Making demo test plans in St. Landry, Acadia and Calcasieu Parish

The last couple of days we have traveled the state to meet with cooperators for the rice water weevil demonstration tests. We met with cooperators in Acadia, Calcasieu and St. Landry Parishes.

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Planting time is approaching – met with cooperators in Evangeline Parish today

It’s almost that time of year again. Today Anna and I met with County Agent Keith Fontenot and Evangeline Parish farmer Kenneth LaHaye to discuss plans for the 2011 rice water weevil demonstration test. The field we will plant had some weedy passes, where a nozzle was accidentally turned off on the boom. This is a good example of why properly-timed burndown herbicides are so important.

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House Continuing Resolution Details Made Public – proposed cuts would harm LCES critical activities

This week the House of Representatives will debate H.R. 1, the Full Year Continuing Resolution (CR), to fund federal departments, agencies, and programs through Sept. 30, 2011. As reported last week, the CR would reduce the topline number for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA is the USDA agency that supports Land-grant research and extension) by $217.056 million compared to FY 2010. (See details at the following website: www.land-grant.org/reports/2011/02-11.htm). The Full Year Continuing Resolution (CR) on the House floor this week does not address all federal discretionary spending equitably. The CR would cut $217 million (16%) in critical food, agriculture, and natural resources research, extension, and education programs and operating budgets during the remaining seven months of FY 2011. This is more than 1.5 times greater than the 10.3% cut proposed in overall non-defense discretionary spending.

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NipsitINSIDE insecticide Experimental Use Permit approved by EPA

On Feb 7, 2011, US EPA granted the Experimental Use Permit (EUP) for NipsIt INSIDE® Insecticide for seed treatment use in rice. The EUP is for the states of AR, LA, MS and TX for a total of 40,000 acres for 2011 (and 40,000 acres for 2012 used prior to 6/23/2012). This includes 5,000 acres in Louisiana. Rice water weevil and grape colaspis are target pests on the label. According to the EUP, use of this product is restricted to dry-seeded rice in drill-planters. The seeding rate cannot exceed 150 lbs/acre. The active ingredient in NipsitINSIDE is clothianidin which belongs to the neonicotinoid class of chemistry (the same class as CruiserMaxx).

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2nd Annual LSU AgCenter Advanced Rice Entomology Training. March 2, 2011

Announcing the second Annual LSU AgCenter Advanced Rice Entomology Training. Speakers will include Mike Stout, Rick Story and Natalie Hummel from the LSU AgCenter department of Entomology. Topics will include rice pest management during the season, scouting methods, identification of immature insects, and secondary insect pests in rice.

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Louisiana Agricultural Technology and Management Systems Conference, 2011

Mark your calendars for the 2011 LACA Sponsored Louisiana Agricultural Technology & Management Conference. February 9-11, 2011 in Alexandria, LA.

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Rice insecticide seed treatment options in 2011

In the 2011 production season, Louisiana rice producers will have a variety of options for seed treatment in dry-seeded production systems. This article should help make the decision about which seed treatment you may want to consider.

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