The Team

Brenda Tubana

Brenda TubanajpgProfessor of Soil Fertility
Phone: 225-578-9420
M: 225-252-6025
309 M.B. Sturgis Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803




Areas of Specialization / Experience

Associate Professor of Soil Fertility

  • Conduct applied research in the areas of soil fertility, nutrient management, and plant nutrition of major row crops in Louisiana. Specific research projects include:
    • Evaluation for optimal nitrogen application timing and source in row-crop productions
    • Impact of cover crops on soil nutrient cycling for crops for sugar, grain and energy production
    • On-a-need basis application of nitrogen fertilizer using remote sensor and variable rate application technology
    • Evaluation on the of ground-based remote sensor and aerial imagery for nitrogen prescription map generation
  • Work collaboratively with other LSU AgCenter faculty, Natural Resource Conservation Service, private crop consultants, fertilizer industries, Louisiana commodity boards, American Sugar Cane League, USDA-ARS, and other state universities to provide effective and up-to-date fertilization guidelines for Louisiana field crops and identify emerging issues in nutrient management.,
  • Prepare peer-reviewed articles, extension publications, and newsletters.
  • Disseminate a variety of educational programs at workshops, field days, and meetings. Mentors and trains graduate students.
  • Service to professional society:
    • 2018 Leader of the Sensor-Based Nutrient Management Communityof the American Society of Agronomy
    • President of the International Society for Silicon in Agriculture (2018-2020)
    • Active member (and hosted) of the (2017) Nitrogen Use Efficiency Working Group
      Soil Fertility

Renee Naquin

Renee Naquin

Southeast Region ANR Coordinator

Extension Agent- Agronomy Southeast and Southwest Regions

Parish Chair- St. James

Phone- 225-936-7327

Office- 2204 S. Albert St. Lutcher, 70071


Areas of Specialization / Experience

  • Work collaboratively with other LSU AgCenter faculty, private crop consultants, American Sugar Cane League, USDA-ARS, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and Louisiana Farm Bureau to identify and address emerging issues and problems associated with sugarcane.
  • Present research based educational programs to Sugarcane producers in the parishes of Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John, and Terrebonne parishes
  • Conduct farm/landowner visits to address production issues related to Sugarcane and Soybeans
  • Work with Soybean producers and LSU AgCenter State Soybean Specialist to conduct on Farm Core Block Demonstrations
  • 27 years with the AgCenter

Donna S. Gentry

Donna Gentry jpg

State Coordinator - La Master Farmer Program Area Livestock Agent in the Southeast Region

Phone: 225-578-1180
East Feliciana
Clinton, LA



Areas of Specialization / Experience

LSU AgCenter Livestock Extension Agent and State Coordinator Master Farmer Program

  • With 21 years of history with LSU AgCenter, Dr. Gentry's experience includes proficiency in row crops, cover crops, and environmental programs as well as serving as the area livestock agent in the Southeast region of Louisiana.
  • Coordinate the Louisiana Master Farmer Program. The program focuses on helping agricultural producers voluntarily address environmental concerns as well as helping them enhance the production and resource management skills they need for the continued sustainability of Louisiana agriculture. The program helps producers across a wide range of agricultural and natural resource enterprises by teaching them more about environmental stewardship, conservation-based production techniques and resource management. The program uses a comprehensive approach that includes classroom instruction, observation of LSU AgCenter research-based best management practices and implementation of a comprehensive conservation plan. It also involves a voluntary producer certification process.

Kenneth Gravois

Kenneth GravoisjpgProfessor
Phone: 225-281-9472
Sugar Research Station
St. Gabriel, Louisiana 70776




Areas of Specialization / Experience

LSU AgCenter Sugarcane Specialist

  • Work collaboratively with other LSU AgCenter faculty, private crop consultants, American Sugar Cane League, USDA-ARS, other state universities, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and Louisiana Farm Bureau to identify and address emerging issues and problems associated with Louisiana’s number one valued row crop, sugarcane.
  • Present educations programs to Louisiana crop producers based on agronomic best management practices.
  • Conduct applied research in areas of variety development and testing.
  • Prepare peer-reviewed articles, extension publications, newsletters, radio and TV programs, and maintain web sites.
  • Work collaboratively with other faculty to provide in-service training opportunities for extension agents and plan/deliver educational programs at workshops, field days, grower meetings, and conferences.

Naveen Adusumilli

Naveen AdusumillijpgAssistant Professor
Phone: 225-578-2727
Dept. of Ag. Economics & Agribusiness
Baton Rouge, Louisiana





Areas of Specialization / Experience

Production Economics, Soil and Water Policy

  • Work collaboratively with other LSU AgCenter faculty, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and Louisiana Farm Bureau, Environmental groups, and other universities within the Mississippi River Basin, to evaluate emerging issues in conservation policy, federal and state conservation priorities, and provide support through economic evaluation of the potential solutions to achieve agricultural and environmental sustainability
  • Develop decision tools based on conservation programs and present those tools to Louisiana farmers and other clientele groups involved in environmental protection
  • Conduct applied research in areas of risk, uncertainty, and efficient allocation of resources.
  • Serve on conservation agency advisory committees and national groups focused on nutrient management on agricultural lands
  • Prepare peer-reviewed articles, extension publications, and newsletters.
  • Work collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams to provide in-service training opportunities for extension agents and plan/deliver a variety of educational programs at workshops, field days, meetings, and conferences.

