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Listed below are topics in the news related to agriculture, natural resources, the environment, nutrition, food sciences and youth development and the contact information for people in the LSU AgCenter and the College of Agriculture who can serve as news sources. If you need more information or have difficulty reaching any of these people, please contact, Tobie Blanchard (225-578-5649).
Agricultural economics – Kurt Guidry (225-578-3282, or cell 225-281-9377) can answer most any question about agricultural economics, but his specialty is cotton, soybeans, feed grains. He is the ag economist who compiles the estimates on losses to Louisiana agriculture following disasters, such as hurricanes, floods and drought. Michael Deliberto, (225-578-7267), ag economists, can answer questions about rice and sugarcane. Deliberto also works in the areas of farm management and farm policy pertaining to cotton, rice and sugarcane.
Animal diseases – Christine Navarre (225-578-3241) is the extension veterinarian. Phil Elzer (225-578-1938, or cell 225-802-6811), School of Animal Sciences director, can find experts on specific diseases and issues.
Aquaculture – Greg Lutz (225-765-2848, or cell 225-223-0371), aquaculture extension specialist, can answer questions about crawfish, fish, oysters and shrimp. (Aquaculture Research Station, Baton Rouge)
Beekeeping – Keith Hawkins (337-463-7006, or cell 318-264-2448), forestry agent in Beauregard Parish, works with beekeepers and helps organize educational meetings for people interested in beekeeping. He has access to entomologists who are bee experts.
Cattle – Ashley Edwards (318-473-6520) beef specialist; Lee Faulk (318-927-2578), Northwest Region beef cattle program; Vince Deshotel (337-363-5646) Southwest Region beef cattle program.
Childhood obesity – Denise Holston-West (225-578-4573) and Sandra May (225-578-5808), both nutritionists and registered dietitians (Baton Rouge).
Conservation tillage and cover crops – Brenda Tubana (225-578-9420), agronomist on the Baton Rouge campus.
Corn – Trey Price (318-435-2157 ext 213, or cell 318-235-9805), is a field crops pathologist at the Macon Ridge Research Station in Winnsboro.
Crawfish – Todd Fontenot (337-788-8821), crawfish specialist, Greg Lutz (225-765-2848, or cell 225-223-0371), aquaculture extension specialist (Aquaculture Research Station, Baton Rouge); Mark Shirley (337-898-4335), area aquaculture agent.
Drones in agriculture – Randy Price (318-427-4424, or cell 225-936-7593), agricultural engineer (Dean Lee Research and Extension Center, Alexandria) and Dennis Burns (318-766-3769, or cell 318-267-6709), county agent, St. Joseph, are both studying use of drones in agriculture, also known as UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) or UAS (unmanned aircraft system).
Emerald ash borer – Rodrigo Diaz (225-578-1835), entomologist, is part of a team conducting research on control. Todd Johnson (225-578-1634), forest entomologist.
Farm labor issues – Bryan Gueltig (225-578-6998)), who is in charge of pesticide application training, can speak about new rules and regulations for the training of farm workers (Baton Rouge).
Farm-to-table and farm-to-school – Carl Motsenbocker (225-578-1036), horticulturist who works with these programs and with small-farm farmers (Baton Rouge).
Feral hogs – Glen Gentry (225-683-5848), animal
scientist, conducts research on control of feral hogs (Bob R. Jones-Idlewild
Research Station, Clinton).
Figs – Jason Stagg (985-543-4125), horticulturist, is an expert on small fruit, including figs (Hammond Research Station, Hammond).
Fisheries industry – Fisheries agents include Rusty Gaudé (504-736-6519, or cell 504-908-9713), for Plaquemines, St. Bernard and Orleans parishes; Thomas Hymel (337-276-5527, or cell 337-296-6133), for Iberia, St. Martin, Lafayette, Vermilion, St. Landry and Avoyelles parishes; and Mark Shirley (337-898-4335, or cell 337-296-6864), for Jefferson Davis, Vermilion, Acadia, St. Landry, Evangeline, Cameron, Calcasieu, Lafayette, Beauregard and Allen parishes. They all have joint appointments with Louisiana Sea Grant.
