Madison Parish Profile

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

Nutrition and Community Health

Nutrition and Community Health agents and educators are improving the overall health of residents by helping to reduce chronic diseases which are related to poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles and improving the health outcomes in which Louisiana has traditionally ranked so low. This community-based work helps individuals and families adopt the nutrition and physical activity principles we have long been teaching.

4-H Youth Development

The LSU AgCenter offers 4-H programming to youth across the parish. They can participate in school club meetings as well as afterschool clubs such as Shooting Sports, Livestock Team, cooking club, Sewing Club, Art club and Junior Leaders. There are several different workshops held throughout the year on STEM, agriculture and life skills.as well as overnight camps during the summer. Several community service projects are held each year to help the local community. Youth are presented with opportunities to learn leadership skills by holding an officer position at the club level, becoming a part of the regional board and/or a position on one of our state boards.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Madison Parish is the center of the very fertile Mississippi River delta which makes us a very agriculture dependent economy. Producers face constantly changing commodity prices facing constantly increasing costs. This leads to very tight profit margins which we try to help in many ways. Crop production demonstrations, including variety trials and irrigation efficiency at local producers’ fields. There are also soil fertility trials to promote good stewardship of land and nutrient management. Assisting with livestock, home gardens, and row crop agriculture are just a small part of all the services the Madison Parish Extension Office offers.

Whom we reach:

• 114 youth (4-H Members and 5 school 4-H clubs and a community club)
• Over 1,000 adults in Agriculture and Natural Resources
• 6,851 adults

How we reach them:

• 4-H Clubs and 4-H Junior Leader Meetings, school enrichment, field days, publications, newsletters, class series, websites, social media and workshops.

Expanding our efforts:

• 10 volunteers from 4-H; Incorporating embryology in schools

Parish Facts:

The LSU AgCenter provides research-based information on plant, aquaculture, wildlife, and animal enterprises to Madison Parish Residents. The total amount of these commodities was: animal enterprises, $1,872,204; aquaculture and wildlife, $364,934; plant enterprises, $129,865,531. Land area- 624 square miles; Estimated Population- 8,918; Median Household income- $37,267; Persons below poverty- 36.7%

Local Issues and Plans for this Year:

Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana agriculture

• Conduct on farm crop variety
• Conduct farm and home educational visits
• Conduct research-based demonstrations and encourage implementation of new practices
• Private Pesticide Applicator Certification

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

• Conduct farm and home educational visits
• Record Podcast, newsletters, record educational videos
• Conduct on farm variety trial and irrigation and moisture sensor demonstration

Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H Youth Development

• Develop and implement service-learning projects throughout the parish.
• Junior Leaders will work with CASA, character education projects and fashion club members on promoting youth development activities.

Strengthen families and communities

• Nutrition and Community Health clients receive training on feeding their families nutritionally on a budget.

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
• Nutrition and Community Health