USDA Accepting Applications to Help Cover Costs of Organic, Transitioning Producers
Agricultural producers and handlers who are certified organic, along with producers and handlers who are transitioning to organic production, can now apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Organic and Transitional Education and Certification Program (OTECP) and Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP), which help producers and handlers cover the cost of organic certification, along with other related expenses. Applications for OTECP and OCCSP are both due October 31, 2022.
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Urban Youth Loan Borrower Grows Lettuce and a Passion for Hydroponics
Trinity Waguespack is an 11-year-old urban farmer in Lafayette, Louisiana. When she’s not tackling her schoolwork, Trinity is busy growing lettuce in her three hydroponic garden towers. Through precision agriculture and artificial intelligence technology, the towers notify her when the lettuce needs water, even when she’s at swim practice.
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Barcelo Gardens Providing Farm Fresh Food on Urban Land
When fresh produce is unavailable or unaffordable, a healthy lifestyle is unattainable.
Ashley Webb and her husband, Andres Barcelo-Sanchez, moved to New Orleans four years ago and access to local groceries was extremely limited, so the couple decided to do something about it.
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Southern Blight Presents Challenges for Louisiana Growers
Louisiana’s warm, humid weather provides a conducive environment for plant pathogens to quickly establish and spread. As a result, an important plant disease called southern blight has started to show up in Louisiana vegetable and ornamental production.
Southern blight is caused by the soilborne fungus Athelia rolfsii (Sclerotium rolfsii). The pathogen has a wide host range and is known to cause disease on various economically important vegetables (cucurbits, eggplants, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes) and ornamental plants.
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Sweet Potato Quality Analysis is Enhanced with Hyperspectral Imaging and AI
Sweet potatoes are a popular food choice for consumers worldwide because of their delicious taste and nutritious quality. The red, tuberous root vegetable can be processed into chips and fries, and it has a range of industrial applications, including textiles, biodegradable polymers and biofuels.
The study is part of a multi-state collaboration funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that includes researchers from Mississippi, North Carolina, Michigan, Louisiana and Illinois.
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Better Berries, Cold Tolerant Sugarcane, Precision Breeding Is Making It Possible
In a pocket of central Louisiana, a surprising crop for that area is taking root — sugarcane.
Sugarcane, a tropical crop, has traditionally been limited to south Louisiana. But by using precision breeding techniques, LSU AgCenter researchers are developing sugarcane varieties that can withstand colder temperatures.
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Nutritional Benefits of Strawberries
Strawberries can also guard against health conditions like cancer, heart disease or diabetes.
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Kicking Off Strawberry Season With Indian Village Harvest Farm
It is strawberry season in Louisiana! One patch just opened up in Calhoun.
The “u-pick” is a fun family activity heading into Easter weekend! Owners William and Rebecca Cook say the strawberry picking experience gets kids involved in agriculture.
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Louisiana Tech’s Fragrant, Colorful Greenhouses Featured in State Journal
Some of the most fragrant and scenic spots on campus, the Louisiana Tech greenhouses are featured in the most recent Journal of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society.
From begonias to basil, from moon vine to mustard, from lantana to lettuce, the University’s greenhouses bloom with both color and instruction.
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Edible Blue-Green Algae Protects Honey Bees Against Viruses
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service have developed an edible antiviral treatment that can be used to protect honey bees against deformed wing virus (DWV) and other viruses, according to a recent study published in Sustainable Agriculture.
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USDA Expands Insurance Option for Nursery Growers to All States
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding crop insurance tailored for nursery producers to all counties in all states. Nursery Value Select (NVS) is a pilot program that enables nursery producers to select the dollar amount of coverage that best fits their risk management needs. Its expansion is part of USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) efforts to provide insurance options for a broader group of producers, including specialty crop producers.
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Massive Blaze Trails Through Woods in Keithville
Fire has charred at least 100 acres of woods in Keithville’s Pecan Farms neighborhood.
The blaze behind a home in the 9600 block of Paula Street was reported about 2:20 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 25). It was moving very quickly through the woods due to very high winds, Caddo Fire District 4 reported.
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LSU AgCenter Administrator, Sweet Potato Researcher Honored By National Organization
A national sweet potato organization has honored Tara Smith, LSU AgCenter executive associate vice president and director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, for her leadership and extension and research efforts.
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Louisiana Farm Bureau seeks National Peanut Board Nominees
The Louisiana Farm Bureau has announced it is seeking eligible Louisiana peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board. The Louisiana Farm Bureau will hold a nominations election held jointly with New Mexico to select nominees for the National Peanut Board during a meeting to be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the LSU Ag Center - Morehouse County Agents Office located at 9609 Marlatt Street in Bastrop, La.
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Investments to Strengthen U.S. Specialty Crops Sector
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) investments designed to support the U.S. specialty crops industry. The launch of the Assisting Specialty Crop Exports (ASCE) initiative will provide $65 million for projects that will help the specialty crop sector increase global exports and expand to new markets.
Additionally, today USDA is announcing $72.9 million in grant funding available to support the specialty crops industry through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
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