Home > Crops & Livestock > Crops > Cotton > News > LSU AgCenter Experts Continuing Studies Of Saltwater Contamination In Southwest Louisiana [Image: Watering test plants at Rice Research Station] LSU AgCenter scientists hope they will soon be able to make recommendations for farmers whose fields were hit with saltwater contamination from Hurricane Rita’s storm surge. Meetings Bring Farmers Together To Consider Options After Storms [Image: Farmers attending workshop on options after storms] Farmers attending workshops in Acadia and Calcasieu parishes Tuesday (Oct. 25) learned about assistance for dealing with hardships caused by two hurricanes that struck the state this summer. Similar sessions, organized by the LSU AgCenter, were planned for New Iberia, Hammond and Raceland over the next few days. Hurricane Rita Adds To Problems For La. Cotton Crop [Image: Modules of cotton after hurricane] The 2005 Louisiana cotton crop took significant hits when the second hurricane in less than a month roared into the state this past weekend (Sept. 23-25). Commercial Corn Hybrids with Superior Resistance to Aflatoxin [Image: Steve Moore] Aflatoxin is a highly carcinogenic contaminant produced in corn grain infected with Aspergillus flavus fungus. Aflatoxin is especially widespread in Louisiana when high temperatures and drought conditions prevail during the grain-filling period.