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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.
The youth of St. Bernard Parish are the future. 4-H contributes to that future by providing youth with the opportunity to learn and grow! We aim to teach them about the importance of protecting their local environment. We do this through 4-H clubs where youth do hands on lessons in STEM and natural resource education. We also offer wetland education, cooking contest, and other events that contribute to positive youth development.
Agriculture and protection of natural resources are important to the St. Bernard Parish economy. With an over 300-year long history of truck farm vegetable production, St. Bernard Parish continues to be an important producer of locally grown produce for the New Orleans consumer market. Challenges related to new disease pressures, invasive species, saltwater intrusion, and coastal land loss make growing in the area more challenging than ever before. Our program can help diagnose issues and connect to resources such as laboratory testing, management solutions, and new specialty crops to meet an increasing consumer demand for locally grown, high quality produce.
Louisiana is the second largest producer of seafood in the United States, and St. Bernard Parish is a big contributor. The commercial fishery industries face a plethora of issues including regulation challenges, environmental change, rising costs, declining prices, and an overall aging of the industry. St. Bernard Parish is also plagued with land loss and other coastal issues. Our program works with industry members, local entities, and members of the communities to address these issues while providing outreach, hands-on training, and educational opportunities.
4-H Clubs, school enrichment activities, home-visits, site-visits, educational workshops, field days, St. Bernard News and Voice articles, publications, newsletters, class series, website, social media, and workshops.
We have 65 Master Gardeners and 50 4-H volunteers.
LSU AgCenter county agents provide research-based information on plant, aquaculture, wildlife, and animal enterprises to St. Bernard Parish residents. The total dollar amount from these commodities were:
A crucial issue that is a priority in St. Bernard Parish is climate change and coastal restoration. To that end, 4-H programming has focused on STEM activities and natural resource education. We engage St. Bernard Parish youth in activities that teach them about their local environment and the importance of protecting it. We also try to provide youth with a chance to engage with STEM topics in an exciting way that will have them considering a STEM focused career.
The increasing decline of local citrus orchards due to Citrus Greening Disease, vectored by the invasive Asian Citrus Psyllid insect is spurring local research in screenhouse technology and container culture for fruit-bearing trees. The protective screen keeps pests out and works to prevent the spread of Citrus Greening to the healthy trees inside. This research project is currently underway at the Fruit Under Screened Enclosures (FUSE) facility in Meraux, LA. Additional fruit crops such as guava, avocado, finger lime, and pawpaw are also under review.
With commercial fishers facing daily challenges, Louisiana Sea Grant (LSG) offers programming initiatives to teach them ways to grow their businesses and expand their practices. This includes proper licensing and regulation trainings, seafood markets, HACCP seafood processing workshops, and online market outlets such as Louisiana Direct Seafood. These efforts work to educate commercial fishers and introduce them to new market avenues. LSG also works to offer safety trainings, ecological classes, disaster planning, and gear inspections for fisheries producers.
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.
2026 St Bernard Parish Profilepdf / 0.41MB