An accounting of the value of agriculture in Louisiana. Agents and specialists of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, as well as other agencies - both private and public - compile this information. It focuses on the animal, forestry, fisheries, plant and wildlife commodities that comprise our vital agricultural industry. This industry continues to contribute significantly to the state's economy with the potential for increased impacts through value-added processing.

Unit 1 - Complete unit materials cover: renting versus owning, housing priorities, how to evaluate homes and house plans, how to determine housing price limits, how to choose your home-buying professional team, shopping resources, how to negotiate purchase price of home, your housing rights and what needs inspecting prior to purchasing a home.

Complete Unit 2 materials cover: Organizing your family finances by setting goals, developing a cash flow worksheet and net worth statement, developing a budget and managing your credit. In addition, find helpful tips on homeowner tax planning, stretching your dollars and saving and preventing identiy theft.

Unit 3: Understand mortgage terms and loan programs, know the questions to ask before choosing a mortgage and how to shop wisely for one. Be prepared when applying for a mortgage loan and know what will be needed at closing. Also learn how to avoid subprime loans.

Unit 4. After the home purchase learn to maintain its value, properly secure and insure your home investment, avoid home repair rip-offs and prevent foreclosure. In addition, learn the life expectancy of your home appliances and home sytems and how to improve the health of your home.

A description of how biomass is being used for energy in Louisiana with an emphasis on the potential for expansion in the industry. (PDF format only)

How much money will you need to retire comfortably? The answer depends on your lifestyle expectations and goals. Other factors to consider include the age at which you plan to retire, your life expectancy, the amount and type of employer benefits (if any) and the amount and growth rate of your savings and investments.

How much money will you need to retire comfortably? The answer depends on your lifestyle expectations and goals. Other factors to consider include the age at which you plan to retire, your life expectancy, the amount and type of employer benefits (if any) and the amount and growth rate of your savings and investments.

A number of tax benefits are available to volunteers. Donors and volunteers can deduct out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the services given to a charitable organization if they itemize deductions on their tax returns.

Being frugal is important for managing in tough t.imes, and going "green" with resource conservation can also help the bottom line in your budget.

Account verification companies keep track of overdrafts and account closures for banks and credit unions. If you believe there are errors on your record, disputes can be filed with the companies.

This report presents estimates of projected costs of producing crawfish in Louisiana for the 2008 season.

This report presents estiamtes of projected 2008 production costs associated with the production of beef cattle, dairy cattle and forage crops in Louisiana.

This report presents estimates of projected costs for crawfish and catfish production in Louisiana for 2007.

This report presents estimates of projected production costs for crawfish and catfish production in Louisiana for 2006.

This report presents estimates of projected production costs for beef cattle, dairy and forage-crop production in Louisiana for 2007.

This report presents estimates of projected production costs for beef cattle production, dairy production and forage crop production for the 2006 crop year.

Scam artists are at work even in a recession. Many scams and frauds count on people being more vulnerable when they are desperate due to hard times. The bottom line, as always, is that if it sounds too good to be true, beware!

Saving money at the gas pump and while driving your car. Some intersting tips for everyone who drives.

The nation’s financial crisis continues to put constraints on the holiday season. Unemployment rates are high, and budgets are tight. To cope, LSU AgCenter family economist Jeanette Tucker recommends approaching spending this season the way one should every year – with a plan and a budget, even if that budget is shrinking.

Online shopping in the United States rises approximately 30 percent each holiday season because it can save time, money and effort. But sizing up your finds on the Internet is a little different from checking out items at a mall or shop, says LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

Problems occasionally occur with items purchased as holiday gifts, but being prepared to handle those problems can go a long way in making the season more festive for you, says LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

View the story of one couple's path to achieving their "American Dream" of owning a home. Graduates of the "Charting Your Course to Homeownership" homebuyer education program relate their successful journey.

View the inspiring story of one family's journey from losing their home in Hurricane Rita to becoming the proud owners of a home of their own after completing the "Charting Your Course to Homeownership" homebuyer education program.

Pet care costs become even more of an issue during a recession. Before adding a new pet to your family, assess what you can afford based on annual cost estimates for various types of pets.

Some helpful tips from the experts to help you get through the recession.

Job interviews can be a challenge for most of us, and finding a job during a recession can be even more challenging than usual. Here are some tips on how to dress to make the best possible first impression when you do get a job interview.

Materials covered in the Saving and Investing for Life; Take Control of Your Credit unit include how to obtain, read and analyze your credit report and understanding your credit score. Also includes information regarding the Credit CARD Act of 2009.

