Submitted by Jimmy Meaux, Extension Agent

The LSU AgCenter will be hosting a Wildlife Food Plots workshop on Tuesday, July 22, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Calcasieu Extension office located at 7101 Gulf Highway in Lake Charles.

This workshop is open to the public and all hunters, land managers, or those interested in wildlife management should attend. This is the time of year to start preparing your ground to plant food plots for this fall. But before you begin planting you should make sure the crops/forages you plant will grow well in Louisiana climates. You should also have an idea of what the soil PH and nutrient levels are in the area you are planting your plots. Different areas of Louisiana can be deficient in different nutrients.

Fertilizer and seeds can be very expensive and if your PH is not high enough for the plants you want to grow, you maybe wasting money on fertilizer.

This workshop will focus on taking soil samples, understanding the results, and how to apply the recommended amounts of fertilizers. Dr Luke Stamper, LSU wildlife specialist will be the guest speaker.

Dr. Stamper graduated from LSU with degree in wildlife ecology, obtained his masters at UL Monroe before returning to LSU to receive his doctorate in Plant, Environmental, and Soil sciences with a focus on weed science.

He will discuss warm and cool season forage selections for wildlife suited for our area. In addition, he will talk about designing food plots for optimum success. There is no charge to attend the workshop,

You can register or find out more information by calling 337-721-4080. More information on wildlife habitat management can be found at our website.www.lsuagcenter.com and search for wildlife management.