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Events
Strain speaks to DeSoto cattle producers
More than 70 DeSoto Parish cattle producers attended a meeting hosted by the LSU AgCenter DeSoto Parish Extension Service and the DeSoto Cattleman’s Association on Jan. 15 at the David B. Means 4-H Center.
Dr. Mike Strain, commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, was the keynote speaker. He discussed the milk loss income program and the country of origin program that could benefit cattle producers.
He fielded several questions on the animal ID system, tuberculosis and brucellosis program.
Strain also spoke briefly about the budget cuts in his department along with cuts in the LSU AgCenter budget. He commented on the importance of the research and extension work of the LSU AgCenter and also the work of the local Farm Bureau.
Bob Felknor, Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association executive vice president, also spoke. He said that it was very fitting that one of his first meetings that he attended as a representative of the LCA was in DeSoto Parish and this would be his last meeting as the vice president.
Rep. Richard Burford, Sen. Sherri Cheek and retired Rep. Beverly Bruce were at the meeting supporting the local cattle producers.
The group enjoyed brisket, potatoes, green beans and rolls prepared by Mindy Kile, DeSoto 4-H agent.
LSU AgCenter hosting cotton, feed grain meeting Feb. 20 in Natchitoches
A cotton and feed grain production meeting conducted by the LSU AgCenter will be held for Natchitoches and Red River parishes on Friday, Feb. 20 in Natchitoches.
This will serve as a production meeting as well as a private pesticide applicator recertification meeting.
Topics will include weed resistance, soybean and feed grain varieties, utilizing organic fertilizer in cotton systems and market updates, as well as several other timely topics for cotton and feed grain systems.
Registration will begin at 8 a.m. at the Natchitoches Event Center on 2nd Street, downtown, and conclude with a sponsored lunch.
No preregistration is necessary. Representatives from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will collect the $25 recertification fee.
For more information, contact Donna Morgan, LSU AgCenter assistant area agent, at (318) 613-9278.
13th Annual Greenhouse Tomato Seminar Feb. 27
Vegetable growers can learn the latest about the greenhouse tomato industry at the LSU AgCenter Red River Research Station’s 13th Annual Greenhouse Tomato Seminar on Friday, Feb. 27, in Bossier City.
Dr. H.Y. Hanna, an LSU AgCenter researcher at the station, is the presenter.
There is no registration fee for the event, which will last from 1 to 5 p.m.
Among the topics are grafting tomatoes, new cultivars, new growing media made of recycled glass, recycling growing media, successful cultural practices and pollinating techniques.
A new topic for home gardeners this year is producing seven popular vegetables in a hobby greenhouse to feed a family.
A tour of the greenhouses will be conducted and a special training session on grafting will be held.
Luncheon to feature talk on community gardens Feb. 19
The LSU AgCenter will hold its next Lunch and Ag Discovery session Thursday, Feb. 19, at noon at its Red River Research Station in Bossier City.
Dr. Grace Peterson, LSU AgCenter Family Nutrition Program garden coordinator, will present “Let’s Talk About Community Gardens.”
At the LSU AgCenter annual conference, Peterson and two other LSU AgCenter agents received the Denver T. and Ferne Loupe Extension Team Award. They were recognized for developing five community gardens in Shreveport. The program involved the construction of gardens that offered citizens an opportunity to grow and eat fresh vegetables and learn about nutrition while instilling pride in area neighborhoods.
Cost for the light lunch is $5. Reservations are limited to 50 and must be made by Feb. 16 by calling (318) 741-7430.
LSU AgCenter forester to lead bike tour of Shreveport’s significant trees
A community meeting to plan Vélo Dendro S, a leisurely bicycle tour of Shreveport’s most significant trees, brought law enforcement, elected officials, bike club members and representatives of the LSU AgCenter to Columbia Café Jan. 20.
The LSU AgCenter and Baton Rouge Advocates for Safe Streets (B.R.A.S.S.) will bring the event to Shreveport in the fall, likely Nov. 7.
Riders – amateur and experienced, young and old – will enjoy the camaraderie of a slow, easy, fun bike ride on the streets of Shreveport, said Shreveport native, Dr. Hallie Dozier, associate professor of forestry at the LSU AgCenter. She has put on the event six times in Baton Rouge.
“This fun and information-filled ride encourages and supports the growth of bicycling and healthier living in Shreveport and Caddo Parish,” Dozier said.
The ride will cover approximately 15 miles in Highland, South Highlands and Broadmoor, with frequent stops along the way to look at special trees.
Dozier said riders will learn why the Osage orange tree is also called Bois d’Arc, and they will be treated to a visit to the Louisiana State Champion sycamore tree at A.C. Steere Elementary School. Dozier attended Steere, Broadmoor and Byrd schools and graduated from Centenary College in 1982.
Other questions that will be answered: Why do cypress trees have knees? Is Spanish moss really a moss? Why does the power company have to prune the trees so severely? Where is the best place to plant a tree? What kind of tree should I plant? What’s the best tree to plant where storms occur? How do I take care of my trees?
In addition to getting the scoop on local trees, riders will be given basic instruction on good cycling etiquette, hand and voice signals and other road safety tips.
