Agriculture

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.

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – For the second time in three months, a Missouri jury Friday found Germany-based Bayer Cropscience AG and two of its affiliates negligent in the second of several “bellwether trials” scheduled for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, and awarded $1.5 million to three long-grain rice farmers from Arkansas and Mississippi. Their crops and their livelihood, the jury determined, were harmed by Bayer’s genetically modified rice. The jury also found Bayer AG liable.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., R-Southwest Louisiana, will host the 4th annual Farm Day Forum. This year’s forum will be held on Monday, February 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Welsh Community Center. In addition to agricultural concerns, Boustany will discuss potential impacts of the massive health care reform overhauls on farming and ranching communities across Louisiana.

BUNKIE – Rice farmers could be facing challenges in the marketplace this year, but the outlook is countered by positive news, an LSU AgCenter economist advised them.

A host of area farmers and other members of the Louisiana rice industry were on hand Tuesday evening at the International Rice Festival building Tuesday night for the Louisiana Rice Council and Louisiana Rice Growers Association joint annual meeting. Several topics were discussed including the future of the rice industry, how today’s political climate is affecting the industry, and possible future free trade agreements with countries such as Cuba.
Jeff Durand, president of the Louisiana Rice Growers Association, welcomed those in attendance and recognized several dignitaries in attendance including Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain, State Representative Jack Montoucet, and representatives of Congressman Charles Boustany’s office.