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

4-H Youth Development

The 2023-2024 school enrichment focus for grades 4^th-12^th is “Life Skills.” Youth will gain knowledge on how to make smart decisions, how to prepare quick meals for themselves, how to manage money, and other life skills to help them succeed as they get older. Aside from school enrichment youth are given the opportunity to participate in a variety of events such as 4-H camp, Commodity Cookeries, Jr. Leader Club, Shooting Sports, Livestock Show and Clinics, 4-H University, School Gardens, and Achievement Day.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Pointe Coupee is a major agricultural parish that produces corn, cotton, soybeans, sugarcane, rice, and wheat; all being grown on approximately 165,000 acres. Pointe Coupee continues to be the largest sugarcane producing parish in Louisiana with approximately 72,680 acres in production. Pointe Coupee farmers rely on information from the LSU AgCenter to stay efficient and productive. Therefore, the parish hosts an annual Farm Forum with presentations from specialists and researchers who provide the most current research-based information available. Due to these trainings, producers are able to become better stewards of the land.

Family and Consumer Sciences

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, Pointe Coupee Parish has an obesity prevalence of 33.4%. The programs offered through the LSU AgCenter focus on teaching people in the community about healthy eating, the importance of physical activity, and how to create habits. Our Smart Portions Program is an eight-week lifestyle weight control program that teaches healthy eating using Choose MyPlate food groups and proper portion sizes. Dining with Diabetes is a program that helps adults at risk or with Type 2 diabetes learn how to manage their condition through meal planning, label reading and portion control. Let’s Eat for the Health of It (Youth) Program teaches children how to create a healthy plate and focuses on cutting back on fats, added sugars, and salt; eating the right number of calories for you; and being physically active your way.

Extension Office

Physical & Mailing Address:
180 East Main St., 1st Floor, New Roads, LA 70760

Phone: 225-638-5533

Fax: 225-638-5550

Email: pointecoupee@agcenter.lsu.edu

Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Website: www.LSUAgCenter.com/PointeCoupee

Social Media: Facebook: @PCLSUAgCenter

Parish Chair: Mark Carriere
mcarriere@agcenter.lsu.edu

Additional Contact:

Tara Manuel
Administrative Coordinator
tmanuel@agcenter.lsu.edu

Programs

• 4-H and Youth Development
  • Gabriella Lorusso - glorusso@agcenter.lsu.edu
• Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Agronomic Crops – Mark Carriere – mcarriere@agcenter.lsu.edu
  • Horticulture & Livestock – Allison Decell – aspillman@agcenter.lsu.edu
• Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)
  Breanna Staab – bstaab@agcenter.lsu.edu

Whom We Reach:

• 5,640 youth (includes 466 4-H members and 16 school 4-H Clubs)
• 21,200 adults (16,146 through agriculture and natural resources and 5,054 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:

175 volunteers from 4-H, Master Gardeners, family and community and Master Horseman.

Parish Facts:

• LSU AgCenter county agents provide research-based information on plant, aquaculture, wildlife, and animal enterprises to Pointe Coupee Parish residents. The total dollar amount from these commodities in 2022 were: Animal enterprises, $15,722,363; aquaculture and wildlife, $3,702,130; plant enterprises, $203,597,331.
• Land area — 557.35 square miles; Population —20,151; Population under 18 years old — 21.1%; Population 65 years old and over — 22.4%; Median household income — $53,045; Persons below poverty — 17.1%

Local Issues and Plans for This Year:

Increase productivity and profitability of Louisiana agriculture.

• Conduct on-farm variety trials in corn, cotton, soybean, and wheat.
• Make home and farm visits to provide educational information to solve problems.
• Certify private pesticide applicators and Worker Protection Standards (WPS) through Farm Forum.
• Conduct sugarcane variety field day with prescribed burn management certification.
• Work with NRCS to promote conservation programs.

Increase Healthy Living through horticulture and environmental stewardship.

• Promote Best Management Practices (BMP) for gardens, lawns, landscapes, and fruit/vegetable trees.
• Conduct school garden programs to educate youth about healthy lifestyles.
• Pointe Coupee Master Gardener Program

Build leaders and good citizens through 4-H Youth Development

• Conduct school enrichment programs for youth to gain knowledge and increase their “Life Skills” to help them succeed as they get older.
• Junior Leaders will participate in yearly service-learning projects.
• Offer camp opportunities to strengthen independence of 4-H Youth.
• Create belonging for youth and parents by using social media.
• Continue hands-on workshops for youth.
• Promote outdoor safety through the 4-H Outdoor Skills Program.

To make a Healthy Choice an Easy Choice for individuals in Pointe Coupee

• Provide research-based nutrition information through social media and local newspaper articles.
• Implement Smart Portions, Dining with Diabetes, and Let’s Eat for the Health of It Programs.
• Collaborate with other parish agents with eating from the school garden and host Chef Camps for youth across the parish.

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.

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