Nine new Louisiana Master Farmers were presented certificates on Jan. 13 at a meeting, of the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts. From left to right are Ernest Girouard, coordinator, of the Louisiana Master Farmer Program; Master Farmer Cody Gregory, of Morehouse Parish; Master Farmer Brett Chiasson, of St. Charles Parish; Master Farmer James Wagley, of Natchitoches Parish; Brent Robbins, deputy commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry; Master Farmer John-Louis Harrison, of West Baton Rouge Parish; Kevin Norton, of Natural Resources Conservation Service; Master Farmer Alan Hebert, of Jefferson Davis Parish; Bill Richardson, LSU vice president for agriculture; and Master Farmer William J. Husband, of Vermilion Parish. Not pictured are Master Farmers Paul Ratliff, of West Carroll Parish; James Marsalis, of Claiborne Parish; and John Hensgens, of Calcasieu Parish. (Photo by Bruce Schultz)

Ruben Dauzat, of Avoyelles Parish, third from right, received the Outstanding Master Farmer Award for 2014 at the state convention of the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts in Baton Rouge on Jan. 13, 2015. Also pictured are, left to right, Ernest Girouard, coordinator of the Louisiana Master Farmer Program; NRCS state conservationist Kevin Norton; Keith Majors, of the Gowan Co.; Brent Robbins, deputy commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry; Dauzat; Bill Richardson, LSU vice president for agriculture; and Stephen Austin, of the Louisiana Land Bank. (Photo by Bruce Schultz)

Farmer Ruben Dauzat, of Avoyelles Parish, was chosen as the Outstanding Master Farmer for 2014 at the convention of the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts in Baton Rouge on Jan. 13, 2015. The award was sponsored by the Gowan Co. and Louisiana Land Bank. (Photo by Bruce Schultz)

News Release Distributed 01/14/15

BATON ROUGE, La. – Nine individuals were recognized Tuesday (Jan. 13) for achieving certification under the Louisiana Master Farmer Program at the state convention of the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts.

In addition, Ruben Dauzat, of Avoyelles Parish, was chosen as Outstanding Master Farmer for 2014, and four Master Farmers were recognized for being recertified.

Bill Richardson, LSU vice president for agriculture, said the Louisiana Master Farmer Program is a collaboration of several agencies. “This program would not occur if they all did not get together,” he said. The program helps farmers voluntarily use agricultural practices that protect the environment.

Richardson warned that state budget cuts threaten the mission of the LSU AgCenter. If cuts are imposed on the AgCenter, some services will be reduced or eliminated. “We will not be able to sustain what we have been doing for the past century,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to remind legislators that Louisiana is still a rural, agricultural state. “What has been proposed is not good and not defensible and not even feasible.”

Opposition to budget cuts for agriculture should be voiced to policy makers, said Brent Robbins, deputy commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. “You need to reach out and tell folks about it.”

The Master Farmer Program is proactive and guides farmers with assistance instead of imposed regulations. “It helps them do good things for the environment before being told,” Robbins said.

Becoming certified demonstrates dedication to adopting conservation practices, said Ernest Girouard, coordinator of the Louisiana Master Farmer Program in the LSU AgCenter. “This audience is an excellent example of producers working together to solve the conservation issues and environmental issues related to production agriculture.”

The Louisiana Master Farmer Program exists because of the cooperation among agencies and organizations that include the LSU AgCenter, LDAF, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Louisiana Farm Bureau and the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, Girouard said. “We are way ahead of most states because they can’t get those partners to the table.”

NRCS state conservationist Kevin Norton said completing the Master Farmer requirements demonstrates a commitment to sustaining natural resources. “They truly exemplify the best we have to offer in terms of resource stewardship.”

New Master Farmers recognized Tuesday were Brett Chiasson, of St. Charles Parish; Cody Gregory, of Morehouse Parish; Alan Hebert, of Jefferson Davis Parish; John Hensgens, of Calcasieu Parish; William J. Husband, of Vermilion Parish; Harrison John-Louis, of West Baton Rouge Parish; James Marsalis, of Claiborne Parish; Paul Ratliff, of West Carroll Parish; and James Wagley, of Natchitoches Parish.

Recognized for becoming recertified were John Boudreaux, Dwyer Griffin and Sherrill Sagrera, all of Vermilion Parish, and Larry Sayes, of Avoyelles Parish.