About the LSU AgCenter

The LSU AgCenter is dedicated to providing innovative research, information and education to improve people’s lives. Working in a statewide network of parish extension offices, research stations and academic departments, the LSU AgCenter helps Louisiana citizens make the best use of natural resources, protect the environment, enhance agricultural enterprises, and develop human and community resources.

Program Highlights

Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)

Individuals and families today deal with multiple issues in raising children, eating right, and spending food dollars wisely to live well. SNAP Ed Nutrition programs presented to clientele are designed to increase their nutrition knowledge which in turn helps them live a healthier lifestyle. Healthy Communities efforts through the LSU AgCenter help key stakeholders to identify barriers to healthy living in their communities and put plans in place to make policy, systems, and environmental changes through the work of coalitions. Youth participating in SNAP Ed Nutrition programs learn the importance of making healthier choices and the harmful effects of eating food high in calories, fat, and added sugars over an extended period. WIC clients learn how to stretch their food dollars by participating in food preparation demonstrations using foods that can be purchased with their WIC vouchers.

Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR)

The Franklin Parish gross farm value in 2022 was $222,516,368. Field corn is the major plant enterprise with the parish still leading the state in acres planted. Franklin Parish covers 414,00 acres with 55 percent of the land area in agriculture production. Beef cattle is our major animal enterprise. Specialty enterprises include pecans, sweet potato, a dairy, and catfish. Core block variety demonstrations with corn, cotton and soybean are conducted on producer’s farms to provide unbiased information on variety performance to help producers make variety selections for planting. Private pesticide applicator and Worker Protection Standard (WPS) trainings are offered to producers and agricultural workers covering how to work with pesticides safely and protect the environment. Programs are given to the Lions Club, Rotary Club, and garden clubs. An Ag Tour was conducted for the Franklin Leadership Class to show the diversity of agriculture in the parish and the economic impact agriculture has in the parish. Through individual contact with agricultural producers and homeowners, crop, aquaculture, animal, and horticulture questions are answered, problems are identified, and management options are provided.

4-H Youth Development (4-H)

In the 2023 club program, emphasis was placed on promoting awareness of agriculture and encouraging character development. Notably, the shooting sports and livestock clubs maintained their status as the most significant after-school programs. A remarkable achievement was marked by our shooting sports ambassador, who secured a position in the top 10 overall in the national championship. Additionally, three of our members earned seats on the state executive boards, showcasing their commitment and leadership within the organization.

Whom We Reach:

254 4-H club members represented 10 school clubs, after-school Jr. Leader, and Shooting Sports clubs, SNAP-Ed Outreach at Franklin Parish Head Start and Council on Aging, Healthy Communities Coalition members, 693 agricultural producers and home gardeners.

How We Reach Them

4-H Clubs, school enrichment, class series, field days, farm and home visits, on-farm demonstrations, publications, newsletters, email, website, social media and workshops.

Expanding Our Efforts:

40 volunteers from 4-H, FCS and ANR (Advisory Leadership Councils, 4-H school club leaders, after school club leaders, ANR cooperators).

Parish Facts:

LSU AgCenter county agents provide research-based information on plants, aquaculture, wildlife, and animal enterprises to Franklin Parish residents. The 2022 total dollar amount from these commodities were: Plant enterprises, 195,105,338, Animal enterprises, 15,037,204, Aquaculture and Wildlife, 12,373,826.

Land area - 624.30 square miles; Population - 19,774; Population under 18 years old - 25.1%; Population 65 years old and over - 19.3%; Median household income - $41,129; Persons below poverty - 24.0%

Local Issues and Plans for this Year:

Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana agriculture

• Conduct commodity production meetings, crop variety and related on-farm demonstrations, and work closely with commodity groups and farm organizations
• Use regular mail, email distributions, Web page content, newsletters, and write articles for local newspapers to disseminate timely information and publications
• Make farm and home educational visits
• Recommend crop row spacing by planting date to optimize yield
• Provide information on improving irrigation water efficiency and water regulations

Promote the wide use of natural resources and protection of the environment

• Conduct training for private pesticide applicators and agricultural workers

Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H Youth Development.

• Develop and implement service-learning projects throughout the parish
• Encourage youth to participate in parish, regional and state events, workshops, and contests to have new experiences and meet new people

Strengthen families and communities

• Provide training to SNAP Ed families on feeding their families nutritionally on a budget
• Provide education on food safety, and healthy lifestyle changes for better health
• Build Healthy Communities Coalition as an important part of the mission of the FCS Nutrition team in Franklin parish. Coalitions work towards implementing Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) changes throughout the parish to make it a healthier place to live, work, and play
• Focus FCS Nutrition Team efforts on every demographic in the parish, as they work with Pre-K students and their parents, on up to Senior Adult groups at the Councils on Aging

How Is Extension Funded?

• Federal funding from the USDA/ NIFA
• State general funds from the Louisiana Legislature
• Local support from parish government, including police juries and school boards
• Self-generated funds

What Role Do You Play?

Our stakeholders at the parish level are the local supporters and beneficiaries of the LSU AgCenter cooperative extension programs. Their support keeps these critical programs in their communities.

Each Parish Offers Programming In:

• 4-H and Youth Development
• Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Family and Consumer Sciences