Since late summer, Ed Twidwell has been busy answering Louisiana
farmers' wheat-related questions.  “With high wheat prices,
there's a lot of interest in the crop in Louisiana,” says the
LSU AgCenter wheat specialist.  “In the last decade or so, we've
averaged between 100,000 and 150,000 acres planted. This year
we're expecting more than 300,000 acres to be planted.”  Many
farmers are entering the wheat fray for the first time. “There's
a mix of those who are returning to wheat after a long lay-off
and those who are novices. That should make for an interesting
year.”  Lately, one key concern for growers is planting date.
Typically, the state is divided in two with Alexandria being the
dividing line.  “Anything south of there has one set of dates
and anything north has another set. For north Louisiana, the
planting window is between Oct. 15 and Nov. 15. So, we're in
that window currently.” In the third week of October, rain kept
some Louisiana farmers out of the field but when it clears,
“folks in north Louisi