This comprehensive publication covers the importance of harvesting techniques, as well as curing and storage conditions, that will promote quality and extend the storage life of sweet potatoes. It also includes information on packing line sanitation, product safety, certification standards and USDA grade standards for sweet potatoes. (Produced by North Carolina State University and the LSU AgCenter -- PDF Format Only)

This guide includes helpful information on herbicides and weed control with detailed suggestions for aquatics, commercial nursery stock, field crops, forestry, fruit crops, home gardens, lawns and many other Louisiana crops. It includes information on different types of herbicide registrations, as well as information on herbicide labels and restricted uses. Also included are sprayer calibration techniques, suggestions for reducing herbicide drift and a guide to proper spray tip selection.

Citrus greening is one of the most serious citrus diseases, and a pest responsible for spreading it has now been found in Louisiana. Information on what to look for and where to look, what plants are preferred by the disease and where to report suspected disease symptoms or insect sightings.

Identification of citrus greening and the Asian citrus psyllid.

One of the most important decisions a forage producer must make is which variety or varieties to plant. To help farmers make logical choices among crops and varieties, the LSU AgCenter conducts variety trials and makes recommendations each year. Suggested varieties, seeding rates, planting depths and seeding dates are included. (PDF Format Only)

Poultry litter and soil testing are the foundation of a sound nutrient management program. Poultry litter testing and soil testing are important best management practices (BMPs), and they are essential components of a comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP). This publication includes information on the correct procedures of poultry sampling.

Plant-parasitic nematodes can damage plants in many ways and are considered to be a serious threat to sweet potato production in Louisiana. This publication describes problematic nematode species and management strategies available for these pests.

This publication includes information on soil preparation, fertilization, training, pruning, nutrient solutions, pollination, harvesting, marketing, and insect and disease control for greenhouse tomatoes.

The Farm Record Book is designed to provide a farmer with an organized system for recording expenses, income, land use and treatment, social security and income tax information. Printed copy available for $10 plus tax.

This publication is a comprehensive handbook that spells out recommended soybean production practices for Louisiana. It is designed as a reference for county agents, agribusiness dealers, consultants, industry field representatives and any other people who provide information to soybean growers in Louisiana.

This publication is designed to assist those who want to incubate a small number of eggs. In it are discussed the general principles concerning the care and incubation of hatching eggs. When appropriate, special comments are made about the peculiarities of certain species.

This publication helps to understand the importance of calibration of sprayers. Hand-ons examples guide the reader through different phases of calibration. (PDF Format Only)

This publication emphasizes the use of a total integrated management system to reduce wheat diseases and the damage they cause in the field.

Sugarcane varieties are the lifeblood of the Louisiana sugarcane industry. Variety diversification is essential in the survival of the sugarcane industry in Louisiana. This publication is designed to help growers learn to identify sugarcane varieties. Color photos included.

This 2008 guide was compiled by LSU AgCenter experts and includes regulations, precautions and suggestions for pest control in Louisiana. Detailed topics include drift of pesticides, hazards of pesticides to beneficial insects and wildlife, phytotoxicity and using beneficial insects to control pest populations. A section on organic gardening also is included.

This guide for 2008 contains suggestions for management of the most important or more prevalent diseases of Louisiana plants. It includes information on fungicides, bactericides and nematicides, as well as safety precautions for using them.

Besides proper health care, environment and management, the most critical factor in producing leaner, more-muscular hogs is proper nutrition.

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus infections occur in horses and other equids. Where does EEE come from? What's the best way to protect a horse? Find these answers and more.

Plant bugs have become a very serious insect pest of cotton in the Midsouth. Control is often difficult because of high population densities and resistance. Follow these best management practices to help reduce the cost of plant bug control.

When purchasing show pigs, one of the most important things is to get the pig on feed as soon as possible. A feed that is very palatable will tickle the pig’s taste buds and have it eating immediately. Highly palatable feeds also have value in the commercial swine industry.

Considerable research has been done by LSU AgCenter scientists on wheat/soybean double-cropping systems since the 1970s. This fact sheet compiles research and observations from recent studies in Central Louisiana to aid producers in developing soybean production practices in a wheat/soybean double-cropping system.

Sweet potatoes are an important commodity in Louisiana. Best Management Practices (BMPs) provide sweet potato growers guidelines on what practices they can implement to reduce the impact agricultural practices may have on the environment.

