Agritourism World, are you Listed?

Agritourism World offers free listings to those who apply on their international website. We have very few listed from Louisiana.

This site helps those interested in agritourism tour our world seeing all the sights and sounds of agricultural operations. Click here to learn how to register.

Idaho Farmer Finds Success with Agri-tourism

Iowa Public Broadcasting's Market to Market program featured Mary Jane Butters, an agritourism professional, click here to see the video  .

She is inspiring and has some great ideas that would be perfect for Louisiana.

Test Your Soil

The LSU AgCenter Soil Testing and Plant Analysis Lab can test soils, as well as plants and water, to help home gardeners and agriculture industry professionals alike achieve better results.

Who should test soil? Soil testing can be helpful to homeowners who are sodding lawns or adding new trees, flowers, shrubs and other plants. Landscapers, farmers, agriculture consultants and scientific researchers can also take advantage of the lab’s services.

Soil testing kits are available at any LSU AgCenter parish extension office and numerous nurseries and hardware stores around Louisiana. People should send samples of soils that haven’t been amended with fertilizers or lime.

Testing fees will be assessed and vary depending on which tests are requested.

More information about the lab, including directions for collecting samples, is available on the AgCenter’s website by searching for “Soil Testing and Plant Analysis Lab” or by calling 225-578-1219.

Annual Small Ruminant Field Day Announced

Annual Small Ruminant Field Day, Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm; registration begins at 7:30 am at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. the cost is $5 a person or $10 for a family.

Morning Agenda:

Forage management/Nutrition/Health Synergies
Feeding with distiller grains
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Reproduction performance
Drug use and off-label issues

Afternoon Agenda

Herd management cycle
Southern University research and extension update
Demonstrations & Hands-on
- FAMACHA certification
- Fecal collection, blood collection, injections
- Banding, docking, castration, body condition scoring

Lunch--provided

For More Information
Field day: Jim Miller 225-578-9652 jmille1@lsu.edu
Ken McMillin 225-578-3438 kmcmillin@agcenter.lsu.edu
Small ruminant certification program:
Sebhatu Gebrelul 225-771-3841
Sebhatu_Gebrelul@suagcenter.com
Major Sponsor

Farm Stays

Overnight farm stays are gaining in popularity. In neighboring Arkansas, Thomas and Ruth Pepler, owners of Dogwood Hills Farm in Harriet, AR, include farm chores in their overnight stay.  With the help of daughter Grace, a 4-H’er, The Pepler’s share their daily chores: milking, gathering eggs and feeding animal with guests.

To learn how to start a similar agritourism operation, attend our Agritourism Workshop on May 10, 2016; click here for details.

Agritourism workshop set for May 10 in DeSoto Parish

The LSU AgCenter's agritourism program and Mississippi State's natural Resource enterprises program will co-sponsor:

DeSoto Parish Agritourism Workshop

Keachi* Acres, LLC

9192 Hwy 5

Keachi, LA 71046

May 10th, 2016

*Also spelled Keatchie on navigation devices.

This one day workshop will provide a broad overview of agritourism. Successful entreprenuers will share stories about how they got started and continue to grow. Speakers will address these topics: agritourism liability, recreational enterprises, direct marketing of clean food, regional food system analysis, starting a bed and breakfast, developing nature trails and the Louisiana Natural Areas Registry program.

Download the brochure from this link and register today.

Briarwood Nature Preserve Annual Picnic, April 2nd

  SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

8:00 Birdwatching tour departs (bring your binoculars)

10: 00 General Registration, Tour Information and Coffee be sure to check in at the registration table

to be eligible for door prizes and get the latest information.

10:30 Morning Walking and Golf Cart Tours Depart the Education Building *

11:30 - 2:00 Music by the Back Porch Band in the Pavilion

11:30 – 1:30 Lunch is served in the Interpretive Center

1:00 Door Prizes/Raffle (Raffle grand prize is an overnight stay at the Writers Cabin so be sure to buy

your tickets at the registration for this rare opportunity)

1:30 Afternoon Walking and Golf Cart Tours Depart the Interpretive Center *

*PLEASE NOTE: The number of riders for the cart tours is limited. Cart seats are available in the order of arrival at

the start of the tour with preference to those who have limited walking mobility. We thank you for your understanding.

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM by FRIDAY, MARCH 25TH. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO CAROLINE

DORMON FOUNDATION, INC. Mail to: Dormon Foundation, P.O. Box 226, Natchitoches, LA 71458

(Ticket requests received after March 25th will he held for you at the registration table)

NAME: ___________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________________

PHONE NUMBER(S) ________________________________________________________

CATEGORIES OF GIVING: **ANGEL ($1,000.00) $____________________

**PATRON ($500.00) $____________________

*SPONSOR ($250.00) $____________________

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS #___________@ ($50.00) $____________________

WILL BE UNABLE TO ATTEND BUT WISH TO DONATE $____________________

TOTAL ENCLOSED $____________________

NUMBER ADULTS ATTENDING __________

NUMBER CHILDREN ATTENDING 13 – 18 ($10.00 ea.) __________

NUMBER CHILDREN ATTENDING under 12 (no charge) __________

Number ________ participating in the bird watching tour at 8:00 – tour briefing to take place at 7:45.

** INCLUDES FIVE (5) TICKETS (CALL FOR MORE AT NO EXTRA CHARGE)

* INCLUDES FIVE (5) TICKETS

Tour information: The Charlotte Collins train and Cow Oak Flats trails will once again be on the tour to enhance

your Briarwood experience; and we have added the Mallard trail along the north side of the Readhimer Pond.