(Video News 02/23/12) Thousands of youth with their cows, sheep, pigs and chickens in tow attended the LSU AgCenter’s 77th annual livestock show. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard was there. (Runtime: 1:42)

(Video News 02/13/12) In southwest Louisiana, salt water is contaminating surface water, which is making rice farming difficult. Winter rainfall is helping alleviate the problem, but as LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports, regular rains must continue if the problem is going to be solved. (Runtime: 1:48)

(Video News 02/07/12) Safer, fresher, more healthful food is the focus of much of the research of LSU AgCenter food scientists. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that researchers are working on ways to up the nutritional content of popular foods while improving quality. (Runtime: 1:48)

(Video News 02/20/12) Spring, with its warmer weather, generally kicks off crawfish season, but the harvests starts in winter. Production has been slow so far this year, but LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that the catch could improve. (Runtime: 1:50)

(Video 2/13/12) The cool season still offers more time to plant hardy plants into your landscape. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill recommends an unusual hybrid plant that has a tropical look. (Runtime: 1:49)

(Video 2/20/12) There are hundreds of species of scented geraniums. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to one that has a nice lemon fragrance and the ability to keep mosquitoes away. (Runtime: 1:40)

(Video 2/27/12) If you’re searching for a tough, shade-loving plant with nice shiny leaves, ligularia might be the plant for you. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains why it’s a good selection for Louisiana landscapes. (Runtime: 1:35)

(Distributed 02/24/12) The LSU AgCenter is offering three updated guides online or printed about managing pests, plant diseases and weeds. The guides – the 2012 Louisiana Insect Pest Management Guide, 2012 Louisiana Plant Disease Management Guide and 2012 Louisiana Suggested Weed Management Guide – can be purchased for $12 per printed copy or downloaded free of charge.

(Distributed 02/29/12) A weekend full of food, flowers and fun is scheduled for Baton Rouge on March 24-25 when the LSU AgCenter presents the 10th Annual Baton Rouge Spring Garden Show, the sixth Annual Louisiana State and Regional Chili Cook-off and the third annual Baton Rouge Spring Car Show.

(Distributed 02/28/12) Thirteen youth from around the state have been selected for the LSU AgCenter’s 2012-2013 Louisiana Young Ag Producers Program.

(Audio 02/27/12) Cool-season weeds are active in lawns, flower beds and vegetable gardens this time of the year. You don't want to allow these weeds to flower and set seeds. Get rid of them as best you can to keep them under control. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/27/12) Spring-flowering bulbs can add a lot to our landscapes. Many of these do not re-bloom well in our climate. These bulbs should be pulled up and discarded. Bulbs such as narcissus and daffodils will bloom again, however, and can be kept. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/27/12) This is a good time to fertilize roses. Roses that are fertilized perform better and produce larger, more attractive flowers. You generally can use an all-purpose fertilizer to get the job done. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 02/28/12) HAMMOND, La. – The 23rd annual Florida Parishes Forestry Forum be held Friday, March 16, at the University Center at Southeastern Louisiana University.

(Radio News 02/24/12) Garden shows happening across Louisiana in March and April offer gardeners opportunities to learn, get inspired and shop. (Runtime: 1:25)

(Distributed 02/24/12) “Get Your Plate in Shape” is the theme for the annual March National Nutrition Month, according to Beth Reames, LSU AgCenter nutritionist. The “plate” refers to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ChooseMyPlate.gov website, which provides nutritional advice to help people live a healthier lifestyle and lose weight.

(Distributed 02/24/12) YOUNGSVILLE, La. – The prosperity of many small, rural communities rises and falls with agriculture, and that sector of the economy had a $7.3 billion impact in Louisiana last year, according to Mike Salassi, LSU AgCenter economist.

(Distributed 02/24/12) Home gardeners need to increase their knowledge and awareness of cultural practices recommended for roses in our landscapes. February and March is the time of the year to get started with your rose garden maintenance.

(Distributed 02/24/12) The Louisiana delta is known for its sprawling and fertile fields, and it’s where Hank Rabb has spent a lifetime working the land watching corn, cotton and soybeans grow into a bountiful harvest. For his dedication, Rabb was chosen as the 2012 Louisiana Farmer of the Year.

(Distributed 2/18/12) The LSU AgCenter honored several Louisiana 4-H and FFA participants Saturday (Feb. 18) for their work with youth livestock projects. The awards to one volunteer and five young people were presented during ceremonies that concluded the 77th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. The event ran Feb. 11-18 and attracted approximately 2,500 young people who exhibited about 7,000 animals.

DELCAMBRE, La. – A free workshop sponsored by the LSU AgCenter to help seafood producers get their products to market and to comply with regulations will be March 1 at the Shrimp Festival building.

