• By Bruce Schultz • Scientists at the Louisiana State University AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station detailed their work in an online field day presentation July 1. Mike Salassi, LSU AgCenter vice president for plant and animal science, said the virtual field day was necessary as a safeguard against the coronavirus pandemic. Salassi said rice adds $1 billion ... Read More »
• By Vicky Boyd, Editor • The Louisiana State University AgCenter showed off a number of promising varieties that potentially could be released in coming years during its recent first-ever virtual rice field day. The annual event, held at the university’s H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station near Crowley, was changed to an online format this year after the coronavirus ... Read More »
• By Bruce Schultz • UPDATED — The 2020 field day at the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station in Crowley will be held online only because of the challenges caused by the ongoing pandemic. The internet presentations by Rice Research Station faculty is now available for viewing at www.LSUAgCenter.com/ricefieldday. “This virtual field day will allow our scientists ... Read More »
• By Bruce Schultz • This year’s rice crop is progressing well, and the recent Tropical Storm Cristobal had little effect, an LSU AgCenter rice expert said at the Evangeline Parish rice field day June 11. AgCenter rice specialist Dustin Harrell said March temperatures were warmer than normal and were ideal for young rice, but April brought three cold fronts ... Read More »
• By Bruce Schultz • Rice plants are recovering from a hailstorm last week, but yield losses are expected in some fields. The storm hit on the night of May 26. The National Weather Service indicated hail up to 2 inches in diameter fell on a 200-square-mile area of southwest Louisiana, mostly north of Welsh and Jennings. Hail also was ... 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 »
Even with a projected acreage increase, the market appears better than 2017 as long as demand doesn’t wane. • By Kurt Guidry • The current rice market continues to show strength despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the prospects for larger acreage and larger production levels in 2020. In Louisiana, current cash offers for old crop rice have been able to ... Read More »
• By Bruce Schultz • Rice prices have rebounded, and the Louisiana 2020 crop is off to a good start. Louisiana State University AgCenter economist Michael Deliberto said there are several reasons why the economic outlook for rice is positive. “There is no doubt that supplies are tight and demand has been good. These are the highest U.S. prices in ... Read More »
• By Bruce Schultz • Results from a survey of crawfish producers show that decreased demand for their product is resulting in lost income of about $500 per acre and a season that could end about 40 days sooner than usual in some cases. “When you look at all those things, it’s a pretty impactful scenario for producers,” said Louisiana ... Read More »
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