Louisiana Agriculture Magazine Winter 2021

The pandemic in 2020 caused many of the educational programs offered by the LSU AgCenter to go virtual. But this also triggered an expansion in the reach and diversity of many of these programs. Read more about these program opportunities along with articles on crop variety testing, herbicide use with sweet potatoes, breeding disease resistance into rice, growing citrus in greenhouses and more in the winter 2021 edition of Louisiana Agriculture magazine.

Variety Testing Critical for Sustainable Production Systems

David Moseley, Stephen Harrison, Boyd Padgett, Trey Price, Dustin Harrell, Kenneth Gravois, Don La Bonte and Matt Foster

LSU AgCenter researchers test the new crop varieties that come on the market yearly to see which work best for Louisiana and under what conditions.

Off-target 2,4-D Choline and Dicamba Impacts on Sweet Potatoes

Donnie K. Miller

LSU AgCenter researchers are studying the effects on sweet potatoes of two new pesticide technologies — 2,4-D choline and dicamba — which are used with soybean, cotton and corn.

Yoga Pants for the Win: Clothing Consumption During COVID-19 Pandemic

Tobie Blanchard

LSU AgCenter researchers studied Twitter postings to determine fashion consumption patterns during the pandemic to aid the clothing industry in its recovery.

Low Glycemic Rice: New Tool to Curb Obesity, Diabetes

Herry Utomo, Ida Wenefrida and Bob Butcher

LSU AgCenter researchers have developed a new low-glycemic rice variety, which has the potential to help curb the rising incidence of diabetes around the world.

Researcher Awarded $500,000 to Pinpoint Rice Gene Resistant to Disease

Bruce Schultz

An LSU AgCenter plant pathologist will use a $500,000 grant to pinpoint the location of a gene in rice that could help farmers control the Cercospora disease.

Similarities Between COVID-19 and Plant Viral Diseases

Rodrigo A. Valverde

Like humans and other animals, plants also suffer viruses. Getting rid of them and controlling them is similar no matter whether plant or person.

Agents Go Online with Beef Brunch Educational Series for Cattle Producers

Ashley K. Edwards, Jason E. Holmes, A. Lee Faulk and Vince Deshotel

LSU AgCenter livestock specialists and agents have developed online learning tools for cattle producers during the pandemic, which are being well-received.

Gardening in Louisiana During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Heather Kirk-Ballard

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced Louisiana and the rest of the nation into a quarantine scenario, many people turned to gardening and help from the LSU AgCenter.

Break Up with Salt: Learn to Manage Hypertension Virtually

Sandra May, Mandy Armentor and Elizabeth Gollub

To combat the problem of high blood pressure in Louisiana, LSU AgCenter specialists have developed an educational program to help people reduce salt use.

Future of Citrus May Lie in ‘Protected’ Growing Environment

Kyle Peveto

Citrus has been grown in Louisiana for three centuries. But new environmental pressures are calling for innovation in citrus production, such as growing in greenhouses.

RESEARCH BRIEF: Beliefs About COVID-19 Prevention and Preferences for Virtual Nutrition Education for the SNAP-Ed Program

Matthew Greene, Ruthie Losavio and Denise Holston

LSU AgCenter researchers conducted a survey to determine the best ways to reach diverse audiences during a pandemic with nutrition education.

EXTENSION BRIEF: Providing Educational Support During a Public Health Emergency

Evelyn Watts and Wenqing “Wennie” Xu

LSU AgCenter specialists acted fast to prepare and distribute visual materials that included guidelines for prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

Faculty Profile: Agriculture Unlocked Unknown Worlds for Tara Smith

Kyle Peveto

Regional director Tara Smith found that supportive people made a difference in her career path, and she hopes to do the same for others.

LSU AgCenter News for Winter 2021

Linda Foster Benedict

Scientists awarded $600,000 to study water use on farms; $100,000 raised for scholarships; AgCenter and College of Ag faculty and staff honored with top 2020 awards; and more.

LSU College of Agriculture News for Winter 2021

Annabelle Stokes

College hosts 26 high school seniors in 2020 Ag Fellows program; Traje wearable art exhibit in Human Ecology Building; Food Bank volunteers; Diversity champions.