Economic statistics for all Louisiana parishes in the year 2007, including Industrial Structure, Growth Trends, and Food and Fiber System.

Economic statistics for all Louisiana parishes in the year 2002, including Industrial Structure, Growth Trends, and Food and Fiber System.

Economic statistics for all Louisiana parishes in the year 2003, including Industrial Structure, Growth Trends, and Food and Fiber System.

Economic information about al Louisiana parishes for 2005, including Industrial Structure, Growth Trends, and Food and Fiber System.

Economic statistics for all Louisiana parishes in the year 2004, including Industrial Structure, Growth Trends, and Food and Fiber System.

Economic information about al Louisiana parishes for 2006, including Industrial Structure, Growth Trends, and Food and Fiber System.

Sixty-six percent of shoppers are planning to purchase a gift card this year, with sales expected to top $55.5 billion. Gift cards are great for holiday giving – recipients love the option to pick out the exact item, color and size that they want, and givers enjoy their one-size-fits-all convenience and easy availability.

The excitement and rush of the holiday season often lead people to overextend themselves financially. That means this is the season to exercise caution so you avoid getting caught in the "credit trap".

Pet care costs: Cost-to-own is a relevant consideration for pet ownership. Even a free and healthy pet can cost more than $1,000 a year to maintain. Be sure you can afford the ownership costs for the projected life time of the animal you are considering for a pet.

The dollar amounts, which are estimates of reduced revenue and increased costs, are broken down by storm and commodity. Total estimated costs are also provided.

The dollar amounts, which are estimates of reduced revenue and increased costs, are broken down by storm and commodity. Total estimated costs are also provided.

You may have talked to your soon-to-be college student about drugs, but have you talked about the importance of avoiding debt?

Planning ahead can save you money and reduce holiday stress for everyone.

There are lots of ways you can stretch your food dollar. You can save by packing your own lunch, eating out less, and by bringing snacks, coffee or soft drinks from home. There are ways to save on groceries too.

We hear and read about Federal Reserve rate changes, but we don't always understand how they affect us as consumers. The Fed's rate changes take time to filter down through the economy to consumers. Rate changes can be good news / bad news scenarios. What's the bottom line for you as a consumer?

Louisiana submitted the most stories – 104 – to a national extension Web site called Managing in Tough Times.

According to the FTC, more than 8 million people were identity theft victims in 2006 and 2007. There is a global black market for stolen identities. Your Social Security number is the key to credit and banking accounts and the main target of criminals. How do you protect yourself?

Times are tough, and gold prices are high. People are looking for ways to raise extra cash. It is important to comparison shop to avoid gold buying rip-offs.

Marriage is a financial partnership. Divorce means more than separating a family physically. It also means separating a family financially. Suggestions for preparing for financial separation, dividing property, dealing with debt and dividing assets and property are included. (PDF Format Only)

Marriage is a financial partnership. Divorce means more than separating a family physically. It also means separating a family financially. Suggestions for preparing for financial separation, dividing property, dealing with debt and dividing assets and property are included. (PDF Format Only)

The report includes enterprise production cost budgets for the following container-grown ornamental crops in plant hardiness zones 8 and 9: indica azalea, crape myrtle, liriope, southern live oak, lantana and fig.

If you've been adversely affected by the economy, as most have, then you're probably wondering when things will get back to normal. Financial experts are saying we need to prepare ourselves for a "new normal." Find out what that means for you.

Learn money-saving tips to help you stretch your dollars. Topics discussed include housing, heating and cooling, electricity, telephone, food, transportation, clothing, medical and recreation.

When you do not have enough money to cover your family's basic living expenses, you must make difficult financial decisions. Learn strategies to determine which bills to pay and how to work with creditors.

Grocery shopping can be a real challenge, especially if you are on a limited budget. However, food is a flexible budget expense that can be reduced when money is tight. By planning ahead and managing your money wisely, you can still serve meals which are appetizing, easily prepared and nutritious.

This four-page publication presents strategies to help individuals and families experiencing low or reduced incomes manage spending to maintain a quality lifestyle.

It is important to comparative shop for the best deal for your family's education dollar. Here are some considerations to help you reduce the cost of your child's college education.

Homeowners on unemployment can take advantage of this program to prevent foreclosure.

Children develop attitudes about money at an early age. As a parent, you can influence what your child learns about how money works. Here are tips to help you teach your preschooler about your family's values.

There are lots of ways you can stretch your food dollar and save money on groceries. Here are tips to help you save with planning, shopping and preparation.

