DeSoto Parish is located due south of the Shreveport/Bossier City metropolitan area. The parish is divided into farm/dairy land and timber land. Until recently the economy was primarily agricultural. Beef cattle production and the dairy industry are still important and timber production is a significant contributor to the economy, but industrial development is proceeding at a rapid pace.

Agriculture & Natural Resources

According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistic Services, DeSoto Parish has approximately 14,200 beef cows in January 1, 2012. The LSU Agriculture Summary reported a gross farm value of $11,856,083 for beef production. In order to sustain the cattle industry in DeSoto Parish, we conducted a series of meetings in which beef producers gained awareness of pasture condition scoring, reclaiming pastures, fertility issues of managing forages, feeding cattle through the winter, cool-season forage variety recommendations, marketing beef cattle, outlook of beef industry in 2013 and the animal disease traceability program. We averaged 48 people attending our beef meeting. With the utilization of a beef cattle email distribution list which has95 members, timely news articles are sent to cattleman in the area. Numerous individuals have replied that the information they received was very helpful to their operation. 

Contact DeSoto Parish Extension

REMINDER: This listing is a free service of LandCAN.
DeSoto Parish Extension is not employed by or affiliated with the Land Conservation Assistance Network, and the Network does not certify or guarantee their services. The reader must perform their own due diligence and use their own judgment in the selection of any professional.

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• Cooperative Extension