Louisiana Master Farmer Program Training Dates, Locations Set For 2025

KENNETH GAUTREAUX

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA

The Louisiana Master Farmer Program’s primary purpose is to address environmental concerns and enhance agricultural production through best management practices for farmers and landowners. Since its inception in 2001, the program has had more than 4,100 participants in at least one phase of the program.

To become a certified Master Farmer, all three phases of the program must be completed. Phase I consists of attending a six-hour training course focusing on environmental and best management practices.

The LSU AgCenter has scheduled several Phase I training courses across the state. The dates and locations of these sessions are:

— May 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Vermilion Parish Extension Office in Abbeville.

— May 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Tangipahoa Parish Extension Office in Amite.

— July 8 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Jason Lingo Community Center in Oak Grove.

— July 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hill Farm Research Station in Homer.

— Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cottonport Bank Community Center in New Roads.

Participants must preregister at https://forms.office.com/r/ES8u2DSTQs. A minimum of five participants is needed for the class to be offered. If the minimum is not met, the class will be rescheduled or canceled. 

If the participants are not able to attend in person, an online module will be offered. Participants will watch prerecorded presentations and take short exams to complete this phase. The online modules are found at https://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/environment/conservation/master_farmer/phase1.

Phase II involves attendance at a conservation-based field day or workshop. The field days and workshops are held throughout the year and across the state. Organizations that present these events are the LSU AgCenter, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

A partial list of field days and other Phase II events can be found at https://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/environment/conservation/master_farmer/phase2

Phase III is developing and implementing a comprehensive conservation plan on an entire farming operation. These plans are developed through NRCS and local soil and water conservation districts.

Lunch or refreshments will be provided during the Phase I trainings by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. For more information, contact Donna Gentry at MasterFarmer@agcenter.lsu.edu.   ∆

KENNETH GAUTREAUX: LSU AgCenter