(Video 11/12/14) Pecan producers and processing facilities are bustling, getting their crop ready for the holidays. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux gives an update on how Louisiana’s pecan crop has fared this year.

(Video 11/12/14) Sugarcane producers are a month into their harvest, and the early returns have been encouraging. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux explains why this year’s crop may set a record.

(Distributed 11/21/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – With the recent seasonal temperatures, it’s truly beginning to feel like the holiday season. And the LSU AgCenter Dairy Store has the items to make it feel that much more special.

(Distributed 11/26/14) CROWLEY, La. – Disease in rice was not as big of a problem in 2014 for most growers as in previous years, according to LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Don Groth.

(Distributed 11/26/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Students decked out in festive “ugly” Christmas sweaters gathered in the lobby of the Renewable Natural Resources building on LSU’s campus on Sunday, Nov. 23. The space was transformed into a cheerful holiday setting, with a tree lighting a dark corner, a digital fireplace roaring on a big screen and stockings hung from an aquarium with care.

(Distributed 11/26/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter has released a wheat and oat field guide that can be used to identify weeds, insect pests and diseases that affect those crops.

(Distributed 11/25/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – A group of 43 Louisiana 4-H members competed at the North American International Livestock Exposition Nov. 8-21 in Louisville, Kentucky. The students were selected at the State Fair of Louisiana in Shreveport, where they won the LSU AgCenter’s Beef and Sheep Educational Award Trip.

(Distributed 11/24/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana 4-H’ers from across the state brought home awards from the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference held in Louisville, Kentucky on November 19-20, said LSU AgCenter poultry specialist Theresia Lavergne.

(Distributed 11/24/14) HAMMOND, La. – The Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season means it’s time for poinsettias.

(Distributed 11/21/14) Over the past couple years, companies have released new pansies with trailing growth habits, and fall in Louisiana is the best time to add pansies to the landscape.

(Distributed 11/28/14) HAMMOND, La. – Your landscape can include many trees and shrubs that will provide significant color in fall and winter year after year. Although decidedly less-than-spectacular this far south, early to mid-November until early December are when the leaves of some deciduous trees turn various colors as they get ready to drop.

(Distributed 11/21/14) HAMMOND, La. – It’s hard to believe, but the LSU AgCenter Louisiana Super Plants program is now 5 years old.

(Distributed 11/21/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Winter is quickly approaching in Louisiana. In most other parts of the country, that means increased stable time, decreased riding time and significantly different nutrient requirements for our horses, said LSU AgCenter equine specialist Neely Walker.

(Distributed 11/21/14) WINNSBORO, La. – The U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act will make sweeping changes to the way food safety is handled in the United States. Congress passed the law in 2010, but the Food and Drug Administration is still writing the rules that will enforce it.

(Distributed 11/20/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Giving your Thanksgiving turkey a good rinse before cooking is something many cooks were taught to do, but LSU AgCenter nutritionist and food safety experts say washing poultry or meat can promote cross contamination.

(Distributed 11/20/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana consumers may need to pay close attention to sales and promotions on food items needed for Thanksgiving dinner this year.

(Distributed 11/20/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Just about any time of year is a good time to plant vegetable seeds in Louisiana.

(Audio 11/24/14) Nearly everything in your landscape is going dormant for the winter and no longer needs to be fertilized. This includes your lawn, trees, shrubs and most herbaceous perennials. Only fertilize those plants that will grow during the wintertime. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/24/14) Because of Louisiana’s mild winters, expect to see insects throughout the winter season. Common insects found on bedding plants and vegetables in the winter include aphids, caterpillars, snails and slugs. Listen to learn how to treat winter insects. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 11/19/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Children between the ages of 3 and 8 can get in the spirit of the holidays and increase their reading skills as they enjoy a book reading and related crafts at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden.

(Audio 11/24/14) Gardeners often grow paperwhite bulbs in containers for their first year. Plant the bulbs in potting soil with proper drainage. The bulbs should not be touching each other, and the tops of the bulbs should be exposed at the surface. Place in a shady location until they begin to sprout. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/24/14) It is almost time to move house plants back inside the house. Before moving them inside, place the plants in a shaded location for a couple of weeks and allow them to adjust to lower light conditions. Check for insects before moving them into your home. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/24/14) Fall and winter are the perfect time to plant hardy fruit trees into your landscape. Planting these trees while they are dormant will lessen the transplant shock. Listen to learn which hardy plants will not be bothered by the cold. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 11/19/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter and the American Brahman Breeders Association started the national carcass evaluation project in 2001 as a way to evaluate marbling, tenderness and yield in the Brahman breed.

(Distributed 11/18/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – As the sun was setting on Nov. 17 and temperatures were beginning their steady decline on their way to freezing, Anna McEvers set out from the warm confines of a coffee shop with a group of runners. The Varsity Sports running club meets regularly throughout the week in different locations to train together and motivate each other.

