LSU AgCenter brings information to Louisiana Delta farmers’ fingertips

LSU AgCenter agents in Northeast Louisiana prepare to tape a podcast with Matt Lee, interim LSU vice president for agriculture and dean of the College of Agriculture. The Louisiana Delta Crop Report podcast was developed to keep northeast Louisiana growers informed.

Photo by Dennis Burns/LSU AgCenter

JOHNNY MORGAN

ST. JOSEPH, LOUISIANA

   With many farmers too busy to attend field days and meetings, the LSU AgCenter has created the Louisiana Delta Crop Report podcast to keep them in the know.

   The program, created four years ago by AgCenter agents Kylie Miller, Dennis Burns and R.L. Frazier, focuses on a wide variety of topics regarding agriculture in northeastern Louisiana. In 2022, Bruce Garner joined the crew, bringing Morehouse and West Carroll parishes into the mix.

   Burns said the content of the podcast ranges from discussions with researchers about current crop conditions to conversations about horticulture news. 

   “The Louisiana Delta Crop Report has expanded into YouTube educational videos, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and we are in the process of starting a blog,” he said. “Our social media platforms target East Carroll, Madison, Tensas, Morehouse, West Carroll, Catahoula and Concordia parishes.”

   Miller said their goal in developing these new sources of information is to maintain that agent-to-grower line of communication. 

   “We understand that people are busy and we want to be their connection to get the answers they need in whatever format they want,” she said. “Not only do we want to share important information, but we also want to make it as convenient as possible for those in the community.”

   Miller said growers benefit from the timely information provided in the podcast.

   “Whenever we see something going on in the field with insect pests, we can interview one of our scientists, then we can make it available to the growers without them having to stop and attend a meeting.”

   The Louisiana Delta Crop Report Twitter account, @ladeltacrop, has more than 550 followers and continues to grow, she said. 

   Many people in agriculture follow the account to receive important news and information.

   “We don’t have a set schedule but we try to do a podcast every week,” she said. “We can do additional shows if needed.”

   Garner said the convenience is what makes it so appealing to producers. 

   “When a grower knows that he has one day to get something done before a rain, he won’t think much about a field day or a meeting until he gets it done,” he said.

   Since the podcast began, these extension agents have released more than 100 episodes of the Louisiana Delta Crop Report.  ∆