You can teach your children about money managment. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a good money manager, you can begin to teach your children and learn more yourself in the process. There is no better way to learn something than by having to teach it, especially to your children. You can start small and keep it easy.

Federal Reserve rate cuts can be good news/bad news scenarios for consumers. Find out how a rate change will impact you.

A Web-based resource to connect farmers, shrimpers, fishers, distributors and food suppliers to consumers

Materials covered in Saving and Investing for Life: Investment Options include: learning to develop SMART financial goals, your options for saving for emergency funds, comparing college savings plans and learning to read a financial page.

Materials covered in Saving and Investing for Life: Principles of Investing include selecting the best investment options and determining your personal investment risk-tolerance level.

2011 data on forestry, crops, animals, fisheries and other enterprises based in agriculture and natural resources add up to multibillion-dollar industries for the state of Louisiana. This handy pocket-sized publication provides details on Louisiana agriculture and natural resources, the number of farms and farmers and much more. (PDF format only)

The LSU AgCenter offers a computer debt-reduction analysis called "PowerPay" that will calculate the fastest way to repay your creditors while paying the least amount of interest.

Millions of Americans are finding out that the loss of a job can be emotional, stressful, and financially devastating. It does not matter if you are male or female, married or single, young or old - experiencing job loss is very difficult for individuals and families.

2011 data on forestry, crops, animals, fisheries and other enterprises based in agriculture and natural resources add up to multibillion-dollar industries for the state of Louisiana. This handy pocket-sized publication provides details on Louisiana agriculture and natural resources, the number of farms and farmers and much more. (PDF format only)

These prescription drug plans can change dramatically from year to year, so it is important to comparison shop during the open enrollment period (Nov. 15 to Dec. 31) each year to be sure you get the best prescription drug coverage for the best price.

Almost 70% of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck, courting disaster if their income is suddenly reduced or stopped. This article offers advice on how to increase savings.

Over-indebtedness can lead to stress, family problems, repossessed property, garnished wages, and even bankruptcies. However, options exist to help families manage financial challenges when bills pile up and families are unable to manage them.

Many consumers are under the impression that federal legislation allows them to learn their credit scores. This is one of the myths circulating among the public about obtaining credit histories, according to LSU AgCenter family economics professor Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

The Parish Economic Profile presents a snapshot of the overall economy of each parish for the calendar years 2002 to 2007. It provides a comparative analysis of the value-added and employment contribution of each major sector of the economy. Each profile also provides details of the economic contribution of the food and fiber system for each parish in Louisiana.

Independent spending decisions quickly become an everyday routine for college students, but that independence assumes a financial freedom that most young adults are not prepared to handle, according to LSU AgCenter family economics specialist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

If your bills are piling up, you can't make all of your payments on time and you're thinking about paying one credit card balance with a cash advance from another, LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker says it's time to organize your credit payments and develop a plan for reducing your bills.

Consumers must be cautious of identity thieves when shopping during the holiday season, says LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

This report presents projected commodity production costs and returns for cotton, soybeans, grain sorghum and wheat produced in Louisiana for the 2010 crop year.

Terms Home Buyers and Home Owners Need to Know and useful housing related Web sites.

(Distributed 09/05/08) Louisiana agricultural producers who suffered crop damage from Hurricane Gustav need crop insurance or non-insured crop disaster assistance coverage to be eligible to participate in federal disaster assistance programs, according to LSU AgCenter agricultural economist Kurt Guidry.

The focus of this issue is the nonruminant farm animal, which includes chickens, horses and pigs. The nonruminant animal has an uncomplicated or simple stomach as compared to the ruminant animal, which has a stomach with four compartments (cattle, sheep and goats). The nonruminant also is referred to as a monogastric.

(Distributed 7/11/03) Moving away from home for the first time is a pivotal moment in life. It is one of the rights of passage from youth to adulthood, according to LSU AgCenter family economics specialist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

(Distributed 7/11/03) Financing a college education is often a partnership involving the student, family, school and lending agency. LSU AgCenter family economics professor Dr. Jeanette Tucker encourages college students to find out each partner’s responsibility.

(Distributed 7/11/03) Education is valuable throughout your life, and the achievements you make today can determine the salaries you earn over a lifetime.

Individuals who lost work due to recent hurricanes may qualify for disaster unemployment assistance, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

You may just think of them as delicious treats, but some of Louisiana’s traditional favorites for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners also contribute handily to the state’s economy.

Supervisors and line leaders at a poultry plant in Farmervillie are learning about "workplace ethics."