(Distributed 11//18/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter will host a poinsettia show and sale from 8 a.m. to noon on Dec. 5 at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at 4560 Essen Lane near the junction of I-10 in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 11/18/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Sugarcane is one of Louisiana’s most valuable agricultural commodities, contributing about $771 million to the economy in 2013. However, the state’s sugar industry would be about $120 million less profitable without the use of one age-old tool – fire – according to LSU AgCenter researchers.

(Distributed 11/06/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – A plant materials conference for Louisiana nursery, landscape and garden center professionals has been set for Dec. 3 at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in Baton Rouge.

(Video 11/24/14) Growing multiple plants in large containers continues to be popular for patios and porches. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how to select – or create – combination container plants that will survive and provide beauty for several seasons.

(Video 11/17/14) Most cool-season bedding plants like full sun. But on this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill points out some beautiful shade-loving plants that work great during the cooler months of fall.

BATON ROUGE, La. – A certain dress code comes to mind at the mention of a rodeo: cowboy hats, blue jeans and western boots. But by the time Block and Bridle rodeo contestants were fastening newly-won buckles to their belts on Friday, Nov. 14, goats were wearing clothes, too. It’s called the goat dress — one of several nontraditional events that took place alongside bull riding and barrel racing at the 77th annual student rodeo sponsored by the LSU College of Agriculture’s Block and Bridle Club.

(Distributed 11/14/14) This is a great time to add new trees to our landscapes. Oak trees are very popular in Louisiana landscapes, and we are familiar with the popular Southern live oak. Deciduous oaks – those that lose foliage in winter – common in Louisiana are water oak, shumard oak, southern red oak and willow oak. The one, however, with the best potential for landscape use is the nuttall oak.

(Distributed 11/14/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – As cool November temperatures arrive in Louisiana, horse owners need to make preparations to keep their horses healthy through the winter.

(Distributed 11/14/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Proper record keeping is essential for vegetable producers to verify their compliance with new Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good Handling Practices (GHPs), LSU AgCenter food safety specialist Achyut Adhikari told a recent meeting of Louisiana fruit and vegetable growers.

(Distributed 11/14/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – When bovine brucellosis was eradicated in the United States, it was a triumph for animal and veterinary scientists nationwide. LSU AgCenter scientist Phil Elzer was one of the researchers who had worked for years to create a vaccine for the bacterial disease, which devastates livestock and wildlife.

(Distributed 11/14/14) HAMMOND, La. – Since the debut of a landscape horticulture research and extension program at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station eight years ago, we have continued to expand the gardens supporting research. One of the largest efforts each year is evaluating new annual warm-season bedding plants and perennial flowers in the sun garden and shade garden.

(Distributed 11/13/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Early freezing temperatures this year are causing concern among Louisiana homeowners and gardeners.

(Distributed 11/13/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – A conference to address a statewide farm-to-school initiative has recently been funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm to School Grant Program.

(Distributed 11/12/14) OPELOUSAS, La. -- It’s not too early to start preparing spring pastures by attacking weeds and addressing fertility issues, LSU AgCenter experts advised Thursday (Nov. 6) at a beef cattle producer program.

(Distributed 11/12/14) SHREVEPORT, La. – As the weather cools off and the holidays get closer, “we buy pecans” signs are cropping up at gas stations and small stores along Louisiana highways. Pecan harvest started about three weeks ago and will run through late December.

(Audio 11/17/14) Do not waste leaves that fall from shade trees this time of year. Save money by putting down two inches of leaves, and then putting your favorite mulch on top of the leaves. Create a compost bin to store leaves through the winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/17/14) A wide variety of herbs are cold-hardy and may be planted during this time of the year. Herbs planted in the fall will be far more productive than herbs planted in the spring. Listen to learn which herbs enjoy being planted in fall and winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/17/14) Do not harvest broccoli according to the size of the head. Instead, look at the flower buds in the head. When the largest flower buds are the size of a kitchen match, it is time to harvest the broccoli. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/17/14) Amaryllis bulbs are easy to grow inside, but are also beautiful garden plants. Grow the bulbs in containers on a sunny window sill and water regularly. Around April, you may move the plant into a sunny location in your garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/17/14) Ornamental cabbage and ornamental kale can brighten your garden during fall and winter. These vegetable plants will produce a variety of colorful leaves in the heart of the plant. Buy young plants from your local nursery and fertilize generously. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 11/12/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – There are probably few places in the world where purple and gold ice cream is a perfectly normal thing. LSU, of course, is one of them. Tiger Bite, which is made of golden vanilla ice cream and blueberries, is just one of about 30 flavors of ice cream made by students at the LSU AgCenter Dairy Store on the LSU campus.

(Distributed 11/11/14) CROWLEY, La. – Hybrid development at the Rice Research Station continues to make progress under hybrid rice breeders Jim Oard and Weike Li.

(Distributed 11/07/14) Oaks are one of our most popular landscape trees. Almost everyone is familiar with the Southern live oak, but we have an abundance of other oak trees – largely deciduous – that are recommended for Louisiana. The willow oak (Quercus phellos) has been named a Louisiana Super Plant.