Best management practices (BMPs) are used by agricultural producers to control the generation and delivery of pollutants from agricultural activities to water resources of the state, thereby reducing the amount of agricultural pollutants entering surface and ground waters. This publication includes information on five main areas: nutrient management, pesticide management, soil and water management, pasture management and general farm BMPs.

Herbicide resistance has become a major concern in U.S. cotton production. Over the years, numerous cases of weeds developing resistance to several classes of herbicides have been recorded. Recommendations for managing herbicide resistance in 2008 cotton, as well as color photographs, are included.

Number of seed/pound, seeding rate/acre, spacing, planting dates, optimum soil temperature range for germination, depth to plant seed, days to germinate, days from planting to harvest begins, approximate time from pollination to market and recommended varieties included.

The South American rice leaf miner, Hydrellia wirthi Korytkowski, is a newly reported insect pest of rice in the United States. It affected several rice fields in southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas in 2004. Topics include description and life cycle, injury, scouting and managment. Color photos also included.

The blood-sucking fly pests of Louisiana beef cattle include the horn fly, stable fly and many species of tabanids. By understanding the biology and life cycle of each pest, producers will be better able to devise more effective fly control programs. This publication explains how, in most cases, an integrated approach, whereby more than one control method is used, will prove more effective for long-term fly control.

The external parasites that attack Louisiana dairy cattle include several species of insects, mites and ticks that feed externally or from the outside. Recommendations for control in and around dairy barns, fly control in the milk room and insecticide precautions and limitations included.

2007 Issue: Agriculture is a multibillion dollar industry for Louisiana -- creating jobs and generating income in rural and urban areas. This publication contains facts about Louisiana's agricultural commodities, agriculture's monetary value, what agriculture is and what agriculture means to you.

This book gives an accounting of the value of agriculture in Louisiana in 2006. It focuses on the animal, forestry, fisheries, plant and wildlife commodities that comprise our vital agricultural industry. This industry continues to contribute significantly to the state’s economy with the potential for increased contributions through value-added processing. (Printed copy available April 16.)

Expected Progeny Difference, generally known by its acronym EPD, is a numerical estimate of an animal’s genetic potential to produce progeny that are different from progeny of other animals. This publication includes information for a better understanding of EPDs.

The key to effective reproductive management is to create an environment that promotes successful puberty, breeding, pregnancy maintenance, parturition and lactation. This publication explains that to do this, it's important for hog breeders to understand the functions of swine reproductive organs and how they are affected by management practices.

Each year the LSU AgCenter tests commercial corn hybrids that are entered in the state yield trials by private seed companies. From these, a grower should choose several that are adapted to an individual farm. Information in the tables should help you make these important decisions.

This information will help producers choose grain sorghum hybrids which have displayed good yield potential and agronomic performance. The LSU AgCenter conducts yearly grain sorghum hybrid yield tests at several locations in Louisiana. This is done to provide producers with unbiased information on hybrid performance under different soil types and climatic conditions.

BMPs for swine farms are a specific set of practices used by farmers to reduce the amount of soil, nutrients, pesticides and microbial contaminants entering surface water and groundwater while maintaining or improving the productivity of agricultural land. This list of BMPs is a guide for the selection and implementation of those practices that will help swine farmers to conserve soil and protect water and air resources by reducing pollutants from reaching both surface and groundwater.

2007 pre-emergence and post-emergence chemical recommendations for controlling weeds in cotton. (PDF Format Only)

Recommended soybean varieties have been tested for at least two years, and the recommendations are based on data from LSU AgCenter research stations around the state. Information on herbicide tolerance, disease resistance and cultural practices also is included in this publication.

Proper identification is the key to successful disease management. This fact sheet is intended to aid in the identification and management of phytophthora blight on peppers.

External parasites of beef cattle include several species of insects, mites and ticks. Most of these pests feed on blood, but some feed only on the skin. External parasites infest cattle of all ages, but the economic loss is usually measured in reduced weight gain of growing animals. Insect descriptions and control measures included. (Revised March 2008 - PDF Format Only)

This manual has been developed as a guide for the meat goat industry in evaluating live meat goats, measuring important carcass traits and standardizing cutting procedures for goat carcasses. A single copy is available for free. Please use the order form to purchase multiple copies.

Rice fertilization requirements vary according to soil type. Use this publication to determine fertilizing requirements.

Flies are the most important insect pests of horses. Among this large, diverse group of insects, the pests of horses include bloodsucking or biting flies, filth or irritation flies, mosquitoes and bot flies. The description, biology, economic/health significance and control are included.

This publication includes a description of wireworms and explains the importance and types of injuries they can cause to your trees. It also includes information on their life history, habits and methods of control.

