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 & SNAP

The nutrition agent started a marketing campaign for programs called “A Taste of Herbs & Spices.” The informational handouts and samples of the herb or spice are distributed to the local libraries. This is an easy way to have locals use less salt in their cooking to reduce the prevalence of hypertension. The herb or spice is used as a replacement for some or all of the added sodium in known dishes. Lessons from the Happy Healthy Me curriculum were presented to Head Start classes at the Myra G. Champagne location. Four different lessons were taught over the course of the month of October. Students learned about MyPlate, physical activity, the importance of handwashing and smart snacking. They also tasted different fruits and vegetables and made their own healthy snack. Lessons then took place in November at the Raceland location.

4-H Youth Development

According to the National Library of Medicine, “The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many unintended, long-lasting consequences for society. Preventative practices such as mask wearing, social distancing, and virtual meetings and classrooms to address contagion concerns may negatively affect communication, particularly in the pediatric population. Increasing awareness and creating innovative methods to promote communication and language learning in settings both in person and virtual is paramount.” The Lafourche Parish 4-H Youth Development Program was an opportunity to address this issue through engaging life skill lessons at monthly meetings. Monthly lessons, summarized in the Lafourche Parish 4-H Lafourche Happenings Newsletter, were conducted at club meetings in 33 schools and in members-at-large meetings with students in grades 4-12. Lessons including tactile experiences in cooperative communication, teamwork, public speaking, non-verbal communication, cooperation, and collaboration were implemented with all in attendance throughout the school year.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

The Louisiana Sugarcane industry produced more than two million tons of raw sugar in 2022 for the first time ever. We are now considered the number one sugar producing state in the US surpassing Florida. Although acreage has decreased in Lafourche parish, it has increased statewide. In November of 2022, 13 participants completed the first Master Cattlemen Program in Lafourche since 2016. This program consists of 10 classes that are taught by specialists within the LSU AgCenter with topics including breeding and selection, cattle handling, animal health, nutrition, reproduction, economics, BQA, pasture agronomy, pasture weeds and end product. The agent attended Oyster, Finfish, Crab, and Shrimp Task Force quarterly meetings to give a presentation on the Louisiana Fisheries Forward Summit and worked with crawfish harvesters to develop trap setting strategies as they start to harvest in late December and early into January 2023.

Whom We Reach:

• 47,560 youth (includes 1,012 4-H members and 32 school 4-H Clubs and one non-tradition club)
• 24,901 adults (3,548 through agriculture and natural resources and 21,353 through family consumer sciences)

How We Reach Them:

4-H Clubs, school enrichment, field days, publications, newsletters, class series, website, social media, and workshops.

Expanding Our Efforts:

Over 250 volunteers from 4-H, Master Gardeners, and Master Cattle producers and farmers.

Parish Facts:

LSU AgCenter county agents provide research-based information on plant, aquaculture, wildlife and animal enterprises to Lafourche Parish residents. The total dollar amount from these commodities were: Animal enterprises, $1,995.973; aquaculture and wildlife, $62,205,891; plant enterprises, $15,981,101. Land area — 1,067.79 square miles; Population —97,870; Population under 18 years old — 23.0%; Population 65 years old and over — 16.4%; Median household income — $58,747; Persons below poverty — 15.7%

Local Issues and Plans for this Year:

Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana agriculture.

• Conduct sugarcane field day.
• Write news columns, webpage content and seminars on agriculture practices.
• Conduct farm and home educational visits.
• Conduct hay samples throughout the parish.
• Conduct field days to educate on best pasture management practices.
• Conduct a bull soundness exam to increase calf crop.

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

• Develop and implement service-learning projects throughout the parish.
• Junior Leader officers will participate in an overnight retreat to research and determine annual service-learning project will culminate during the summer.
• Develop and strengthen a stronger volunteer base.
• Implement a yearly fundraising activity that will serve to support larger efforts.
• Implement a unified parish post high school scholarship application process.

Strengthen families and communities

• Family and consumer sciences clients receive training on feeding their families nutritionally on a budget.
• Implement healthy community efforts to make healthy choices the easier choices.
• Teach classes on disease prevention and management.
• Lafourche LSU AgCenter, Lafourche Cattlemen’s Association and Lafourche Farm Bureau will collaborate to host a Farm City Day.

Extension Funding
FY 2021-2022

How we are funded:

You are the local supporters and beneficiaries of the LSU AgCenter extension programs. Your support keeps these programs in your communities.

Your parish extension office offers programs in:

• Sustaining Louisiana agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
• Building leaders and good citizens through 4-H Youth Development
• Family, nutrition and health to enhance the quality of life for Louisiana’s citizens

LSU AgCenter State Appropriated Funds for FY 2022-2023:

• State General Direct: 78.01%
• Federal Funds: 12.06%
• Self-Generated: 6.31%
• Statutory Dedications: 3.62%