Ouachita 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

Ouachita Parish typically ranks in the mid-to-lower range for health outcomes compared to other parishes in Louisiana according to County Health Rankings data. Ouachita Nutrition and Community Health (NCH) Programs include Flavors of Health and SNAP-Ed. Nutrition education is conducted through series of classes, special events, and social marketing to promote healthy communities and lifestyles. Partnerships have been formed through Healthy Communities Coalitions to promote policies, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes to make healthy choices easier.

4-H Youth Development

The Ouachita 4-H Club focus for 2024-2025 is Science for elementary and Service-Learning for middle and high schools. Ouachita 4-H maintains project clubs in shooting sports, robotics, photography, junior leadership, and livestock opportunities as well as a new zoology club. A variety of contests, camps, workshops, and citizenship opportunities continue to be available to our youth on parish, regional, and state levels. These opportunities target three 4-H mission mandates: Science, Engineering, and Technology; Healthy Living; and Citizenship.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Horticulture programming includes a gardening seminar, presentations to garden clubs, a monthly lawn and garden article, a biweekly radio segment, and a weekly television segment. The North Louisiana Seed Preservation Program continues to expand its heirloom seed holdings. Other programming will focus on residential lawn care, pruning, home composting and recycling yard waste, and techniques from regenerative agriculture. Ouachita had a total of 40,923.8 acres for planted row crops. Corn had the highest total with 10,523.3 acres followed by Soybeans with 8,091.6 acres, Rice with 7,252.9 acres, and Cotton with 6,453.9 acres. Yields are expected to average close to last year’s. Core block trials in the parish were harvested. Private Applicator and Worker Protection Standard training is offered.

Programs

4-H and Youth Development

  • 4-H Clubs
  • Project Clubs: Junior Leaders, Livestock, Photography, Robotics, Shooting Sports, Zoology

Agriculture and Natural Resources

  • Agronomy
  • Animal Science
  • Forestry and Wildlife
  • Horticulture

Nutrition and Community Health (NCH)

  • Flavors of Health
  • Healthy Communities
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed)

Whom We Reach:

  • 104,077 youth
  • 13,831 adults

How We Reach Them:

4-H Clubs, school enrichment, field days, publications, newsletters, news articles, television, class series, demonstrations, school/community gardens, social media, website, special events, workshops, coalition meetings, virtual programs, and PSE changes.

Expanding Our Efforts:

255 volunteers from 4-H, Master Gardeners, Nutrition and Community Health, Healthy Communities and Horticulture.

Parish Facts:

LSU AgCenter county agents provide research-based information on plant, aquaculture, wildlife and animal enterprises to Ouachita Parish residents. The total dollar amount from these commodities were: Animal enterprises, $23,354,789; aquaculture and wildlife, $5,145,062; plant enterprises, $67,109,249 (Source: Louisiana Summary 2023). Land area – 610.4 square miles; Population - 157,568; Population under 18 years old - 24.5%; Population 65 years old and over - 16.3%; Median household income - $49,261; Persons below poverty - 23.5%.

Local Issues and Plans For This Year:

Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana agriculture

  • Conduct core block trials with producers.
  • Conduct Private Applicator Recertification training.
  • Conduct Worker Protection Standard training.
  • Conduct farm and home educational visits.

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

  • Programs on saving seeds and self-sufficient food security.
  • Expanding seed increase work of the North Louisiana Seed Preservation Program.
  • Developing a demonstration composting facility at the Marion Street Learning Garden in Monroe.
  • Programs on amending native soils for gardens and landscapes with yard waste.
  • Continuing work with heirloom fruit trees.
  • Continuing programs on shade tree care in the home landscape.

Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H Youth Development

  • Citizenship/Service-Learning opportunities.
  • Leadership through school and project clubs.
  • Healthy Living education.
  • Personal Development and career exposure.
  • Science, Engineering and Technology opportunities.

Strengthen families and communities

  • Healthy eating and physical activity for mental health.
  • Economical healthy eating and educating kids on cost of food and where food comes from.
  • How to read food labels in relation to top disease processes.
  • Increasing safe physical activity in the outdoors.
  • Nutrition education and healthy cooking skills to change eating habits.

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

For the latest research-based information on just about anything, visit our website: LSUAgCenter.com

Innovate . Educate . Improve Lives

The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture

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