(Audio 02/27/12) Herbicides are divided into two groups: pre-emergence and post-emergence. Pre-emergence herbicides are applied before weeds sprout. Early March is the ideal time to apply a pre-emergence herbicide over lawns and in flower beds. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/27/12) March is an active month in the home vegetable garden. You can begin planting warm-season vegetables, especially in southern areas of the state. Tomatoes and peppers can be transplanted later in the month. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 02/23/12) Thirty men and women from four parishes graduated from the inaugural Leadership North program in New Roads on Feb. 16.

LAKE CHARLES, La. – The 13th annual Southwest Louisiana Garden Festival will be held March 23-24 at Burton Coliseum from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

(Radio News 02/22/12) Oinks and squeals provided the soundtrack as John Boughton showed his pig Blackie at the 77th LSU AgCenter Livestock Show. Boughton and youth from across the state put in the daily effort to raise their animals and prepare them for showing. (Runtime: 1:50)

(Distributed 02/20/12) GONZALES, La. – Hundreds of young people from across Louisiana were named state champions during the 77th Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show Feb. 11-18 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.

(Distributed 02/20/12) GONZALES, La. – Six exceptional Louisiana youths were recognized Saturday (Feb. 18) for their knowledge, skills and communication abilities as they were named winners of the Gerry Lane Premier Exhibitor Awards at the 77th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.

(Distributed 02/17/12) The LSU AgCenter and the St. Tammany Master Gardeners will hold their annual garden show and plant sale March 16-17 at the St. Tammany Fairgrounds in Covington.

Distributed 02/17/12) The Hammond Spring Garden Day is set for March 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station.

(Audio 02/20/12) Organic matter recommended for use in gardening is generally derived from plant parts. It's important for bed preparation because it improves soil structure and drainage and releases nutrients into the soil. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 02/17/12) Landscapes around the state are in various stages of their spring awakening, but it is still February. With our unusually warm January and February, we’re seeing flower buds opening and foliage growth commencing ahead of schedule.

(Radio News 02/16/12) Louisiana has had an unseasonably warm winter. Warm weather coupled with a steady amount of rain could lead to more disease problems on crops earlier in the season. (Runtime: 1:30)

(Distributed 02/15/12) The LSU AgCenter and the Tangipahoa Parish Master Gardener Association will hold a home orchard workshop at the Hammond Research Station on Feb. 24, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

(Distributed 2/15/12) DENHAM SPRINGS, La. – For the past 10 years, first- through fifth-grade students at Southside Elementary School have shown their jump rope skills in support of the American Heart Association.

(Audio 02/20/12) If you've had a bag of fertilizer for a long time, and you are wondering if it is still good, chances are it is. Fertilizer doesn't lose its potency over time. It can, however, absorb moisture from the air if not sealed properly. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/20/12) Some plants prefer shade, others prefer full sun. Gardeners know that the amount of sunlight a plant needs to thrive must match its growing situation. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/20/12) February is a good month to divide perennials. You may need to divide perennials when the clump has gotten too big or has lost vigor. It's best to do this when they are dormant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/20/12) Gladiolus corms can be planted early in the year. Buy them in the nursery when they become available, and plant them in a sunny location. Stagger the planting to get the best results. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 02/14/12) A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the greatest percentage of sodium in our diets doesn’t come from salty snacks but rather from bread. LSU AgCenter nutritionist Beth Reames explains why. (Runtime: 1:20 seconds)

(Distributed 02/13/12) BOSSIER CITY, La. – The LSU AgCenter will conduct a free seminar on growing tomatoes in greenhouses on March 2 from 1-5 p.m. at the Red River Research Station. Topics include growing viable transplants, variety selection, innovative ideas for profitable production, and pests and physiological disorders.

(Radio News 02/10/12) The heart is in focus in February during American Heart Month. Women are encouraged to take steps to prevent heart disease, which kills more women than any other disease says Beth Reames, an LSU AgCenter nutritionist. (Runtime: 1:20)

(Radio News 02/09/12) LSU AgCenter researchers are working on ways to make crawfish production less expensive and more efficient. Bait is a major expense of crawfish production and harvesting. While crawfish harvesting can start as early as November or December, attracting crawfish is more difficult in colder waters, says LSU AgCenter aquaculture specialist Robert Romaire. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/13/12) Fire blight is a rare bacterial disease that can affect plants in our landscapes. Pears and apples have problems with the disease. Some ornamentals such as Indian hawthorn also are susceptible. Control is difficult, so prune off any signs of this disease. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/13/12) Ground covers are low-growing plants, such as monkey grass, used to cover large areas of a landscape. They are evergreen, but should be cut back from time to time. February and March are good times to do this task. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 02/08/12) It’s been a poor start to Louisiana’s crawfish harvest. Drought in the summer and fall led to low survival and reproduction of crawfish. Those that did survive were slow to emerge from their burrows. But as demand picks up this month, there is optimism that so will the catch. (Runtime: 1:50)

(Distributed 02/10/12) Ground covers are very popular landscape plants in Louisiana. The percentage of all ornamental plants sold in the state in the ground cover category is much higher than in other southern states. Our most common ground cover is liriope.