Loren Demerath of A Better Shreveport and an associate professor at Centenary College said his group will facilitate in the planning of the event with blogging and maps. A Better Shreveport is hoping to make the city “a more walkable, bikable place,” said Demerath. “Some of us are hoping this could lead to painting our first bike lanes in Shreveport by way of painting the tour route.”
The cost of the tour will be $15 for each rider, which includes a commemorative T-shirt and educational materials from the LSU AgCenter and posters of native trees. Children 5 and under are free, but must ride on their parents’ bicycles. Children 14 and under must wear a helmet.
Water, snacks and rider support will be provided along the route. Also included in the tour fee are post-ride refreshments and music hosted by Columbia Café on Creswell Avenue.
“I think it will be wonderful,” said Monty Walford, Shreveport city councilman.
Anyone interested in attending the next bike tour meeting, which has not yet been scheduled, may contact Dozier at (225) 281-3264.
Kilpatrick conducting tree-planting events
Ricky Kilpatrick, area forestry agent, is conducting tree-planting events with several schools in Bossier and Caddo parishes in conjunction with the Youth Wetlands Week program.
Several hundred trees will be distributed and planted in the two parishes. Species to be planted include mayhaw, bald cypress, white oak, sycamore, wild plums and spruce pine. All are Louisiana native trees.
Several of the trees will be planted at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge in south Bossier Parish.
Family and Consumer Sciences divorce classes making difference
In 2008, 198 adults and 49 children participated in the Divorce: Children in the Middle classes in Bossier Parish.
One child stated to the teacher of the children’s class, “I don’t know what that lady said to my parents, but they are actually talking to each other.” If this was the only positive statement that was ever made, then the “whole” effort has been well worth it for all these years, said Terry Foster, who conducts the classes.
4-H News
DeSoto 4-H celebrates Arbor Day
DeSoto Parish 4-H celebrated Arbor Day on Jan. 12 by honoring Tommy Clark, a volunteer who has really made an impact on DeSoto Parish 4-H.
Clark has been involved in 4-H for approximately 10 years. When he started working with 4-H, he was sponsoring a 4-H’er so she could show commercial heifers. Now Clark has one grandchild in 4-H who is currently showing cattle.
Raising cows, chickens, guineas and quail, he has many opportunities to lend a helping hand to the DeSoto Parish 4-H Livestock Club. He is also a member of the DeSoto Parish 4-H advisory board, and this year he has offered his land for DeSoto Parish 4-H’ers to have a camping weekend, which will be held toward the end of March.
There were 80 4-H’ers at the Arbor Day celebration, and they planted a tree in Clark’s name in front of the 4-H office.
100 attend DeSoto Parish 4-H Livestock Club Appreciation Dinner
The DeSoto Parish Livestock Club hosted its annual appreciation dinner on Jan. 22 with 100 supporters, 4-H members and parents.
DeSoto Parish had 40 livestock exhibitors who competed at the DeSoto Parish Fair and the State Fair of Louisiana.
The DeSoto Parish Chamber of Commerce, with money raised from local businesses and supporters, bought eight pigs shown by Katie May, Russell Sarpy, Ethan Sarpy, Mallory Guillotte, Haley Parker and Tyler Rodriquez and a steer shown by Hannah Williams. These exhibitors received $19,800 from local supporters because they made the Ark-La-Tex Agricultural Council Livestock Sale.
The DeSoto 4-H Livestock Club also raised more than $5,000 at the annual Livestock Barbeque and Auction. The 4-H'ers who did not make the Ark-La-Tex Agricultural Livestock Sale received $3,070 to help assist with the cost of their livestock projects.
Chesapeake expanding Discovering Tomorrow’s Leaders to DeSoto, Red River
Chesapeake Energy Corp. is expanding “Discovering Tomorrow’s Leaders” to DeSoto and Red River parishes on Feb 1.
The program concluded in Caddo and Bossier parishes in December.
Discovering Tomorrow’s Leaders is designed to recognize and reward local school students for their citizenship and community involvement. Beginning Feb. 1, two students from each parish will be recognized in alternating weeks for a period of eight weeks.
Each winning students’ school will receive a desktop computer, and all 16 students will be recognized at an awards banquet in April. During the banquet, a drawing will be held, and two lucky students from each parish will receive a new laptop computer.
Eligible students are members of 4-H, Fellowship of Christian Athletes or Future Farmers of America or those who provide community service to any nonprofit organization.
The DeSoto and Red River parish chambers of commerce members will judge nominees and select winners for each period. Media partners are the Coushatta Citizen, Mansfield Enterprise and local radio stations.
Calendar
Feb. 20-22--The Red River Research Station is nestled between the marina and arena where the 39th Bassmaster Classic events will be held.
Fans can watch as the 51 Bassmaster Classic anglers weigh their daily catches vying for a top prize of $500,000. Launches are at 7:15 a.m. at the Red River South Marina and Resort, Highway 71 South, 250 Red River South Marina Road. Weigh-ins are at CenturyTel Center, 2000 CenturyTel Center Drive, at 3:30 p.m.
Feb. 20—Mary Ann Van Osdell and Chris Hardy are speaking about agriculture at Eden Gardens Elementary School’s Louisiana Celebration Day.
Feb. 24—Mardi Gras
Feb. 26—Dr. Patrick Colyer is speaking to North Shreveport Lions Club at noon.