(Distributed 11/07/14) HAMMOND, La. – Whether renovating an existing landscape or starting from scratch, we need to remember that soil pH and proper bed preparation will be essential in assuring top performance of our ornamental plants.

(Distributed 11/06/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Sharing our Southern Roots was the theme of the regional Master Gardener meeting Oct. 21-24 in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 11/06/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – An interdisciplinary and inter-institutional program to develop novel plant traits and new varieties will provide opportunities for scientists to meet future needs in crop production, said Rogers Leonard, LSU AgCenter associate vice chancellor and program leader for plant and soil sciences.

(Audio 11/10/14) Camellias come from the tea family. The leading insect pest of camellias is known as the tea scale. Symptoms include a white fuzzy material on the back of the leaf and yellow blotches on the upper surface of the leaf. Listen to learn how to treat the tea scale. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/10/14) Louisiana gardeners tend to focus on spring flower beds, but cool-season bedding plants can be just as colorful throughout the winter. Replace warm-season bedding plants with cool-season plants such as pansies, violas, and snapdragons. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/10/14) Warm-season shade plants in flower beds should be replaced with cool-season plants during this time of the year. When choosing bedding plants for fall, be aware of the amount of sunlight the area will receive. Listen to learn which shade plants will do best in a full shade, partial shade or no-shade location. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/10/14) Now is the time to purchase and plant spring bulbs. In order to have blooming bulbs in the spring, they have to have the winter growing season to do well. Make sure to plant bulbs in a sunny, well-drained location. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/10/14) Homegrown lettuce is easy to grow. The quality of lettuce you receive from your own vegetable garden is superior to lettuce found in any supermarket. Harvest lettuce by simply taking the largest leaves off each plant or by cutting the entire plant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 11/04/14) FRANKLINTON, La. – On 832 acres that stretch over softly sloped hills, black and white dairy cows graze in the sunshine and rest in the shade beneath huge trees. Picturesque as it sounds, this isn’t a painting or a postcard.

(Distributed 11/04/14) BATON ROUGE, La – Louis Fournet was thinking of moving. He suffers from allergies and has a hard time finding relief in Louisiana’s humid climate. A visit to the LSU AgCenter LaHouse Home and Landscape Resource Center’s seasonal open house may have changed his mind.

(For Release On Or After 11/28/14) A variety of spring-flowering bulbs can be grown in containers for indoor display. Two bulbs, paperwhites and amaryllis, do not need much special treatment and are very easy to grow in pots.

(For Release On Or After 11/21/14) I wish more gardeners understood that fall is a primary planting season in Louisiana. For years horticulturists have tried to get the word out that November through February is the ideal time to plant hardy trees, shrubs, vines and ground covers in the landscape.

(For Release On Or After 11/07/14) Many plants seem to save up all summer for the spectacular display of flowers, fruit and foliage showing up in our gardens now. If you want to punch up the color level in your garden from October through December, here are some trees, shrubs and perennials you might consider including in your landscape.

(For Release On Or After 11/14/14) November is a great time to remove summer bedding plants and add cool-season bedding plants to your flower beds.

(Distributed 11/03/14) ARNAUDVILLE, La – Louisiana sugarcane farmers in the midst of the 2014 harvest are benefitting from good weather that has made conditions easier to get their crop out of the fields, according to LSU AgCenter experts.

(Distributed 11/03/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Laurel wilt, a devastating disease of a number of Louisiana trees in the Lauraceae family, has recently been confirmed in sassafras trees in Union Parish.

(Distributed 11/03/14) The Camelot series foxglove (Digitalis) is seed-propagated and includes four colors – Camelot Cream, Camelot White, Camelot Rose and Camelot Lavender.

(Distributed 11/03/14) HAMMOND, La. – Japanese maples have the potential to be one of the most outstanding small trees for specimen plantings and focal-point use in residential landscapes in the Southeast. And fall and winter are the best time of the year to add Japanese maples to the landscape.

(Audio 11/3/14) Although the cold weather is moving in, you can still plant vegetables in your garden during November. Focus on leafy greens, root crops, and onions. Listen to learn which vegetables will do well during the winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/3/14) As we move into early winter, you may notice that your evergreen shrubs have leaves that are turning yellow and are falling off of the plant. A whole generation of leaves may die at one time and be shed. Evergreens will continue to shed leaves into the spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/3/14) Perennials come back every year and provide color in our gardens. Perennials may turn brown and looked tired during this time of the year. Feel free to cut back the plants that have new growth around the bottom. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/3/14) Deciduous trees will begin to drop most of their leaves in November. A heavy coating of leaves on your lawn is not healthy for your grass. Remove leaves from your lawn and use them to mulch your flower beds. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/3/14) Cooler weather will cause your chrysanthemums to last longer. Make sure to buy domed-shaped mums, or garden mums, that have a lot of unopened buds. Garden mums will live in your garden and bloom for years to come. (Runtime: 60 seconds)