This publication includes a description and information on the distribution and hosts, life cycle, types of injury to your trees and control of the fall webworm.

Nematodes are a diverse group of roundworms found throughout Louisiana. Many are important in the environment because they feed on bacteria, fungi and even insects. This publication includes information on nematodes, plant symptoms, field size and the soil sampling procedure.

This guide includes helpful information on identifying weeds in Louisiana rice. The publication contains a schematic guide for the user for proper identification of weeds based on specific characteristics of each plant. The document also contains photos of each weed listed in the schematic as well as photo examples of key characteristics.

Results from official Louisiana cotton variety trails including recommended varieties for planting.

Proper identification is the key to successful disease management. This fact sheet is intended to aid in distinguishing among three common foliar diseases of watermelon. (PDF Format Only)

The best management practices that apply most directly to the beef industry are in this publication. A brief description, purpose and conditions to which the practice applies are given for each of the BMPs listed.

This publication covers information on artificial insemination in swine and how it requires optimum management for optimum results. The publication includes ten basic points that are essential for the procedure.

Dairying, by its nature, requires specific practices to conserve and protect soil and water resources. Best management practices (BMPs) are an effective and practical means of reducing point- and nonpoint-source water pollutants at levels compatible with environmental quality goals.

This publication is intended to be a reminder of beef cattle management practices thought to be appropriate for each month of the year. If referred to frequently each month, it could also be considered a workbook for beef cattle management.

Sugarcane is the highest-valued row crop grown in Louisiana. For sugarcane production to continue to thrive in Louisiana, responsible management of soil and water resources should be a priority. This guide lists the Best Management Practices (BMPs) to use in Louisiana sugarcane production.

The success of a sugarcane farming operation depends on the ability to produce good stands of plant cane and maintain suitable stands for stubble crops. This publication provides information to help growers make management decisions about planting practices that should result in excellent plant cane stands.

This guide describes the conservation measures or Best Management Practices (BMPs) for rice production implemented primarily for the purpose of conserving and protecting soil and water resources by controlling the movement of potential agricultural pollutants into surface water and groundwater.

Why is the sugarcane industry important to Louisiana? Why do farmers burn sugarcane in the first place? What are the benefits of burning sugarcane? Find these answers and more.

Downy mildew is a potentially devastating disease of all cucurbits. Disease symptoms, development, control measures and color photographs of symptoms on pumpkin, cucumber and watermelon are included.

Soybeans can be damaged by insects any time from plant emergence until they get near to the harvest in Louisiana. Many kinds of insects feed on leaves, stems, roots, nodules and pods, but only a few require control with insecticides. (PDF Fomat Only)

Bahiagrass tolerates a wider range of soil conditions than bermudagrass or dallisgrass. Variety descriptions and performance, establishment, fertility management and more included.

This publication assesses the current farm and financial characteristics of the state’s dairies and identifies key opportunities and challenges for producers to consider in this era of rapid change.

A general overview of soils, their importance and sources of data in Louisiana.

Pecan scab disease is the most economically damaging disease of pecan production in the southeastern United States. The disease affects stem, leaf and nut growth, causing reduced yield. This publication includes information on the development, symptoms and control of the disease.

This publication includes keys to identification of water paspalum, brook paspalum, knotgrass and perennial barnyardgrass.

The 1990 Farm Bill or the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (FACT), Subtitle H, section 1491 requires that private applicators maintain records of the restricted-use pesticides (RUP) applied. This Field Diary will allow the producer to keep records of a complete history of each field.

2008 recommendations for corn and grain sorghum insect pests. (PDF Format Only)

Decisions on variety selection are some of the earliest and most critical you will make. This information will help you decide which rice varieties are best suited to your particular growing conditions.

Pest Management and Insect Identification Series

The panicle rice mite (PRM) is considered the most destructive mite pest affecting rice culture around the world. Description, Life Cycle, Host Plant Range, Monitoring and Control included.

Soil insect pests can be extremely problematic in Louisiana sweet potato production. The majority of insect damage in sweet potato occurs on the root surface and consists of unattractive scars and holes. The market tolerance for this cosmetic injury is very low, and minimal insect damage can drastically affect the marketability of the crop.

Each year, the LSU AgCenter conducts a number of on-farm cotton variety trials. These trials can be a useful supplement to Official Variety Trial (OVT) information as well as other sources of data on which to base cotton variety selection decisions.

Identification and scouting information for rice water weevil, rice stink bugs, panicle rice mites, rice leafminer and rice stem borers.