Floods and hurricanes – Carol Friedland (225-578-7913), director of the LaHouse Resource Center. Other topics: animal safety–horses, Neely Walker (225-578-5338); animal safety–cattle, Christine Navarre; agricultural economic damage, Kurt Guidry (225-578-3282, or cell 225-281-9377); forage and hay damage and shortages, Ed Twidwell. All are in Baton Rouge.
Food safety – Achyut Adhikari (225-578-2529) works with the food industry and small-farm farmers to help them understand new safety laws and regulations.
Forage and hay – Ed Twidwell (225-578-4564, or cell 225-281-9448) on the Baton Rouge campus and Wink Alison (cell 318-614-1174) in Winnsboro at the Macon Ridge Research Station.
Forestry – Area forestry agents include Valerie West (318-965-2326) for northwest; Keith Hawkins (337-463-7006, or cell 318-264-2448) for southwest (DeRidder); Robbie Hutchins (318-427-4424, or cell 318-308-2995) for central (Alexandria); and Whitney Wallace (985-748-9381) for southeast (Clinton). Luke Stamper (318-744-5442, or cell 318-805-8819) in the Northeast Region (Harrisonburg).
Fruits and vegetables – Kiki Fontenot (225-578-2417, or cell 225-235-9968) is the fruits and vegetables extension specialist and can answer questions about both commercial and home production (Baton Rouge).
Grain sorghum –Trey Price is the state grain sorghum extension specialist (318-435-2157).
Horticulture – The regional coordinators are: Kerry Heafner (318-323-2251, or cell 864-431-2384) for northeast (West Monroe); Jennifer Williams (318-698-0010) for northwest (Shreveport); Sara Rogers Shields (225-638-5533) for central (Pointe Coupee); Stuart Gauthier (337-332-2181) for southwest (Breaux Bridge).
Housing – The LaHouse Resource Center on the Baton Rouge campus is a demonstration home featuring sustainability and storm-resistant features. The director is Carol Friedland (225-578-4440).
Hydrology – Richard Keim (cell 225-252-4994) is an expert on the hydrology of forested wetlands and watersheds across Louisiana. He is an associate professor in the School of Renewable Natural Resources in Baton Rouge.
Insect pests (corn, cotton, grain sorghum) – James Villegas (318-473-6520), field crop entomologist.
Insect pests (household, lawn and garden) – Forest Huval 225-578-1634, entomologist (Baton Rouge).
Insect pests (rice) – Michael Stout (cell 225-892-2972), entomologist (Baton Rouge).
Insect pests (soybean) – Jeff Davis (cell 225-747-0351), entomologist (Baton Rouge).
Insect pests (sugarcane) –Blake Wilson (225-642-0224), entomologist at the Sugarcane Research Station, St. Gabriel.
International trade – Michael Deliberto (225-578-7267), ag economist, can talk about international trade as it relates to rice and sugarcane.
Irrigation (field crops) – The water quality team at the Red River Research Station, Bossier City, conduct research and extension programs on irrigation and runoff: Stacia Davis, irrigation engineer; Naveen Adusumilli, ag economist; Changyoon Jeong, water quality specialist; Syam Dodla, agronomist. All can be reached at the office, 318-741-7430. Dodla can also be reached at 225-505-7064 (cell).
Irrigation (horticulture) – Horticulturist Ed Bush (225-578-2158) is on the Baton Rouge campus. Stacia Davis (318-741-7430) is at the Red River Research Station, Bossier City.
Master Farmer program – Donna Gentry (318-613-9278, or cell 318-613-9278) in Alexandria at the Dean Lee Research and Extension Center, Alexandria, and James Hendrix (318-766-3769, or cell 318-235-7198) in St. Joseph at the Tensas Parish extension office.
Master Gardener program – Sara Rogers Shields (225-638-5533), horticulturist in Pointe Coupee, is the statewide coordinator. Master Gardener programs are coordinated locally through LSU AgCenter parish extension offices.
Mold remediation in housing – Carol Friedland is an expert on housing resiliency and can be reached at LaHouse at 225-578-4440.
Mosquitoes – Kristen Healy (225-578-2257, or cell 732-766-0407), medical entomologist. Healy is an expert on mosquito-borne diseases including West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis and Zika virus.
Nutrition – Denise Holston-West (225-578-4573) and Sandra May (225-578-5808), both nutritionists and registered dietitians (Baton Rouge).
