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Louisiana Agriculture Magazine Summer 2025
LSU AgCenter plant breeders have worked for decades to improve crops grown by Louisiana producers. New varieties increase yields and harvest quality, and after a few years, those varieties are supplanted by even better innovations. In this issue of Louisiana Agriculture, AgCenter sugarcane breeder Brayden Blanchard details the legacy of a variety he and his farming family know well — LCP 85-384. Blanchard tells the story of the impact of important variety on farmers as well as the effect it continues to have in Louisiana and South America.
AgCenter researchers and extension specialists strive to encourage innovation in other ways, and their efforts are featured in this issue. Landscape horticulture expert Damon Edward Abdi studies the best practices for planting trees, and water quality specialist M.P. Hayes is working with a team to turn aquaculture waste into useful products. Learn more about these efforts and many others in Louisiana Agriculture.
Learning How One Important Sugarcane Variety Continues to Make an Impact
Kyle Peveto
Sugarcane breeders with the AgCenter and the U.S. Department of Agriculture continually work to develop plant varieties that help producers harvest profitable crops that can produce more sugar while withstanding insects, diseases and other challenges. One profoundly impactful sugarcane variety is detailed here.
Century-Old LSU AgCenter Dairy Store Modernizes
Olivia McClure
The LSU AgCenter Dairy Store moved to a new location in 2024, months after its longtime home on South Stadium Drive was demolished. The store traces its history back to 1904, when a creamery was created on LSU’s downtown Baton Rouge campus.
LCP 85-384: A Sugarcane Variety That Keeps on Giving
Brayden Blanchard
The story of variety LCP 85-384 is the modern-day success story of addressing the needs of an industry through variety development. LCP 85-384’s performance was unprecedented. With improved genetics and harvesting capabilities, a perfect storm of innovation was created, and farmers took full advantage.
Art Contest Celebrates Louisiana Agriculture
Tyne Bankester and Jacey Wesley
The Louisiana Farm to School Art Contest stands out as a creative and impactful way to engage students with the state’s rich agricultural history.
Nuisance to Nutrients: Aquaculture Processors’ Waste to Agricultural Fertilizers
M.P. Hayes
The byproducts of many seafood processing operations are the wastewater effluent that and nutrient-enriched solid shells. Researchers are seeking ways to use these waste products in beneficial ways.
The Adventuresome Eating Club: Cultivating Curiosity and Healthy Habits for the Next Generation
Jacey Wesley and Tyne Bankester
The Knock Knock Children’s Museum in Baton Rouge teamed up with LSU AgCenter’s Seeds to Success: The Louisiana Farm to School Program to establish the Adventuresome Eating Club. The club is designed to make healthy eating fun, engaging and educational for young children.
Root of the Issue: Applied Research for Best Tree Installation Practices in the Louisiana Landscape
Damon Edward Abdi
At the Hammond Research Station, a variety of projects and methods surrounding sustainable tree installation practices are shedding light on ways to protect the urban canopy.
Judy Myhand’s Mission: Building an Army for Good Nutrition
Randy LaBauve
Judy Myhand has been a popular nutrition instructor in the LSU College of Agriculture’s School of Nutrition and Food Science for more than a quarter of a century.
Mississippi River Drought: A Bottleneck for U.S. Agricultural Trade
Raghav Goyal
The Mississippi River, the backbone of U.S. agricultural transportation, plays a critical role in transporting bulk commodities like corn, soybeans and wheat to global markets. In recent years, however, this backbone has faced unprecedented challenges.
The Bug Biz Publication Series: An Education and Information Tool for Louisiana
T. Eugene Reagan, Chris Carlton and Aaron Ashbrook
The LSU AgCenter’s Bug Biz publications are Louisiana-focused online articles that feature taxonomic, biological and management information relevant to the interests and needs of Louisiana agricultural practitioners, gardeners and residents who are curious or concerned about the various bugs they encounter.
Woven Louisiana History: Acadian Textiles
Michael E. Mamp
The LSU College of Agriculture’s Textile and Costume Museum (TCM) houses a substantial collection of Acadian textiles that documents the unique agricultural history of the Cajuns, including brown cotton weaving.
Kyle Peveto, Anthony Bailey and V. Todd Miller
When hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit in 2005, much of south Louisiana sustained tremendous damage. With personnel across the state dedicated to serving others, the LSU AgCenter sought to help in several ways.