Effective weed management is a critical aspect to successful sweet potato production since weeds compete for nutrients, water and sunlight and impair crop yield and quality. Perennial weed management, preplant burndown and in-season management included.

The cotton production system is evolving rapidly in the mid-South because of the use of new technologies. Bt cotton varieties are planted on more than 80 percent of mid-South acreage because of the threat posed by resistant tobacco budworm, bollworms and, to a lesser extent, other caterpillar pests. Procedures, results and example data collection sheet included. Revised July 2007 (PDF Format Only)

A Southern IPM Center publication. When choosing a broadcast bait to control imported fire ants, consumers and professional pesticide applicators face a confusing array of brand names and active ingredients with varying product performances. This guide addresses common concerns about broadcast baits to help consumers and professionals choose products that best fit their needs and situations.

Eighteen chapters cover everything including the biology of a cow, replacement heifer selection, nutrition, stocker cattle, management tips, record keeping and cattle handling facilities. Use the order form to order your hard copy. The cost is $25 plus tax and shipping.

One of the last, but most important, steps in producing a cotton crop is harvest preparation. Successful preparation includes scheduling for defoliation and harvest operations, removing foliage and facilitating boll opening. Use these recommendations for a successful cotton harvest. (PDF Format Only)

Figs are tasty and can be eaten fresh, made into preserves and jams, or used in baking. Figs are commonly grown in all areas of Louisiana. All fig varieties discussed in this publication produce a main crop. Learn cultural practices and fertilization, disease and insect control and how to handle and process your fruit.

The purpose of this study is to analyze broiler industry executives’ decisions on where to locate a broiler complex in the United States. The specific objectives are to identify factors affecting site locations of broiler complexes in the United States and to measure the effects and relative importance of these factors on the broiler complex location decision.

Information on application timings, weed control, tank-mixing herbicides with Roundup Ultra, tillage systems and selecting varieties included.

Ants range from mildly to highly annoying. Knowing the species, biology and control can help you manage them. This is a useful reference for pest management professionals, extension personnel and homeowners. A key to ants, color photographs, diagrams and a glossary are included. Spiral bound copies are available for $10 each. To purchase using a check, use the pdf order form. To purchase with a credit card, click on "order publication."

The inventory of farm assets is an important part of the farm record system. The inventory lists all of the assets of the business and their current value for management purposes.The Louisiana Farm Inventory Book was designed and intended to be used an important farm management tool. Hard copies are available for $10. To purchase with a credit card, click on the link below.

Wheat acreage in Louisiana has increased significantly because of higher wheat prices. With the increase in wheat acreage, interest has risen considerably in double-cropping cotton after wheat is harvested. Recommendations for growing cotton in a double-cropped production system with wheat in 2007 are included.

Cucumber beetles (rootworms) are significant insect pests of sweet potatoes in Louisiana. Adults and larvae of these insects feed on sweet potatoes, but larvae are the most damaging. Descriptions of the banded cucumber beetle and the spotted cucumber beetle, as well as management strategies for these insects, are included in this publication. (PDF Format Only)

Three important species of corn stalk boring caterpillar pests infest Louisiana corn. These are the European corn borer, the southwestern corn borer and the sugarcane borer. Descriptions, life cycles, biology, feeding behavior, damage, scouting and managment information included.

Poultry production is the largest animal industry in Louisiana. In poultry production, there are issues of special concern to the environment. Best Management Practices (BMPs) focus on three main areas: Nutrient Management, Pesticide Management and Mortality Management.

This publication includes information on the identification and management of carpenter bees.

The process of removing honeybees from walls in a house is complex. This publication explains how to safely and properly remove the bees from your walls.

This information incorporates the latest findings from extensive rice research and extension programs conducted in Louisiana by the LSU AgCenter. Much of this work is funded at least partially by the state’s rice producers through check-off funds administered by the Louisiana Rice Research Board.

The red imported fire ant, a Louisiana resident since the early 1950s, can be a painful pest or a beneficial friend. Depending on your situation, you may want to manage these ants or simply let them go about their helpful way. Eradication vs. management of the fire ant is discussed in this fact sheet.

Blackberries are a favorite springtime fruit in Louisiana. The blackberry (raspberry) crown borer is a serious pest of blackberry plantings and causes loss of plant vigor, loss of yield and plant destruction. Damage, life cycle, monitoring and control recommendations included.

The twospotted spider mite is one of the most persistent and damaging pest problems affecting strawberry production in Louisiana. Damage, description, life cycle, monitoring, control information and color photos included. Spanish version also included.

