The LSU Agricultural Center plays an integral role in supporting agricultural industries, sustaining rural areas and encouraging efficient use of resources through research and educational programs conducted by its experiment station and extension service. The Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station is responsible for research in agriculture and resource development, forestry, wildlife and fisheries, home economics, food science and related areas. It seeks to enhance the quality of life for people through basic and applied research that identifies and develops the best use of natural resources, conserves and protects the environment, permits further development of new and existing agricultural and related enterprises, and develops human and community resources in rural and urban areas. The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service is responsible for statewide, off-campus, informal teaching of agricultural and natural resource technology and management techniques as well as other programs focused on family and consumer sciences, youth development, overall improvement of the state's economy and efficient use of community and personal resources. The Extension Service helps the people of Louisiana - both rural and urban - improve their lives through an educational process that uses research-based knowledge focused on issues and needs. In addition to the research stations and parish extension offices, the LSU AgCenter is an integral part of 13 academic departments within LSU’s College of Agriculture. LSU AgCenter faculty conduct the majority of the research in these departments, guide the work of graduate students and do some of the classroom teaching. Departments include faculty will full-time extension appointments or joint appointments with research and teaching.