks would be a good time to stock ponds,” said Mark Shirley, also a Louisiana Sea Grant agent. “Most of the rice crop is tall and dense enough for crawfish to ... Read More »
• By Blake Wilson, Julian Lucero and Mark Shirley • Invasive apple snails — sometimes called giant, golden or channeled apple snails — are native to South America but have been introduced into many regions. Several species of apple snails are invasive pests in many parts of Europe, Asia, and North and South America. But the species that has been ... Read More »
Rice Farming A One Grower Publication