The Argentine ant, an exotic species brought to New Orleans from South America in the late 1800s, is found throughout the state after being transported in nursery stock and by cars, boats and RVs. Their huge colonies, with millions of workers and hundreds of queens, extend for miles. Identifying characteristics, areawide management and cultural controls incuded.

What is avian influenza (bird flu)? What are the hosts for avian influenza? How is avian influenza transmitted from bird to bird? What are the signs of avian influenza in birds? Find these answers and more in this one-page fact sheet.

This publication deals with some of the insects that attack sweet potatoes in Louisiana. It covers such pests as beet armyworms, soybean loopers and cabbage loopers and includes background information, descriptions of the pests and details on the damage they can cause. PDF format only.

The chinch bug is commonly found in all areas of Louisiana feeding on a variety of grass crops and wild grasses. In some years it is an economic pest on corn and grain sorghum, especially if high populations migrate into these crops in the early spring when plants are young. To prevent stand loss and yield reductions, it is important to understand the biology and behavior of this pest as it relates to corn and grain sorghum.

This publication includes information on the description, behavior and control of the sugarcane beetle.

Cutworms are early-season pests that damage cotton by reducing plant stand densities below optimum levels. Damage generally occurs in poorly drained areas where winter vegetation is still present. This publication includes information on biology, field habits, control, and the description and field identification for the various types of cutworms.

Facts and information on the West Nile virus and how it's affecting Louisiana.

Correct identification of aphids and knowledge of aphid habits are necessary so that insecticide controls will be directed at the proper species at the proper time.

Fleas developed on Earth thousands of years ago and have adapted many survival techniques. In Louisiana, they are pests in and around homes and on pets and other animals year round. Control measures and insecticides to use included.

Louisiana poultry growers and others in the industry are looking for more “environmentally friendly” alternatives to those convenionally used to handle the volume of poultry litter generated by the industry. This publication provides information on the methods and results of an LSU AgCenter research and demonstration project on in-house pasteurization of broiler litter. (PDF Format Only)

This list of BMPs (Best Management Practices) is a guide for the selection and implementation of those practices that will help producers to conserve soil and protect water and air resources by reducing pollutants from reaching both surface and ground water.

In 1999 a team from the LSU AgCenter, along with other groups, began developing and validating spatially variable (SVP) technology based on remote sensing. This technology was showcased in demonstrations on Louisiana cotton producers’ farms in 2004, and this publication describes the results.

This publication lists procedures and specific examples of how to calibrate sugarcane sprayers.

This publication includes information on the process of brixing and how it can help improve sugarcane quality. It also includes information on the correct treatments for your fields with the highest brix.

There may be an easy and inexpensive way for poultry producers with naturally ventilated houses to reduce heat stress related mortality in birds as well as increase bird performance in summer. This publication explains how producers can reduce the heat by installing three or four short migration fences, like those placed in tunnel ventilated houses.

The facilities you need to raise show pigs do not have to be elaborate or expensive. Many different types and sizes of facilities are satisfactory for growing show pigs. Several basic facility options are discussed.

Selecting your show pig will be one of the most interesting experiences you will have in your pig project. This publication includes information that will help you select a pig.

Commercial blueberry production in Louisiana had its beginning more than 40 years ago with the introduction of improved varieties of rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei). Commercial blueberry potential in Louisiana can be measured in terms of how well you select a site, choose cultivars and plan for cultural practices.This publication includes information on soils, site preparation, fertilization and pruning.

The Master Farmer Program is an effort to demonstrate that agricultural producers can and will voluntarily reduce the impact that agricultural production has on Louisiana’s environment. The Master Farmer Program will have three components: Environmental Stewardship, Agricultural Production and Farm Management (Economics). The Environmental Stewardship component will have three phases, all of which is discussed in this publication.

The boll weevil has cost United States cotton producers more than $13 billion since entering from Mexico a century ago. In Louisiana it costs producers an estimated $25 million to $30 million annually in control costs and reduced yield. Eradication programs have been completed in several states and are under way in others. The cotton industry’s goal is to eliminate the boll weevil from the Cotton Belt by 2002.

Methods and philosophies for the use of mepiquat in cotton vary widely. This publication explains the effect of mepiquat-containing products on cotton growth and development and suggests some guidelines for its use that will increase the likelihood of realizing the benefits and minimizing the risks.

This publication provides answers to many of the frequently asked questions about Boll Weevil Eradication in Louisiana.