To receive a notification through the Remind text messaging system when a Tangi-Washington Grower Update is posted, please contact Mary Helen Ferguson. Click here for links to previous Tangi-Washington Grower Updates.

Merry Christmas, and happy holidays!

I wanted to share several updates and before the end of the year. Note especially that sweet potato seed orders are due by January 11 and the 2023 Watermelon Education Meeting will be held on January 31.

Washington Parish Watermelon, Fruit, and Vegetable Association Meetings – First Tuesdays of the Month (Franklinton)

Purposes of the group include hosting a watermelon festival and engaging in other activities that support local fruit and vegetable growers. Meetings are typically held at the LSU AgCenter office (1104-B Bene St., Franklinton) on the first Tuesday of the month, at 6 PM. Additional meetings are scheduled as needed. For now, contact me if you’re interested in coming and want to make sure the meeting is still scheduled for the normal time.

Sweet Potato Seed Orders Accepted Until January 11

Please contact me by Wednesday, January 11, 2023, if you want to order sweet potato “seed” from the AgCenter’s Foundation Seed Program. (If you’re in parish other than Tangipahoa or Washington, please contact the agent in your parish.) Varieties Beauregard (B-63 or B-14) and Evangeline are available for $18.50 per 40-pound box, while Bayou Belle and Orleans are offered at $25 per box. Bonita, Burgundy, Murasaki, Porto Rico, and Sakura are also available at $25 per box, but only small quantities are available. Commercial growers needing large quantities of seed can purchase 25-box bins of Bayou Belle, Beauregard, Evangeline, or Orleans roots for $412.50, plus the cost of the bin. A licensing fee of $500 for up to 250 acres of production is charged for the patented varieties Bayou Belle, Burgundy, Orleans, and Murasaki, but those who will be growing less than one acre of sweet potatoes are exempt from this fee.

Growers who raise sweet potatoes to sell are required to have a Sweet Potato Dealer’s Permit from the Louisiana Dept. of Ag. and Forestry. Here in Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes, we are in the “pink tag” area, since we are within the area quarantined for the sweetpotato weevil.

Variety descriptions are available here. Sakura is not included on that page, but a description of it can be found in the sweet potato section of this list.

2023 Precision Agriculture Summit - January 18 (Alexandria)

More information is available here.

Mississippi Blueberry Education Workshop – January 24 (Hattiesburg) and January 26 (Online)

Dr. Eric Stafne of Mississippi State University has announced dates for in-person (Jan. 24, 1-4 PM) and virtual (Jan. 26, 2-4 PM) blueberry education workshops in January. The two dates will have different speakers and cover different topics. As the date gets closer, look for details in the Oct.-Dec. 2022 Mississippi Vaccinium Journal. To get updates about the workshops and Mississippi Vaccinium Journal emails, contact Eric.

Watermelon Education Meeting – January 31 (Franklinton)

The 2023 Watermelon Education Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 6:00 PM, at the AgCenter’s Washington Parish office (1104-B Bene St., Franklinton). Speakers will address wildlife damage prevention and weed, disease, and insect management updates. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. For accommodations for persons with disabilities, please contact me at least one week before the event.

Southern Cover Crop Council Conference – February 14-15 (Baton Rouge)

From the organizers: “The Southern Cover Crops Council is hosting its next conference February 14-15, 2023, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana! This conference will feature presentations on multiple aspects of cover cropping in different production systems – pest management, cover crops for beginners, policy, etc. Producer panels will also highlight valuable tips from experienced cover croppers. The conference includes a tour of the Louisiana State University AgCenter Doyle Chambers Central Research Station in Baton Rouge, LA, with cover cropping and equipment demonstrations, on the afternoon of February 15. We are offering free registration for farmers!”

Click here for more information and to register.

Contact Mary Helen Ferguson, Ph.D.

The LSU AgCenter and LSU provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.