(Distributed 12/23/13) HAMMOND, La. – Happy New Year! It is time for new projects, new resolutions and making plans for another gardening season in Louisiana. We may not realize how fully blessed we are in this great state to be able to grow some of the landscape plants that are available to us.

(Distributed 12/20/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – For all major agricultural commodities, 2013 was a good year, making it the second year in a row Louisiana farmers saw high yields and good prices, according to LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry.

(Distributed 12/20/13) Trailing type pansies were new to the market in 2012. The development of these pansies involved more than 10 years of breeding.

(Distributed 12/20/13) HAMMOND, La. – Arbor Day, in Louisiana the third Friday in January, is designated as a day for planting trees. In Louisiana, January is considered the best month to do this.

(Distributed 12/20/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU AgCenter researchers are trying to determine if using unmanned aerial vehicles, sometimes known as drones, can help farmers monitor their crops for potential problems.

(Distributed 12/19/13) CROWLEY, La. – The LSU AgCenter will conduct a series of rice clinics in January throughout the rice-growing areas of Louisiana to help farmers get ready for the upcoming crop year.

(Distributed 12/18/13) BOSSIER CITY, La. – A team of water resource experts will be based at the LSU AgCenter Red River Research Station to help farmers manage irrigation and maintain the quality of water associated with agricultural activities.

(Distributed 12/17/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Two international scientists recently completed projects they’ve been working on in LSU AgCenter labs for the past three months as part of the Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program.

(Distributed 12/16/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Faculty and staff members at the LSU AgCenter and the Southern University Agricultural Center received awards for exceptional extension and research programs at a joint annual conference on Dec. 16-17.

(Distributed 12/16/13) Pines are one of the many great native tree species in Louisiana. Several species of pine trees are native to our state.

(Distributed 12/13/13) HAMMOND, La. – Louisiana iris is our state wildflower. Five species of these native plants are collectively referred to as Louisiana irises – Iris brevicaulis, Iris fulva, Iris giganticaerulea, Iris hexagona and Iris nelsonii. All five species occur in south Louisiana.

(Distributed 12/12/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – The deadline for nominations for the 2014 Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction has been extended through Dec. 30. Application or nomination forms can be obtained online at www.LSUAgCenter.com/AgHallofDistinction or at any LSU AgCenter parish extension office.

(Distributed 12/12/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – A group of 34 Louisiana 4-H members joined more than 1,000 delegates from across the United States to participate in the National 4-H Congress Nov. 29-Dec. 3 in Atlanta.

(Distributed 12/11/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – As congress moves toward its holiday recess, Louisiana farmers are left waiting to see what the new year will bring in terms of a new farm bill.

(Distributed 12/09/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Attendees at the recent Louisiana Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association meeting heard presentations on new ways of marketing their products and how to avoid liability on the farm and in the marketplace during the winter meeting at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens on Dec. 4.

(Distributed 12/09/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Every year 4-H members from across the state look forward to the Louisiana 4-H educational awards trip, said LSU AgCenter youth development instructor Tanya Giroir.

(Distributed 12/06/13) ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Eric Webster, LSU AgCenter weed scientist, was honored here Dec. 5 with the Rice Industry Award at the USA Rice Federation’s Outlook Conference. Also honored was Elton Kennedy, Louisiana rice grower and rice mill owner.

(Distributed 12/06/13) The Chinese pistache (Pistachio chinensis) is a medium-sized ornamental shade tree known for spectacular orange, red and crimson fall foliage colors.

(Distributed 12/06/13) HAMMOND, La. – Amaryllis is a popular holiday plant. Bulbs are commonly available from November to late December. Forcing them to bloom during winter is not difficult, and the results are beautiful.

(Distributed 12/05/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Drought conditions in most of the cattle-producing states during portions of the past three years are influencing current price and future prices of beef, according to LSU AgCenter economist Ross Pruitt.

(Distributed 12/04/13) PORT ALLEN, La. – South Louisiana grain farmers are expected to benefit from the presence of a new tenant at the Port of Baton Rouge, according to LSU AgCenter economist Mike Salassi.

(Distributed 12/03/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – The annual forestry forum held in conjunction with the AgExpo at the West Monroe Convention Center is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon on Jan. 17.

(Distributed 12/04/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – A team of researchers from the Center for Natural Resource Economics and Policy in the LSU AgCenter Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness has received a three-year award of more than $750,000 to study the value of the environmental monitoring system in the Gulf of Mexico.

(Distributed 12/03/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Burden Museums and Gardens has planned a day of family fun with a variety of activities and Smokey Bear at the fourth annual Arbor Day celebration on Jan. 18 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

(Distributed 12/02/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – An LSU AgCenter rice geneticist has obtained a $450,000 federal grant to improve American rice varieties with tolerance to saltwater and drought.

(Distributed 12/02/13) New to the plant market a few years ago is the great October Magic series of Camellia hiemalis developed by Bobby Green of Green Nurseries in Fairhope, Ala.

(Distributed 12/01/13) HAMMOND, La. – Winter is here, and this time of year brings questions about protecting landscape plants during the cold months of December, January and February.