(Distributed 08/27/12) With Tropical Storm Isaac making its approach, now is the time to visit the LSU AgCenter website at LSU AgCenter.com to determine what information is available to help in these critical hours.

(Distributed 08/31/12) If your home flooded after Hurricane Isaac there are several things you need to know in order to protect your home and your health.

(Distributed 08/31/12) In the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac some flood-damaged home will require special attention to avoid or correct a mold population explosion, according to LSU AgCenter housing specialist Claudette Reichel.

(Distributed 08/27/12) Hurricane Isaac could wreck what was shaping up to be an excellent year for Louisiana agriculture. The storm threatens corn, cotton, sugarcane and soybeans.

(Distributed 08/31/12) The extent of damage to many of Louisiana’s crops depends on what happens over the next few weeks, say LSU AgCenter specialists.

(Distributed 08/31/12) You may not think of late summer and fall as a time for rose gardening. Sometimes, however, roses will actually establish better when planted in fall than when planted in late winter through early spring.

(Distributed 08/24/12) The LSU AgCenter and several other universities have used funds from a three-year U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to develop a website for people interested or involved in blueberry production.

(Distributed 08/24/12) Louisiana’s state tree is the bald cypress. Its scientific name is Taxodium distichum. Bald cypress is one of our most distinguished native trees and is widely found in Louisiana landscapes.

(Distributed 8/24/12) Representatives from the Cargill-U.S. Aquaculture division presented the LSU AgCenter with a $47,306 check on Aug. 22 to help finance alligator research at the Aquaculture Research Station in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 08/23/12) The LSU AgCenter and Burden Horticulture Society will kick off the annual Corn Maze at Burden Center Sept. 22-23 from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. in conjunction with the Rural Life Museum’s Harvest Days, according to Jeff Kuehny, resident director at the center.

(Distributed 08/21/12) The drought choking the Midwest is hundreds of miles away, but it is having direct effects on the Louisiana cattle market.

(Distributed 08/21/12) LSU AgCenter faculty will present information ranging from beef cattle management to pruning timber at the 2012 Hill Farm Field Day on Tues., Oct. 9, near Homer.

(Distributed 08/17/12) The LSU AgCenter has been promoting research-based best management practices in the home landscape for several years to inform residents on how to manage their lawns, gardens and landscapes to minimize non-point pollution, weeds, diseases and insect pests.

(Distributed 08/20/12) Success in school starts with good nutrition at home, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Beth Reames. And that means a healthful breakfast, lunch and after-school snacks.

(Distributed 08/17/12) CHASE, La. – Two new sweet potato varieties – Orleans and 07-146 – were featured at the LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Research Station field day Aug. 16.

(Distributed 08/17/12) CROWLEY, La. – LSU AgCenter county agents met Aug. 16 to learn about changes in the Louisiana Master Farmer Program that will expedite the process for farmers to become certified. A farm conservation plan may now be developed through the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 08/15/12) For many people, just the act of fishing can provide relief from the stresses of everyday life. But catching fish can put food on the table, and for some, this is the best part of owning a recreational pond.

(Distributed 08/15/12) Four Pointe Coupee Parish 4-H members won a $1,000 scholarship to divide among them at the Second Annual Great American Seafood Cook Off 4-H Edition in New Orleans on Aug. 12, according to Quincy Cheek, the contest superintendent and associate extension agent in Rapides and Grant parishes.

(Distributed 08/15/12) Cynthia Cockerham, the LSU AgCenter area 4-H agent in LaSalle Parish, was recently awarded an obesity grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation to fund the Live Liv3ely LaSalle project.

(Distributed 08/14/12) Lawrence Datnoff, head of the Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology in the LSU AgCenter, recently received the International Service Award from the American Phytopathological Society.

(Distributed 08/13/12) The jcpenney company, also known as JCP, has launched a campaign in Louisiana and across the country to raise money for 4-H and Boys and Girls Clubs of America, according to Dwight Landreneau, associate vice chancellor of the LSU AgCenter, which oversees Louisiana 4-H.

(Distributed 08/13/12) The LSU AgCenter has announced a field day featuring energy cane and sweet sorghum on Oct. 2 at the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Station Sugarcane Research Farm near Houma, La.

(Distributed 08/10/12) The best way to avoid mosquito bites and the threat that comes with them is to avoid infested areas, wear protective clothing and use insect repellent, according to LSU AgCenter entomologist Dennis Ring. But he said not all repellents offer the same amount of protection.

(Distributed 08/10/12) Sunflowers are among the easiest flowers to grow, and they thrive in the heat of our summers. It may be towards the end of summer, but you can still plant sunflowers and enjoy them during fall.

(Distributed 08/10/12) Classifying the 2012 rice harvest in south Louisiana as good, bad or mediocre is proving to be a difficult challenge. “Some people are thrilled to death, and some are wondering what happened,” said Barrett Courville, LSU AgCenter county agent in Acadia and Jefferson Davis parishes.

(Distributed 08/09/12) The fascination with heirloom tomatoes has some backyard growers willing to give up the qualities that brought improvement to hybrid varieties in exchange for old fashioned flavor. People tend to associate heirloom tomatoes with the ones their grandparents grew when they were young, and they believe the flavor is just better, said Kiki Fontenot, LSU AgCenter horticulturist.

(Distributed 08/07/12) Phil Elzer has been named assistant vice chancellor of the LSU AgCenter and assistant director of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station.

(Distributed 08/09/12) The Florida wax scale has become an increasing problem on ornamental plants in south Louisiana, said LSU AgCenter entomologist Tim Schowalter. Although it infests a wide range of host plants, including shrubs, trees and several non-woody plants, Florida wax scale is a particular problem on ornamental hollies.

(Distributed 08/03/12) A conference featuring opportunities in biofuels and bioprocessing in Louisiana has been scheduled for Sept. 11-12 in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 08/07/12) Farmers can plant Bt corn to get protection from an important pest of corn, the fall armyworm. But LSU AgCenter entomologist Fangneng Huang said populations of the pest in some areas have developed resistance to one type of Bt corn.

(Distributed 08/03/12) One of the popular fall-flowering plants offered at many retail garden centers in south Louisiana during late summer and early fall are cassias. Sometimes these plants are now called sennas.

(Distributed 08/06/12) Many people enjoy living near a body of water. For this reason, there has been an increase in the number of recreational ponds built in Louisiana over the past 10 years, according to Greg Lutz, an aquaculture scientist with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 08/03/12) Twenty teens from military families across the state participated in an “Operation: Military Kids” camp on leadership July 25-27, sponsored by the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H Youth Development program.

(Distributed 08/03/12) A new group of the state’s youth began the LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana Young Ag Producers Program last week (July 23-27) while another class completed its year-long journey. Known as LaYAPP, the program is a one-year, intensive classroom and hands-on, mentor-based experience that introduces high school juniors and seniors to the options available to them in the areas of food and fiber production.

(Distributed 08/02/12) Wheat growers have a saying that “wheat doesn’t like wet feet.” With winters often damp and dreary, Louisiana is not conducive for growing this crop, which has its origins in dry climates. But LSU AgCenter wheat breeder Steve Harrison has developed lines that can tolerate local conditions and allow farmers to grow wheat profitably.

(Distributed 08/01/12) LSU AgCenter scientists and Louisiana soybean growers are on the lookout for a tiny new pest that can cause considerable damage to the crop.

(Distributed 08/01/12) A Financial Education Boot Camp to train teachers to teach financial skills to high school students will be Sept. 12 in Baton Rouge and Sept. 14 in Alexandria, according to Jeanette Tucker, LSU AgCenter family economist and one of the organizers.