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Louisiana Rural Field Day

In addition to the March 24, 2000 Conference on "Development of the Rural Economy and Poverty Reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean" planned for the Inter-American Development Bank?s Annual Board of Governor?s meeting in New Orleans, a Rural Development Field Day on March 25, 2000 includes visits in Southern Louisiana to an agricultural research station, Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge, rural community development projects, a small farm and an agribusiness firm.

The Rural Field Day is organized by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Louisiana State University (LSU), Southern University, St. Mary Community Action Agency and private firms.

USDA?s rural development roles include national support for the agricultural research, education and extension systems, and programs to support development of rural housing, utilities, community facilities and businesses.

LSU, a Land Grant University with 26,000 students has been designated a Research University I by the Carnegie Foundation, placing it in the top 2 percent of the nation's colleges and universities. LSU?s College of Agriculture was recently named as one of the top 16 agriculture colleges in the U.S.

With 9,000 students at its Baton Rouge campus, Southern University and A&M College is a comprehensive institution offering four-year, graduate, professional, and doctoral degree programs and is the largest historically black Land Grant University in the United States. The College of Agricultural, Family and Consumer Sciences offers Bachelor of Science degrees in agricultural sciences, agricultural economics, urban forestry and family and consumer sciences.

St. Mary Community Action Agency is a parish-level (county) economic and social development organization. Its programs are supported by Federal, State and local governments and private entities.

The close linkages among university researchers and educators, extension agents, farmers, local agribusiness enterprises and rural community leaders enable the cooperative extension system to bring the university to the people. Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service programs include not only on-farm assistance with production technologies and environmental and marketing advice to agricultural businesses, but nutrition education programs and youth clubs (4 H). Cooperating with other State and Federal agencies, local governments and NGOs, extensionists help rural communities access community infrastructure programs aimed at improving rural electricity and telecommunications, water and sewer systems, housing, ambulance service, etc.

Last updated: 04/19/06

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