Soybean and rice growers’ meeting in St. Martinville Feb. 26

St. Martin Parish rice and soybean growers will have an opportunity to learn the LSU AgCenter’s latest research based information at a production meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m.

Because of renovations being made to the auditorium at the St. Martin Parish Extension office, this year’s event will be held at the LASUCA Board Room at 6093 Resweber Hwy. in St. Martinville.

This year, St. Martin Parish growers are expected to plant around 3,000 acres of rice and 10,000 acres of soybeans. Both crops are vitally important to local businesses, landowners and government coffers. In 2013, parish growers’ produced nearly one half million bushels of beans and over 150,000 barrels of rice accounting for a gross farm value of over $10 million.

With the forecast of lower sugar prices, more acres may go into soybean production this year. Beans are still in $12 a bushel range, but with lower corn price projections, some concern is developing that increased bean planting and a good harvest could suppress prices come harvest time.

Details of the new Farm Bill are starting to emerge but it is still unclear how well this new legislation will serve rice and soybean growers. At the program, specialists from the LSU AgCenter will address the latest production based recommendations designed to help local growers make sound economic based decisions.

Schedule

•5 p.m. – Stuart Gauthier, county agent, St. Martin Parish: Rice Variety & Breeding Update

•5:15 p.m. – Dr. Eric Webster, LSU AgCenter rice weed specialist: Rice Weed Control

•5:30 p.m. – Dr. Johnny Saichuk, LSU AgCenter state rice specialist: Rice Production Practices

•5:45 p.m. – Dr. Sebe Brown, LSU AgCenter entomologist: Rice & Soybean Insect Pest Management

•6 p.m. – Dr. Trey Price, LSU AgCenter soybean disease specialist: Soybean Disease Update

•6:15 p.m. – Dr. Kurt Guidry, LSU AgCenter ag economist: Rice/Soybean Market Update & Outlook Report

•6:30 p.m. – Dr. Ron Levy, LSU AgCenter soybean specialist: Soybean Update – Varieties, Weeds, Fertility

Any grower interested in learning more about rice or soybean production is welcome to attend.

For more information call Stuart Gauthier, county agent, at (337) 332-2181 or (337) 446-5692 or by e-mail at sgauthier@agcenter.lsu.edu.