Louisiana Agritourism: Forestry Forum, March 11 in Hammond

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Forestry Forum, March 11 in Hammond

The 27th annual Florida Parishes Forestry Forum is scheduled for March 11 at the University Center at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond.

The forum will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 2:45 p.m. The theme is Updating Forest Landowners, according to LSU AgCenter area forester Brian Chandler.

The forum, which is sponsored by the LSU AgCenter, will feature Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain and provide information on the status of EPA’s Waters of the U.S. and other forestry issues. There will be speakers on genetically improved pine seedlings, forestry development outside of Louisiana, problems facing loggers, herbicide issues, tax issues and a Louisiana forestry teacher tour.

“All of these topics affect local forest landowners,” Chandler said.

Registration is $25 per person before March 3 and $40 after. The fee includes lunch.

For more information or to receive a program with a registration form, contact Chandler at 225-683-3101 or bchandler@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Our forest lands offer many opportunites for agritourism, so attend this meeting to keep your forest healthy and give me a call to learn more about agritourism. Call (318) 927-9654 x229 or e-mail me at dhatch@agcenter.lsu.edu

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Agritourism Law Limits Liability

In 2008, the Louisiana Legislature expanded the limitation of liability found in La R.S. 9:2795 et seq to include certain agritourism activities. The legislation authored by Representative Andy Anders and Senators Francis Thompson and Mike Walsworth provides that the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Foresty (LDAF) will develop a set of rules and regulations and that the LSU AgCenter will define a “plan of operation” for an agritourism venture and review those plans.

More about this law can be found on the LSU AgCenter Web site: www.lsuagcenter.com/agritourism

2012 Agriculture Census Shows Increase in Farming

WASHINGTON, May 2, 2014 –There are now 3.2 million farmers operating 2.1 million farms on 914.5 million acres of farmland across the United States, according to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Once every five years, farmers, ranchers and growers have the unique opportunity to let the world know how U.S. agriculture is changing, what is staying the same, what’s working and what we can do differently,” said Dr. Cynthia Clark, the retiring head of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, which administered the survey.

Eighty-seven percent of all U.S. farms are operated by families or individuals.
Principal operators were on average 58.3 years old and were predominantly male; second operators were slightly younger and most likely to be female; and third operators were younger still.
In Louisiana agritourism grew from 170 farms in 2007 to 361 farms in 2012.
In Louisiana onfarm agritourism sales jumped from $2,486 to $8,996 in 2012.
In Louisiana the definition of agritourism is broader than the definition in the census; meaning that numbers are greater.