About the LSU AgCenter

The LSU AgCenter provides innovative research, information, and education to improve people’s lives. Working in a unique 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.

Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) - Carol Pinnell-Alison

We had a wet January through March. We received 21.55 inches of rain during this time from data collected at the LSU AgCenter’s Sweet Potato Research Station at Chase, LA . The average yearly rainfall for NE Louisiana is 57 inches. After the record drought last summer, the rain is appreciated. A drawback of the weekly rainfall is that it has made planting field corn a challenge. The LSU AgCenter’s recommended planting window for field corn in north Louisiana is March 10 to April 10. The earlier planting in this window the better for maximizing yields.

Our agricultural producers dealt with excessive rain at harvest in 2022 and record drought and heat in 2023. Low yields and poor quality of the harvested crops impacted the revenue producers received in both years. Due to lower commodity prices and input costs more soybean acres are expected in the parish. Soybean input costs are lower than corn and cotton due primarily to not needing to apply nitrogen fertilizer. Soybeans are a legume and have the ability through nodulation to produce the nitrogen needed to produce a crop.

4-H and Family Development – Morgan Whitehead

Shooting Sports

We had close to 30 kids compete in the Regional Shooting Sports held in Shreveport, LA. The students competed in shotgun, rifle, and archery events. A lot of hard work and practice has been put into this sport by these students to compete at Regional and State levels. Nine of these students have placed and will advance to the state shoot in April.

District Livestock Show

The Northeast District Livestock show is held in Richland Parish every year in Delhi. Participants from all over the Northeast Region come to show their livestock. These livestock animals include cattle, swine, goats, lambs, and poultry. Richland Parish had quite a few participants this year that participated in the District Show and advanced to the State Show in Gonzales

Nutrition and Community Health (NCH) – Brittney Newsome

American Heart Month: Break Up with Salt Nutrition Workshop

In February for American Heart Month, twenty-eight residents from the

Richland Community Centre’s Housing Authority learned the importance of knowing their numbers when it comes to understanding Hypertension and how to form healthy habits through meal preparation and incorporating herbs and spices to modify the sodium content in their food.Break Up with Salt is a Hypertension/High Blood Pressure program created by the LSU AgCenter to help participants learn about managing their condition through goal setting, diet, label reading, practicing portion control, and cooking.Participants received infused water bottles, food journals, recipes, pedometers, and sample herbs and spices.They also received a well-balanced meal which consisted of Lasagna and Green Salad with Fruit for Dessert.This workshop was conducted in partnership with Humana.

The Learning Lab “Charcuterie Board Meets MyPlate”

Charcuterie Board Meets MyPlate teaches what a charcuterie board is, how the MyPlate guide fits the charcuterie board concept, designing personal boards or cups, and tips on food safety.As March quickly approached, we brought in National Nutrition Month by presenting “The Learning Lab” a joint parish effort between Richland and Franklin Parishes which was a well-attended event that presented to twenty-three participants how to create healthy snacks, tips on food preservation, and the power of bean consumption.