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Matt Lee tells Senate Ag Committee LSU AgCenter's research and extension drove about $9 billion in economic activity
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Summary
Matt Lee, senior vice chancellor of the LSU AgCenter, told the Senate Agriculture Committee on March 24 that LSU AgCenter research expenditures rose to roughly $123 million in FY24, extension contacts reached about 1.4 million people last year, and applied research and extension translated into an estimated $9 billion in economic activity over recent years. Senators asked about institutional consolidation, feral hog controls and chronic wasting disease research.
Matt Lee, senior vice chancellor for the LSU AgCenter and dean of the College of Agriculture at LSU, presented "Listening to Louisiana, Leading with Solutions" to the Senate Agriculture Committee on March 24, 2026. He outlined the AgCenter’s statewide structure — parish extension offices in all 64 parishes, 14 experiment stations, and roughly two dozen centers and institutes — and emphasized the center’s dual research-and-extension mission.
Lee said LSU AgCenter research expenditures reached about $123,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and that research activity has grown since he arrived in 2022. He summarized five years of activity at roughly $475,000,000 and said applied research and extension have translated into an estimated $9,000,000,000 in direct economic activity for Louisiana producers and communities. "We are punching way above our weight," Lee said, noting national rankings and per-producer impact when adjusted for state agricultural population.
He highlighted commodity programs (sugarcane and rice), extension scale and workforce development: LSU-developed sugarcane varieties account for just over 60% of state plantings and the sugarcane program’s gate value for the record crop was described as about $970,000,000; Rice varieties developed at LSU are planted on over 60% of state rice acreage. Lee described efforts to rebuild aquaculture and fisheries capacity, noting aquaculture (~$670,000,000) and fisheries (~$529,000,000) economic activity together exceed $1 billion. He also cited extension reach (about 1,400,000 direct educational contacts) and youth programs such as 4‑H and FFA (participation figures Lee said were roughly 149,000 and likely over 160,000 now), along with industry-based certifications for students.
During questions, senators raised concerns about LSU’s organizational "flagship transformation" and how it might affect the AgCenter. Lee said the process is at an early, committee-based stage, the AgCenter has representation in those conversations, and proposed changes should be calibrated so as not to reduce the AgCenter’s research impact. Senator Albon emphasized sustaining funding mechanisms across administrations and reminded peers that some protections are codified in statute.
Chair and senators also asked about high-priority research efforts. On feral hog control, Lee said pen trials at the Idlewild Research Station were imminent — "a matter of kind of days and weeks" — but federal Environmental Protection Agency approval processes remain slow; he cited an estimate that feral hogs cause about $90,000,000 in annual crop damage in Louisiana. On chronic wasting disease in deer, Lee said Idlewild hosts herds used for zoonotic and disease-transmission work but the recent vacancy in the Pennington wildlife research chair and other staffing issues mean he would provide follow-up details.
Lee closed by thanking the committee and stressing continued partnership with the legislature for research, extension, workforce development and youth engagement programs. The committee adjourned after a short final motion.
