(Distributed October 2005) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. John Pyzner says some of the state's pecan orchards suffered damage from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, but harvesting still is expected to move forward.

(Distributed October 2005) Homeowners have two types of fertilizer spreaders available for use on their lawns: rotary spreaders and drop spreaders.

(Distributed October 2005) A properly maintained rotary tiller will give the best performance and longevity, according to an engineer with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed October 2005) Homeowners and gardeners often move materials around their property with wheelbarrows and garden carts. They’re handy for hauling bags of fertilizer or mulch, plants, tools, trash or bulk materials like soil, sand, gravel or compost.

(Distributed October 2005) Most people in the Gulf Coast area understand the value of home generators to keep power in their homes when hurricanes strike. Further from the coast, home generators are useful when ice or snow knocks down power lines.

(Distributed 10/25/05) Gerald Roberts, an LSU AgCenter and Southern University county agent in St. Landry Parish, said being chosen as 2005’s Mr. Yam punctuates his 29-year career of service to sweet potato growers in the area.

(Distributed October 2005) The aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita is a wake-up call for all whose homes were spared. It’s a vivid reminder of the importance of making your home stronger, safer and smarter, according to LSU AgCenter housing specialist Dr. Claudette Reichel.

(Distributed October 2005) Many people are surprised about the extent of protection their homeowner's insurance policy offers. Although your policy may not cover flood damage to your home, it does offer some protection from loss due to natural disasters, such as hurricanes, according to LSU AgCenter family economics professor Dr. Ann Berry.

(For Release On Or After 10/07/05) It seems that everywhere you look in October you see chrysanthemums blooming. Widely available and relatively inexpensive, they are almost indispensable for providing quick color to the fall landscape.

(For Release On Or After 10/28/05) In the South, the term "greens" refers to vegetables whose leaves are eaten when cooked until tender. During the cool fall season, mustard, turnips, collards and other greens flourish in the vegetable garden.

(For Release On Or After 10/21/05) As the weather cools down and nights get nippy over the next few weeks, gardeners need to decide what to do with their outdoor tropical plants that are in containers.

(For Release On Or After 10/14/05) Like most gardeners, I occasionally love to seize the moment and plant something on a whim. But for spring flowering bulbs, that approach simply isn’t practical.

(Distributed 10/05/05) Hurricane Rita dealt a second blow to Louisiana’s nursery, landscape and retail garden center businesses, known collectively as the "Green Industry," according to experts with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 10/28/05) LSU AgCenter experts say soil contamination in Jefferson and Orleans parishes from flooding after this summer’s hurricanes may not be as serious as originally feared. Those experts say initial results of tests conducted in October indicate no need for special preparations to the soils prior to planting and that there should be no danger for individuals digging or planting in the soil.

(Distributed 10/25/05) Louisiana citrus is another of the state’s agricultural crops heavily damaged by the hurricanes this year. Officials say some Louisiana citrus will be available despite the devastation brought by Hurricane Katrina to southeastern Louisiana, but they warn it will be at a premium.

(Distributed 10/20/05) Many lawnmowers, string trimmers, leaf blowers and other lawn and garden equipment with small engines were underwater during the flooding from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

(Distributed 10/19/05) The LSU AgCenter recently established a toll-free phone system to help Louisiana citizens obtain information about recovering from the disasters and damages created by recent hurricanes. The LSU AgCenter Disaster Recovery Hotline can be reached by dialing 866-573-0178.

(Distributed 10/18/05) LSU AgCenter faculty members are working on plans to put the Formosan subterranean termite research project in New Orleans’ French Quarter back on track after the recent hurricanes.

(Distributed 10/28/05) The LSU AgCenter’s Reproductive Biology Center recently received full accreditation from the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC International). The accreditation certifies this AgCenter research unit is providing the highest quality care of the animals used in its research program and is accountable in maintaining a standard of excellence, said Richard Denniston, coordinator of the unit.

(Distributed 10/12/05) A scourge of New Orleans and South Louisiana could find its way to other parts of the state and country if people move wood that’s infested with Formosan subterranean termites.

(Distributed 10/27/05) Farmers attending workshops in Acadia and Calcasieu parishes Tuesday (Oct. 25) learned about assistance for dealing with hardships caused by two hurricanes that struck the state this summer. Similar sessions, organized by the LSU AgCenter, were planned for New Iberia, Hammond and Raceland over the next few days.

(Distributed 10/05/05) The LSU AgCenter’s Community Leadership and Economic Development Program was recognized by the International Economic Development Council late last month for its outstanding achievements.

(Distributed 10/19/05) The LSU AgCenter will present several workshops in South Louisiana to help farmers recover from hurricanes Rita and Katrina, with the first sessions set for Tuesday (Oct. 25) in Acadia and Calcasieu parishes.

