Michael Salassi has been named Louisiana State University AgCenter associate vice president and program leader of animal and plant sciences. For the past four years, Salassi has served as head of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness where he is the A. Wilbert’s Sons Endowed Professor of Agricultural and Natural Resources. Prior to that time, he was on the ... Read More »
• By Bruce Schultz • An LSU AgCenter research project at the Mer Rouge farm of Jason Waller was the setting for the northeast Louisiana row rice field day on July 18. The practice of row rice is gaining new converts because of its potential water savings and flexibility. The project being conducted by AgCenter agent Keith Collins includes conventional ... Read More »
• By Bruce Schultz • Hurricane Barry had a minimal effect on Louisiana croplands, but its aftermath left a narrow strip of flooding rain that will cause damage. Some soybeans were flooded, and rice was submerged in areas that received heavy rain. There were reports of lodged sugarcane and some damage to corn. “For the most part, rice in the ... Read More »
• By Karol Osborne • More than 50 agricultural producers and industry representatives interested in furrow-irrigated rice, also called row rice or upland rice, attended the LSU AgCenter Northeast Research Station row rice and soybean field tour on July 9 in St. Joseph. “We are set up for cotton, corn and beans, and if there is an opportunity to diversify ... Read More »
Infestations point out need for Provisia system to clean up fields. • By Vicky Boyd, Editor • 2019 could very well be dubbed the “year of weedy rice” — at least in Southwest Louisiana. Even growers who have been diligent about rogueing Clearfield rice fields or rotating to soybeans have seen more weedy rice than usual. The jury is still ... Read More »
• By Bruce Schultz • The Louisiana Rice Research Board provided an additional $500,000 earmarked for research during the recent annual LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station field day at Crowley. Those funds bring the total to $1.5 million set aside from Colombian Free Trade Agreement money that must be designated for rice research in Louisiana. Interest generated ... Read More »
• By Vicky Boyd, Editor • The Louisiana State University AgCenter breeding program continues on a roll with the potential release of a new Clearfield long-grain variety as well as a conventional long-grain in time for the 2020 season. If that comes to fruition, they would be grown for seed next season and be available commercially in 2021. Also in ... Read More »
The Louisiana State University AgCenter has partnered with Ag-Analytics to help farmers maintain and improve yields through the use of machine learning and big data. Ag-Analytics, a secure farm management platform, works with farmers, industry and universities with the goal of helping farmers make better management decisions and mitigate risk. The data partnership with the AgCenter is a first of ... Read More »
• By Bruce Schultz • A Louisiana State University AgCenter economist had good news for rice farmers at the Vermilion Parish rice field day, June 11. “Optimism is high that with recaptured market share in core markets, the outlook for rice is positive from a price standpoint,” says Michael Deliberto. He told farmers American rice has become more competitive, which ... Read More »
• By Bruce Schultz • The Louisiana rice crop is having a challenging year, but good weather in June could result in a decent harvest, according to the LSU AgCenter rice specialist. “Don’t expect a record yield,” Dustin Harrell said at field day held May 27 near Iowa in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. At a field day on May 30 in ... Read More »
Rice Farming A One Grower Publication