Nutrition (federal programs) – Carla Verbois (225-578-048) for SNAP-Ed, the food stamp program, which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education. Sharman Charles (225-578-1704) for EFNEP, which stands for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.
Obesity – Denise Holston-West (225-578-4573) and Sandra May (225-578-5808), both nutritionists and registered dietitians (Baton Rouge).
Oysters – Greg Lutz (225-765-2848, or cell 225-223-0371), aquaculture extension specialist (Aquaculture Research Station, Baton Rouge) can speak to most any seafood topic. Megan La Peyre, assistant professor (225-578-4180)
Plant disease (soybean, corn, grain sorghum, cotton) – Trey Price (318-435-2157 ext 213, or cell 318-235-9805), is a field crops pathologist at the Macon Ridge Research Station in Winnsboro.
Plant disease (sugarcane) – Jeff Hoy (225-578-1392, or cell 225-485-4227) on the Baton Rouge campus.
Plant disease (wheat) – Boyd Padgett (318-427-4424, or cell 318-614-4354) wheat specialist (Dean Lee Research and Extension Center, Alexandria).
Plant disease identification – Raj Singh (225-578-4562, or cell 225-747-2367), plant pathologist, is director of the Plant Diagnostic Center on the Baton Rouge campus.
Rice – Ronnie Levy (337-788-7534), rice specialist. Adam Famosa (337-788-7531), is a rice breeder and can also answer all questions about rice. Both are at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station, Crowley.
Rice economics – Michael Deliberto (225-578-3282), agricultural economists is in Baton Rouge.
Rice insect pests – Michael Stout (cell 225-892-2972), entomologist (Baton Rouge).
Shrimp – Greg Lutz (225-765-2848, or cell 225-223-0371), aquaculture extension specialist, can answer questions about crawfish, fish, oysters and shrimp (Aquaculture Research Station, Baton Rouge).
Strawberries – Kiki Fontenot (225-578-2417, or cell 225-235-9968), fruits and vegetables extension specialist, can answer questions about both commercial and home production, including about strawberries (Baton Rouge campus). Whitney Wallace (985-748-9381, or cell 985-517-1684) is the extension agent in Tangipahoa Parish, where most of the state’s strawberry growers are.
Sugarcane – Kenneth Gravois (225-642-0224, or cell 225-281-9472), extension sugarcane specialist at the Sugar Research Station, St. Gabriel.
Sugarcane economics – Michael Deliberto (225-578-3282) on the Baton Rouge campus.
Sweet potatoes – Cole Gregorie (318-435-2155) for production (Sweet Potato Research Station, Chase); Don La Bonte (225-578-1203) for new varieties (Baton Rouge campus); Chris Clark (225-578-1381) for diseases (Baton Rouge campus).
Urban gardens – Anna Timmerman (504-736-6519), Jefferson Parish, and Joe Willis (504-483-9471) work with urban gardens.
Urban trees – Hallie Dozier (225-578-7219) and Valerie West (318-965-2326) are extension forestry specialists. Dozier is on the Baton Rouge campus, and West is in the northwest region.
Waterfowl – Drew Fowler (281-748-4856), a waterfowl biologist, can talk about ducks and geese, wildlife management and ecology (Baton Rouge)
Weeds (corn, grain sorghum, cotton, soybeans) – Daniel Stephenson (cell 318-308-7225), weed scientist (Dean Lee Research and Extension Center, Alexandria); and Donnie Miller (cell 318-614-4044), weed scientists (Northeast Research Station, St. Joseph).
Weeds (lawns, gardens, nurseries) – Ron Strahan (318-741-7430), weed scientist, works with lawns, gardens, nurseries and athletic fields to improve turfgrass and eradicate weeds.
Wheat – Boyd Padgett (318-427-4424, or cell 318-614-4354) wheat specialist (Dean Lee Research and Extension Center, Alexandria). Steve Harrison (225-578-1308, or cell 225-281-9446) conducts research on wheat (Baton Rouge campus).
Youth development and
4-H – Todd Tarifa (225-578-2196) department head, and Toby Lepley (225-578-4161) associate vice president. Both can identify 4-H agents and
specialists about specific topics.
