(Distributed 12/11/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisianians battling crazy ants now have a new weapon with the announcement of a special label to use the insecticide Termidor on crazy ants in Louisiana, according to LSU AgCenter entomologist Dennis Ring.

(Distributed 12/28/12) HAMMOND, La. – Winter is here, and this leads to many questions about protecting landscape plants during the cold months of December, January and February.

(Distributed 12/21/12) WEST MONROE, La. – The LSU AgCenter will conduct several educational programs during the 2013 Ag Expo scheduled for Jan. 18-19 at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center.

(Distributed 12/21/12) HAMMOND, La., -- Plucking fresh fruit from your own orchard can be a delicious way to add beauty and taste to your home landscape. The best time to plant fruit trees in Louisiana is now through January. Plant now, and you can pick your own fruit at home later.

(Distributed 12/20/12) CROWLEY, La. – The LSU AgCenter will conduct six clinics for rice farmers to provide growers with valuable information for the 2013 crop.

(Distributed 12/20/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – Oysters and prunes may not have a lot in common, but in Subramaniam Sathivel’s lab, these are two of the products chefs are working with to develop new foods for consumers. The LSU AgCenter food engineer specializes in cryopreservation and shelf stabilization of foods.

(Distributed 12/19/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – Despite drought conditions and a hurricane, 2012 was an excellent year for Louisiana farmers. Many of the state’s major commodities saw record yields and historically high prices. LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry said good production practices and a lot of luck with the weather helped.

(Distributed 12/18/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU AgCenter scientists are working with researchers at Columbia University and Iowa State University on an environmentally friendly substance that could be used to clean up oil spills.

(Distributed 12/18/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter and Southern University Agricultural Center recognized staff and faculty members for outstanding service and research at a joint conference on Dec. 17-18.

(Distributed 12/14/12) CLINTON, La. – Learning to burn safely was the main topic of the State Prescribed Burning Certification workshop held at the LSU AgCenter Bob R. Jones Idlewild Research Station on Dec. 12-14.

(Distributed 12/14/12) HAMMOND, La. – Sasanquas are one of our most popular flowering shrubs for late fall through early winter. They go by the scientific name of Camellia sasanqua.

(Distributed 12/13/12)BATON ROUGE, La. – Buck moths on the wing in December conjure up thoughts of buck moth caterpillars in the yard in spring. And large numbers of buck moths flying in south Louisiana this season suggest buck moth caterpillars will abound next spring, according to experts at the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 12/13/13) CORONADO ISLAND, Calif. – Don Groth, LSU AgCenter plant pathologist, received the Rice Industry Award at the annual USA Rice Outlook Conference. In addition, Ernest Girouard, coordinator of the Louisiana Master Farmer Program, received the Distinguished Conservation Achievement Award.

(Distributed 12/12/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – Two LSU AgCenter faculty members were recognized for receiving professorships at a reception on Dec. 7.

(Distributed 12/12/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time, but for many, this time of the year can bring stress and anxiety. “Everything is red and green about the holidays, but a lot of people are experiencing the blues,” said LSU AgCenter family life specialist Diane Sasser.

(Distributed 12/12/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – For the past month, Louisiana strawberry growers have been producing a nice crop, and as long as the weather is cool, berries should continue to be available, according to Regina Bracy, resident coordinator of the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station.

(Distributed 12/11/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – Fruit and vegetable growers from across the state attended a fall field day at Burden on Dec. 10 to learn about the latest research being conducted by the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 12/07/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter is in the process of establishing a food business incubator and has hired a veteran food consultant to coordinate it.

(Distributed 12/07/12) HAMMOND, La. – As we approach the end of fall and the beginning of winter, we may have oak leaves and pine needles lying around in our landscapes in abundance. What can we do with these products? How about using them for mulch in our landscape beds, around our trees and in our vegetable gardens?

(Distributed 12/07/12) Landowners interested in outdoor recreation, horse owners, and others interested in existing outdoor enterprises are invited to attend a horseback riding workshop in conjunction with the Ag Expo in West Monroe on Jan. 18.

(Distributed 12/06/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – It may be the ultimate “silver bullet” – an extremely small particle made of iron coated with ceramic and silver and finally a powerful drug that can find its way through the human body to target a deep infection – and treat it.

(Distributed 12/06/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – Technology may be blamed for contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic, but LSU AgCenter nutrition agents are using it to help combat the problem. Extension agents in 10 parishes will use iPads to teach third-graders health and nutrition lessons with a program called Body Quest

(Distributed 12/06/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana’s cotton crop has been picked, baled and ginned. Large rectangular bales sitting by the fields are a common sight during the harvest season. But in some areas of the state, round bales are replacing the more familiar cotton modules.

(Distributed 12/05/12) MARINGOUIN, La. – School gardens in Point Coupee Parish can make improvements in technology thanks to a $10,000 grant to purchase needed equipment.

(Distributed 12/04/12) CROWLEY, La. – Two scientists at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station were honored Nov. 26 with named professorships. LSU AgCenter crawfish researcher Ray McClain was named to the Doyle Chambers Distinguished Professorship, and LSU AgCenter molecular biologist Herry Utomo was named to the F. Avalon Daggett Professorship in Rice Research.

(Distributed 12/04/12) SPRINGFIELD, La. – Elementary school students from Tangipahoa and Livingston parishes learned the importance of wetlands during Louisiana Wetlands Exploration Day on Nov. 29 at Tickfaw State Park.