Dr. Ronnie Levy
Oct 19, 2022
CROWLEY, LA – Dr. Ronnie Levy, the rice specialist at the Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter, has been chosen as the 85th International Rice Festival Honoree. Dr. Levy was honored at the festival’s Queen’s Ball and Honoree Social on Saturday, October 8. The festival kicks off here starting tomorrow, October 20, through Sunday, October 23. The International Rice Festival is the largest community-based festival in Louisiana and celebrates the entire Louisiana rice industry.
During his 43-year career with the LSU AgCenter, Levy has served in many roles, currently as Louisiana Rice Specialist. In this capacity, he has helped translate the vital research conducted at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station into valuable knowledge for rice producers across the state. Through the AgCenter’s Rice Verification Program, Levy travels throughout Louisiana assisting rice farmers and extension agents on the best management practices that are vital to producing viable, profitable, and sustainable rice crops year after year. Levy also serves as a technical advisor on the USA Rice Sustainability, and Regulatory Affairs & Food Safety Committees.
During his time at the AgCenter, Levy has earned several accolades from agricultural organizations, including the 2018 Tri-State Soybean Board Distinguished Service Award; the 2015 National County Agent Association Distinguished Service Award; the 2014 Tipton Team Award; the 2012 National Conservation Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference Fifteen Year Service Award; the 2007 National Conservation Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference Ten Year Service Award; the 2005 LSU AgCenter Floyd S. Edmiston Award; the National Conservation Tillage Rice and Cotton Conference Rice Research of the Year: and the 1988 Louisiana County Agricultural Agents Association Southwest Achievement Award.
The Bogalusa, Louisiana, native earned an undergraduate degree from Southeastern Louisiana University, a master’s degree from LSU, and a Doctoral Degree in Agronomy from the Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Department at LSU. Levy is a frequent speaker at the USA Rice Outlook Conference and will be presenting this year.
In his time away from the state’s rice fields and the Rice Research Station, Levy enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with his three grandchildren at his home in Roberts Cove. He and his wife Donna (nee Richard) have been married for 42 years, and raised two sons.