Agriculture

The Southwest Louisiana Rice Forum/Soybean Clinic will be held Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at the Welsh Community Center in Welsh. The Rice Forum will begin at 8:00 a.m.

Knowing what nutrients are in your soil and what nutrients are needed is a basic step towards good plant health. Soil nutrient balance must be managed for best plant growth, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.
“Early winter is a great time to do a soil test,” Koske said, explaining that doing so now beats the spring rush and allows time to find and apply what is needed.
For example, if lime is required to raise the soil pH, it must be applied several months before it is actually needed to support good spring growth.

LITTLE ROCK – U.S. rice industry leaders met recently for the USA Rice Federation Outlook Conference with one eye on the economy and the other peering at the prospects for the 2009 crop.
Farmer Randy Thibodeaux of Acadia Parish said he came home from the conference with a mixed outlook. “It wasn’t so much doom and gloom,” he said.
Forecasts at the conference projected fuel and nitrogen costs will continue to decline.
“When do you pull the plug and start buying?” Thibodeaux said.

After Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, I wrote about several species of shade trees that were well adapted to our area. These aren’t the only desirable species, but were those that I have seen giving consistent performance.
Whether you are planting a shade tree, fruit tree or ornamental shrub, October and November are good months to plant.
Planting Trees and Shrubs – We are entering the ideal season for shade tree planting in south Louisiana.
Technically, container grown trees can be planted anytime of year with success. However, certain seasons have the advantage of others.

By Allen Hogan
AgCenter Agent

It’s time to enjoy Louisiana blueberries. Luckily, blueberries are nature’s No. 1 source of antioxidants among more than 50 fresh fruits and vegetables tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging.
LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames explains antioxidants are compounds that protect cells against damage by free radicals that form in the body. Uncontrolled free radical formation can cause cell damage that may lead to cancer, heart disease, inflammation and other health problems.