Melissa Cater

Melissa Caterjpg

Associate Professor
Phone: 318-435-2903
Scott Research & Extension Center
Winnsboro, Louisiana





Areas of Specialization / Experience

LSU AgCenter State Specialist for Program Evaluation

  • Provide support to LSU AgCenter faculty in designing needs assessments and outcome evaluations, collecting and analyzing data, and writing reports.
  • Present educational programs to LSU AgCenter faculty on program evaluation methodologies.
  • Conduct applied research in program evaluation.
  • Provide leadership to statewide evaluation projects.
  • Prepare peer-reviewed articles and extension publications about program evaluation.

Frances Gould

Frances Gouldjpg

Professor & Department Head
Phone: 225-578-5679
141 Knapp Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803





Areas of Specialization / Experience

Director and Professor for LSU AgCenter Communications and Public Relations.

  • Serve as the public information officer for the LSU AgCenter.
  • Advise the Vice President of Agriculture / Executive Council on branding, marketing, educational and media strategies to support research & outreach missions.
  • Provides oversight to 20 faculty and staff developing news (print, web, social media, video & audio) information, media relations, marketing, publications, graphic design, multimedia, exhibits, web content/design, issues management and crisis communication.
  • LSU AgCenter Communications Unit manages an online store that offers for sale educational material and other services.
  • The LSU AgCenter Communications Unit as a nationally and regionally recognized leader in the Land-grant system.

Blair Hebert

Blair HerbertjpgExtension Agent
Phone: 337-369-4440
Iberia Extension Parish
New Iberia, LA 70560





Areas of Specialization/Experience

  • Serves as Parish Extension County Agent and Parish Chairman in Iberia Parish.
  • Responsible for educational programming efforts associated with sugarcane in the parishes of Iberia, Acadia, Lafayette, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion.

Albert Orgeron

Albert Orgeronjpg

Assistant Professor
Southeast Region
Hammond, Louisiana





Areas of Specialization/Experience

LSU AgCenter Regional Pest Management Specialist

  • Develop, coordinate, as well as, conduct weed management educational programs for the Louisiana Sugarcane Industry which includes: sugarcane producers, county agents, private crop consultants, and the American Sugar Cane League personnel.
  • Plan and conduct applied research in the areas of sugarcane weed management, sugarcane ripeners, cover crops, and rotational fallow crops.
  • Conduct on-farm demonstrations and engage in regular interaction with sugarcane producers, extension agents, and consultants to evaluate new herbicide technologies and to remain informed on current and new weed issues.
  • Prepare Sugar Bulletin Articles, extension publications and peer-reviewed manuscripts.

Dennis Burns

Dennis BurnsjpgExtension Agent
Mobile: 318-267-6709
Tensas Parish Extension Office
St. Joseph, LA



Areas of Specialization/Experience

  • Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for Catahoula, Concordia, and Tensas Parishes
  • GIS Technical Precision Ag Agent for LSU AgCenter
  • Work with LSU Research Scientists and other Agents with on-farm trials and demonstrations.These include LSU AgCenter, National Resource Conservation Service, Consultants, and Private Industry in all crops grown in Louisiana.These projects have been both Louisiana and Multi-State
  • Conduct and present educational programs to crop producers at meetings local, Louisiana and regional

James Hendrix

James Hendrixjpg

Associate Area Extension Agent
Louisiana Master Farmer Program
Upper Mississippi/Ouachita Watersheds
Conservation Agronomist, Northeast Region
Pone: 318-235-7198
Northeast Research Station St. Joseph, LA 71366


Areas of Specialization/Experience

LSU AgCenter Conservation Agronomist, Northeast Region and Area Agent for Louisiana Master Farmer Program

  • Plan and conduct educational activities, including trainings, workshops, conferences, field days and field demonstrations focused on adoption of agricultural best management practices by producers/landowners.
  • Collaborate with research faculty of the LSU AgCenter and other universities on demonstration and research projects related to cover crops, nutrient management, tillage systems, water quality and best management practices in loess and alluvial production systems.
  • Collaborate on educational programming efforts with Natural Resources Conservation Service, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana Farm Bureau, Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, Louisiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Sparta Aquifer Commission and the Cattle Producers of Louisiana.
  • Conduct presentations for producers, schools, civic and governmental agencies on issues and topics focused on agricultural best management practices, water quality/conservation and related issues.
  • Conduct farm/landowner visits to address production issues related to cover crops, tillage systems, nutrient management, erosion, water/air quality, farm resource assessment and conservation planning.

Louisiana Master Farmer Team

Louisiana Master Farmer Teamjpg

Representatives from:

LSU AgCenter
Louisiana Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry
USDA-NRCS

Dr. Ron Levy as primary contact Professor & Director
Ph: 337-788-7534
SW Regional Office
Rayne, LA 70803

Areas of Specialization / Experience

The Louisiana Master Farmer Program (LMFP) focuses on helping agricultural producers voluntarily address environmental concerns as well as helping them enhance the production and resource management skills they need for the continued sustainability of Louisiana agriculture. The program helps producers across a wide range of agricultural and natural resource enterprises by teaching them more about environmental stewardship, conservation-based production techniques and resource management. Participation increased from 3,326 participants in 2015, to 3,781 in 2017. Further the LMFP added 10 certified Master Farmers in 2017. As of 1/11/2018, there are 241 Certified Master Farmers in Louisiana representing 51 of the 64 parishes (79.7% of the parishes in the state) with 47 farmers currently Re-Certified for an additional five years.

Innovate . Educate . Improve Lives

The LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture

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