Since 1957, Louisiana Agriculture has told the story of agriculture in Louisiana.

With this issue, we begin another year of connecting the people of Louisiana with the research undertaken by the scientists of the LSU AgCenter and its predecessors.

Louisiana Agriculture magazine came of age at a time of monumental changes in American agriculture and in scientific research at LSU and other land-grant universities.

In the first issue, published in the fall of 1957, the magazine’s 16 pages touted the findings of agriculture researchers from LSU — cutting-edge developments that are now commonplace.

An article on chemical defoliation of cotton plants described “a new practice in cotton culture.” Another piece explained research behind freezing cake batter for future baking, and an article on rice detailed the many achievements of the LSU Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Biochemistry.

It came at a time when magazines represented the best way to reach the public and agricultural research thrived.

“That post-World War II period is a time of tremendous percolation of scientific ideas and knowledge. It’s also a golden age of publications,” said Joe Anderson, executive secretary of the Agricultural History Society and a historian at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

After World War II, American farms became larger and more productive. The average farm grew from 213 acres in 1950 to 297 acres in 1960 and continued to grow after that, according to the “Growing a Nation” educational series from the National Center for Agricultural Literacy.

Farming also became more expensive. In 1940 it took about $6,622 a year on average to run a farm. By 1952, it was $23,027, according to “Heritage of Plenty: A Guide to the Economic History and Development of U.S. Agriculture” by Harold D. Guither.

Researchers at the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station were testing new concepts and developing varieties to help the state’s producers navigate this new agricultural economy. More producers used more machinery and new technologies, such as herbicides and pesticides.

“All of these spinoff effects of new technology were terribly exciting,” Anderson said. “Think about how many hours an average farmer spent in the field doing weed control, whether it’s cotton or corn or soybeans. It was mind boggling. That was most of your summer work.”

Using a new herbicide, such as 2,4-D, which was designed in the 1940s, “you’re using less fuel and you’re saving your own time,” Anderson said.

The mid-20th century was a “golden age of publications” because of widespread literacy in the country, Anderson said. Americans also had more leisure time to read, thanks to timesaving technologies in the home and workplace and less expensive electricity, which extended their reading time at night, according to “Magazines in the Twentieth Century,” published in 1956 by Theodore Peterson.

“Everything had a magazine or publication,” Anderson said. “After World War II, they’re as thick as fleas on a dog’s back.”

Outreach magazines similar to Louisiana Agriculture were created throughout the middle of the 20th century. These publications were “distilling and crystalizing the message,” Anderson said.

Many agriculture publications created during this era have shifted focus, ceased publication or moved entirely online. Louisiana Agriculture remains, opening a window to the work of researchers who develop new crop varieties, examine our economy and help Louisianians lead better lives.

Kyle Peveto is the editor of Louisiana Agriculture.

This article appears in the winter 2024 edition of Louisiana Agriculture.

The first issue of Louisiana Agriculture magazine was published in fall 1957.