Agriculture

Louisiana agriculture contributed $8.3 billion to the state’s economy in 2009, which was the lowest contribution since 2002 and down from $9.5 billion in 2008, according to the latest figures compiled by the LSU AgCenter in its annual Ag Summary, which was released Monday.

William Stutts put his first crop in the ground when he was a junior in high school. The year was 1977, and that crop comprised some 100 acres. Now, 33 years later, Stutts farms more than 1,300 acres in West Carroll Parish, and he does it exceptionally well. So well, he was named the 2010 Louisiana Farmer of the Year.

CROWLEY, February 23, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation is soliciting applications from landowners interested in restoring or enhancing wetlands on private agricultural land in Louisiana through the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP).

The Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association inducted Dr. Ben Legendre, LSU AgCenter sugarcane scientist, into the Agricultural Hall of Fame during the organization’s annual conference recently (Feb. 10-12).

CALHOUN, La. – Louisiana forest landowners heard about ways to improve timber, wildlife and product value from their lands at an LSU AgCenter forum recently.

The annual Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s Shade Tree Sale will run from March 1 through March 5. In the Lafayette and Opelousas area, the sale will start on Feb. 27 and end March 5.