(Distributed 06/30/06) LSU AgCenter scientists confirmed on Friday (June 30) that Asian soybean rust is in Louisiana. This is the first finding of the disease for 2006, and it was found on kudzu, another plant besides soybeans susceptible to the disease.

(Distributed 06/30/06) Rice prices worldwide will be strong the next two years because rice stocks in Asia have declined significantly, a rice marketing expert said Thursday (June 29) at the annual LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station Field Day.

(Distributed 06/30/06) LSU AgCenter researchers are working on a new technique that has the potential of improving wild and captive white-tailed deer herds in the state. Dr. Dearl Sanders, LSU AgCenter professor and resident director at the Idlewild Research Station near Clinton, says artificial insemination research on deer at the station could be the breakthrough for bigger, healthier deer.

(Distributed 06/30/06) Young people from across Louisiana will compete in the 37th annual Louisiana 4-H and FFA State Horse Show July 10-15 in the Monroe-West Monroe area.

(Distributed 06/30/06) Four field days for farmers will be held in July in several Southwest Louisiana parishes.

(Distributed 06/30/06) Four field days for farmers will be held in July in several Southwest Louisiana parishes.

(Distributed 06/30/06) The LSU AgCenter recently conducted an Urban Stormwater Academy to help engineers, architects and municipal officials learn about practices that will both reduce stormwater runoff and its contaminant load at construction sites.

(Distributed 06/29/06) In Washington Parish, you generally don’t need a calendar to tell when July 4 is near. All you’d have to do is drive around and count the number of people selling watermelons on the roadside or at produce stands. The same is true in many other areas across Louisiana where watermelons are grown and sold this time of year.

(Distributed 06/29/06) Two new sugarcane varieties released earlier this year will be featured at the LSU AgCenter’s Annual Sugarcane Field Day July 19 at the St. Gabriel Research Station.

(Distributed 06/28/06) The LSU AgCenter and others are offering programs this summer designed to help consumers learn how to avoid scams, fraud and identity theft.

(Posted 06/23/06) This collection of photos shows some of the activities when hundreds of young people from across the state gathered June 20-23 in Baton Rouge for the 2006 version of Louisiana 4-H University. Students from all 64 parishes of Louisiana participated in the contests, educational programs, campus tours and other activities that were part of the events.

(Distributed 06/23/06) Ten months ago, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honore was charged with overseeing the relief efforts after the worst natural disaster to hit the United States – Hurricane Katrina. Last night (June 22) he told a group of 4-H’ers the leadership and values he learned as a 4-H’er "brought aid and safety to thousands along the Gulf Coast."

(Distributed 06/22/06) Young people from across Louisiana were announced as state winners and alternates in various contests Thursday night (June 22) at the final session of the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H University in Baton Rouge. Hundreds more were selected as blue-ribbon winners, and more than 1,500 youngsters participated in the three-day series of activities that are part of the annual 4-H event.

(Distributed 06/23/06) Certified forests may be the next trend in lumber marketing, but non-industrial, private forest landowners generally are unwilling to foot the bill, according to a recent study.

(Distributed 06/16/06) Nearly 200 farmers and other agricultural industry representatives were on hand Wednesday (June 14) for the annual field at the LSU AgCenter’s Northeast Research Station at St. Joseph. The half-day program featured stops at 10 field locations where LSU AgCenter scientists explained their research with row crops and how it can help Louisiana farmers.

(Distributed 06/20/06) Twelve adults were recognized for their contributions to the Louisiana 4-H program during an awards ceremony Tuesday (June 20) proceeding the opening session of the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H University program on the LSU campus.

(Distributed 06/20/06) Winners of 4-H scholarships were among those honored during an awards banquet Tuesday (June 20) at 4-H University in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 06/21/06) There is one good thing about the drier-than-normal weather conditions around Louisiana so far this year. That’s fewer mosquitoes, according to an expert with the LSU AgCenter, who stressed precautions still are needed to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.

(Distributed 06/16/06) Rice marketing expert Milo Hamilton will be the featured speaker at the 2006 Field Day for the LSU AgCenter’s Rice Research Station on June 29. Hamilton, president and co-founder of Firstgrain Inc., has traveled and lectured widely in Asia, and he has published several articles on commodity trading and hedging.

(Distributed 06/16/06) Don’t know much about managing money? Most Louisiana high school students don’t, so teachers may want to boost their knowledge – and the LSU AgCenter is offering opportunities for that.

(Distributed 06/16/06) The LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station will hold a Landscape Horticulture Field Day June 29. Dr. Regina Bracy, LSU AgCenter professor and resident coordinator at the research station, says the June 29 event, which kicks off at 5 p.m., will be the first field day of its kind to be held at the station.

(Photo gallery 6/14/06) This year’s 4-H Day at the Capitol June 7 attracted approximately 1,000 4-H Club members, adult leaders and 4-H staff members from across Louisiana. The events are designed to give 4-H’ers a chance to learn more about Louisiana government while having fun.

(Distributed 06/15/06) The LSU AgCenter’s 8th Annual Tomato Field Day last week in Waterproof showed that lack of rain can’t stop those who are determined from producing unusually large tomatoes.

(Distributed 06/15/06) The LSU AgCenter is one of the sponsors of a field day focused on fire ant control set for June 28 in New Orleans City Park. The event is part of the Fire Ant Surge Threat (FAST) prevention program being conducted in the Greater New Orleans area. It is intended to provide the latest information about how area residents can get involved in preventing a resurgence of the pests.

(Distributed 06/15/06) As dry weather persists across Louisiana, the state’s farmers are facing difficult times, according to observers with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 06/15/06) Hundreds of young people from across the state are headed for 4-H University next week on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. Students from 63 parishes will participate in a variety of contests and educational programs during the event being held June 20-23.

(Distributed 06/08/06) Eight square blocks of the historic New Orleans French Quarter have been added to an integrated pest management program aimed at reducing the concentrations of Formosan subterranean termites in the city, officials announced Wednesday (June 7).