(Distributed 10/14/10) Agriculture is a major economic driver in Louisiana. To acknowledge the exceptional contributions of Louisiana farmers, the Louisiana Agri-News Network, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will honor the 2011 Louisiana Farmer of the Year.

(Distributed 10/11/10) BATON ROUGE La., -- With childhood obesity continuing to be a major issue in Louisiana and around the country, the LSU AgCenter is taking steps to help correct the problem by helping teach healthy eating through school gardening.

(Distributed 10/05/10) A workshop on grant opportunities in value-added agriculture and renewable energy for entrepreneurs in northeast Louisiana is scheduled for Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon at the LSU AgCenter's Delta Rural Development Center, 10284 Louisiana Highway 17 in Oak Grove.

(Distributed 10/22/10) The LSU AgCenter will present a feral hog seminar at 6 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the David B. Means 4-H Center in Grand Cane.

(Distributed 10/05/10) WEST MONROE, La. – Landry Vineyards proves that wine grapes can be grown in Louisiana. Jeff Landry and his wife, Libby, are producing 30,000 bottles of wine a year.

(Distributed 10/01/10) HENRY, La. – Cattle farmers got a look at test results of a new herbicide that shows some promise of controlling Vaseygrass in pastures. At an LSU AgCenter field day on Sept. 30, Ed Twidwell, forage specialist, said Pastora, a DuPont product, can also be used on Johnson grass, but he warned it kills Bahia grass and clovers and can also cause some stunting of Bermuda grass.

(Distributed 10/04/10) BENTON, La. – It is possible to manage feral hogs on a large scale by being consistent and persistent, landowners and hunters were told at an LSU AgCenter seminar Sept. 28.

(Distributed 10/06/10) Grazing and nutrition will be highlights of the LSU AgCenter dairy field day Nov. 11 at the Southeast Research Station in Franklinton.

(Distributed 10/13/10) The LSU AgCenter will conduct a one-day, comprehensive workshop on how to make biodiesel from used vegetable oil on Oct. 30 at the W. A. Callegari Environmental Center in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 10/18/10) Getting a handle on the bullying problem in New Orleans schools is the job of Traig Varnado, LSU AgCenter 4-H youth development agent.

(Distributed 10/28/10) Most gardeners will tell you there’s nothing like having a little help to make a garden grow, and that’s what happened at St. Paul’s School in Covington when it applied for and received a federal grant.

(Distributed 10/27/10) CADE, La. – A trail ride and campout to benefit the LSU AgCenter Master Horseman program will be held Nov. 6-7 on 750 acres of woodlands and pastures. Neely Heidorn, LSU AgCenter horse specialist, said the event will raise money for Master Horseman events throughout the Acadiana area.

(Distributed 10/14/10) HOMER, La. – The first flock of chickens in the new poultry demonstration houses at the LSU AgCenter Hill Farm Research Station has reached the target weight and has been processed by House of Raeford.

(Distributed 10/18/10) RUSTON, La. – About 500 fifth-graders from Lincoln Parish schools spent a day at Lincoln Parish Park where specialists from the LSU AgCenter and other state and federal agencies taught them about conservation and water quality at the 2010 Water Festival Oct. 14-15.

(Distributed 10/26/10) SHREVEPORT, La. – Live oaks, magnolias, baldcypress and hackberries were among the types of trees riders learned about in Vélo Dendro S Deux, a leisurely bicycle tour held Oct. 23 in South Highlands and Broadmoor.

(Distributed 10/11/10 Two LSU AgCenter faculty members were part of a group who were honored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 6.

(Distributed 10/27/10) The LSU AgCenter has received a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to study a new control for pecan scab disease.

(Distributed 10/04/10) Lead Louisiana for Teens, a leadership program for teenagers, will be held Oct. 18 and Oct. 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the LSU AgCenter's Delta Rural Development Center, 10284 Louisiana Highway 17 in Oak Grove.

(Distributed 10/25/10) GREENSBURG, La – Students had the hands-on experience of touching a goat, a horse or a cow at St. Helena Parish Central Elementary School during Ag and Science Week the week of Oct. 18.