(Distributed 02/10/12) Two former presidents and the current president of the Institute of Food Technologists will be featured at the 2012 Louisiana Food Processors Conference March 14-15 in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 0202/12) Students in Tallulah experience 4-H with a technology twist

(Distributed 02/09/12) ALEXANDRIA, La. – The LSU AgCenter will hold a forestry forum Feb. 23 at the evacuation shelter adjacent to the LSU-Alexandria campus.

(Distributed 02/09/12) As high-speed (broadband) Internet connections are being made available to rural areas of Louisiana, the LSU AgCenter is preparing residents to take advantage of this resource through the Connect My Louisiana educational program.

(Distributed 02/09/12) BATON ROUGE, La. – TransGenRx, a Baton Rouge biopharmaceutical manufacturing company started through licensing agreements with the LSU AgCenter, announced recently that it entered into an agreement with Novocyt, LLC to produce several members of a family of growth factor proteins intended for use in new human biopharmaceuticals.

(Distributed 02/09/12) Durel Romaine started harvesting crawfish in December, and so far the catch has been dismal. His ponds near Kaplan have been affected by drought and saltwater intrusion.

(Distributed 02/08/12) Show your Valentine how much you care by surprising her or him with a special treat – luscious red fruit.

(Distributed 02/08/12) NEW ROADS, La. – More than 70 LSU AgCenter county agents, Master Gardeners, parents and teachers heard a California gardener tell about the benefits of school gardens and how to get them started and sustaining them.

(Audio 02/13/12) Some of our spring-flowering bulbs actually bloom during the winter, but many wait until March and April. If a late freeze threatens, don't worry about their foliage, but you should cut any flowers that are blooming. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/13/12/) Caladiums are great plants for shady areas. April is a good time to plant caladium tubers into your landscape. You can get a head start with your tubers by planting them in flats. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 02/06/12) Durel Romaine farms rice and crawfish around Kaplan. Saltwater intrusion has been a problem for him and other farmers who rely on fresh water from the Mermentau Basin for their crops. Recent rainfall that drenched the southwestern part of the state was badly needed, but farmers say they still could use more. (Runtime: 1:55)

(Distributed 02/05/12) By February many people may have abandoned their New Year’s resolutions to live healthier. LSU AgCenter food scientists can’t make you go to the gym or eat more fruits and vegetables, but they are trying to make foods more healthful.

(Distributed 02/03/12) The LSU Board of Supervisors approved the merger of the LSU AgCenter’s Department of Veterinary Science into the School of Animal Sciences at its meeting Feb. 3.

(Distributed 02/03/12) When the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map in January, it prompted quite a bit of conversation in the horticultural world. The new map had been long-awaited and was the first update since 1990. It indicates the average minimum winter temperatures for all areas of the United States.

(Distributed 02/03/12) February, American Heart Month, signals the importance of taking steps to prevent heart disease, the No. 1 killer of women.

(Distributed 02/01/12) NAPOLEONVILLE, La. – Landowners and farmers learned about controlling animal pests, especially coyotes and wild pigs, at a field day held recently (Jan. 23) by the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant .

(Distributed 02/02/12) The LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station plays a vital role in the horticulture and landscape industries of the state, according to Regina Bracy, resident coordinator at the station.

(For Release On Or After 02/24/12) Using ground cover plantings in landscapes is becoming increasing popular. Areas planted with ground covers establish landscape effects that are impossible to create with grass – and generally require far less maintenance.

(For Release On Or After 02/17/12) Now is an appropriate time to prune summer-flowering trees and shrubs. This includes such trees as crape myrtles, vitex, pomegranate, mimosa, tung tree, elderberry and parkinsonia, and shrubs such as abelia, buddleia, althea, hibiscus, tibouchina, indigo, Turk’s cap, Confederate rose, oleander, fire bush, duranta, Mexican heather, buttonbush, and thryallis.

(For Release On Or After 02/10/12) Around the world, there is no better loved or more recognizable flower in the plant kingdom than the rose. It you are thinking about adding roses to your garden, here’s some information that will help you get them off to a good start.

(For Release On Or After 02/03/12) Last fall, the LSU AgCenter announced three outstanding Louisiana Super Plant selections for Louisiana landscapes. If you haven’t planted them yet, February is an excellent time to add these beautiful plants to your gardens.

(Audio 02/06/12) Not many plants are sold with bare roots, but you can still find roses sold this way. They are highly perisable. You must plant bare-root roses this month while they are still dormant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/06/12) Louisiana celebrated Arbor Day last month, but February is still a good time to plant trees. Planting now allows trees to settle in and send out roots before summer starts. Hear more to learn how to plant a tree. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/06/12) Louisiana gardeners looking to plant cool-season bedding plants in shady areas have a few options. Among plants that will take colder temperatures and less sunshine are cyclamen and primroses. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 02/06/12) February is a good month to prune a variety of hardy fruit trees. It's important to remember that different types of trees are pruned differently. So learn how to properly prune the trees you have. (Runtime: 60 seconds)