more... > Louisiana Agriculture Magazine > Past Issues > Fertility Research Helps Optimize Sugarcane Profits [Image: Organic Fertilizer] Soil fertility and plant nutrition research are important components of the LSU AgCenter’s sugarcane research efforts. With tight economic conditions and increasing concern for the environment, it is important that the nutritional needs of sugarcane be met without applying excess nutrients. To meet this challenge, the LSU AgCenter maintains a rigorous program for examining the nutritional needs of the recommended sugarcane varieties on the major soil groups where sugarcane is grown. Forestry Biggest Share of the Agricultural Economy [Image: Photo of Pine trees] Louisiana has not always had the plantations of southern pines. This isespecially true for the hills of north central Louisiana. Research Soon Follows As Rice Growing Begins [Image: Photo of rice harvest] Rice farming on a widespread commercial basis in Louisiana began in the late 19th century, and rice research soon followed. A Storied History of Cotton in Louisiana [Image: Photo of a cotton farmer] Few crops have the storied history of cotton. Grown in Louisiana for hundreds of years, this crop has been a vital part of the state’s economy. In the early 1700s, cotton cultivated in the state was used mainly for home spinning and weaving. It wasn’t until the invention of the cotton gin later that century that cotton became a cash crop in Louisiana.  more articles... Louisiana Agriculture Research begins with the Sugar Experiment Station [Image: Photo of William C. Stubbs] Louisiana agriculture research began with the establishment of the Sugar Experiment Station in 1885, two years before the passage of the Hatch Act. Bring on the next 125 years! [Image: Photo of John Russin] Agriculture in Louisiana is an intricate tapestry whose richness is rivaled by few other states. Our broad array of agricultural enterprises ranges from the traditional to the regionally unique – from soybeans and corn to rice and sugarcane, from beef and dairy to alligators and turtles, and from catfish to crawfish and oysters. Louisiana Agriculture Spring 2012 (PDF) [Image: Spring 2012 cover] This is a special issue of Louisiana Agriculture devoted to milestones in research over the past 125 years. In 1887, Congress passed the Hatch Act, which provided federal funds to states with agricultural research stations. Lousiana was able to access this money and begin conducting research that made the agricultural industry sustainable and profitables. 32 pages. BEST Is Yet To Come [Image: BEST] Biotechnology Education for Students and Teachers – BEST – is a program designed to help assure a flow of fresh talent into research at the LSU AgCenter. The program brings top-notch science teachers and their students to campus for a biotechnology-intense, six-week summer session. Crop residue biomass production in Louisiana [Image: Figure 1.] Louisiana has several sources of plant material available after harvest of major crops that could be used to produce ethanol and electricity. Autonomous boats offer solutions to environmental tasks [Image: Autonomus boat] Automated, solar-powered boats have been used to reduce bird predation on catfish ponds and to track water quality in natural water bodies and drinking water reservoirs. Controlling weeds in flowerbeds [Image: Spurge] Louisianians take pride in the appearance of their landscapes, and weeds detract from this beauty. Along with being aesthetically displeasing, weeds in flower beds compete with desirable plants for water, nutrients and light and soon can get out of control. Using plant growth regulators in the landscape [Image: Cutlass broadcast] Many shrubs and groundcovers used in the southern landscape require routine pruning or shearing to keep their shape neat and compact. Pruning is a significant expenditure of time and a major labor cost for the landscape service industry. Warm-season landscape plant evaluations at the Hammond Research Station [Image: Supertunia Vista Silverberry petunia] Scientists at the Hammond Research Station evaluate ornamental plants for landscape performance under south Louisiana growing conditions. This information is then provided to nursery and landscape professionals as well as home gardeners to use in selecting plants. Urban gardening mecca – Hammond Research Station [Image: Hammond Oaks] The Hammond Research Station serves as a center for horticulture research and extension and provides research-based information to landscape architects, landscape maintenance professionals, arborists, producers and retailers. Click for more information...