(Distributed 10/20/05) Don’t give up was the message from one state’s 4-H’er to those in Louisiana who were affected by the recent hurricanes. To stress that message, 4-H’ers from across North Carolina collected school supplies, toiletries and stuffed animals for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The items were packed into "Boxes of Hope" that arrived in Louisiana Monday (Oct. 17).

(Distributed 10/06/05) Will the grass come back and how long will it be before vegetable gardens can be planted were questions on the minds of LSU AgCenter faculty members who recently toured the New Orleans area.

(Distributed 10/21/05) There will be trees from the Shady Pond Christmas Tree Farm northeast of New Orleans this year – thanks in large part to some help from fellow growers from North Carolina.

(Distributed 10/05/05) 4-H’ers at Zachary Elementary School had their own Election Day Wednesday (Oct. 5) as students selected 4-H officers for the 2005-06 school year with the same voting machines their parents use to elect national and state officials.

(Distributed 10/13/05) Cattle, goats, horses, pigs and sheep surviving Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita are vulnerable to several diseases, including infectious diseases and toxicities, according to a veterinarian with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 10/06/05) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns made a brief stop at a storm-damaged farm in Calcasieu Parish Wednesday morning (Oct. 5) to learn how Hurricane Rita devastated the region’s agriculture.

(Distributed 10/20/05) Recent hurricanes may have obliterated your house, your job and likely even the property values in your area – leaving you with the feeling that the only things still intact are your mortgage and other debts.

(Distributed 10/21/05) The LSU AgCenter soon will begin comprehensive tests for salt contamination in areas of Vermilion Parish hit by Hurricane Rita’s storm surge, but officials this week said the problem may not be as bad as originally feared.

(Distributed 10/06/05) A breeze is blowing through storm-beaten pecan trees in Ben Littlepage’s 300-acre orchard near Colfax. The trees are almost leafless, and there’s about a handful of pecans left on one very large native tree.

(Distributed 10/06/05) Fire ants can be a serious problem after hurricanes – particularly in flooded areas, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 10/06/05) The recent hurricane-related weather experienced throughout much of Louisiana can cause a number of problems for pond owners, including poor water quality and fish kills from low oxygen or disease, experts with the LSU AgCenter caution.

(Distributed 10/13/05) The LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana House Home and Landscape Resource Center will open its doors each Friday this fall for mid-construction open houses designed to display some of its advanced construction features.

(Distributed 10/25/05) The LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana House Home and Landscape Resource Center is giving the public opportunities to see aspects of its stronger, safer and smarter construction.

(Distributed 10/25/05) Although the latest strain of avian influenza, H5N1, has not been detected in the United States, an LSU AgCenter poultry specialist says bird owners should do all they can to protect their flocks. Another expert says hunters also can take precautions.

(Distributed 10/12/05) With hundreds of square miles of standing water in Louisiana, LSU AgCenter entomologists advise homeowners to protect themselves from being exposed to the unusually heavy populations of mosquitoes following hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

(Distributed 10/12/05) Vermilion Parish rice farmer David Lacour emerged from a rice bin recently, covered in sweat and dust.

(Distributed October 2005) Do you just park your lawn mower or string trimmer in the shed at the end of the season and hope it will start next spring?

(Distributed October 2005) Trick-or-treaters these days enjoy non-food treats as well as candy for Halloween. So, this year, think beyond the usual sweets, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed October 2005) October is a last chance to start a full vegetable garden, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

(Distributed October 2005) Sweet potatoes are a perfect choice for the health-conscious consumer. They add valuable nutrients and color to any meal, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed October 2005) Storms may damage turf directly by flooding or indirectly by wind debris. "In either case, this is not a good time to regrow grass," says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

(Distributed October 2005) Those who survive hurricanes and other natural disasters are at risk for behavioral and emotional readjustment problems. Most child and adult survivors experience one or more normal stress reactions for several days after a natural disaster.

(Distributed October 2005) When you’re under stress, one of your best defenses is good health. To keep your body healthy, it’s important to eat nutritious foods and be physically active, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed October 2005) Children's reactions to disaster depend on their age and maturity. Their responses also are affected by how close they are to the event, their level of exposure to it through TV and how they see their parents react.

(Distributed October 2005) Thousands of Louisiana residents are facing home rebuilding or repairs in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. "Selecting a competent contractor to make home repairs is one of the most important things you will need to do to put your home and life back in order," says AgCenter family economics professor Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

(Distributed October 2005) In observance of October as National Seafood month, LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames says that consuming approximately two servings of fish per week (about 8 ounces total) may reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

(Distributed October 2005) If you rent or lease an apartment, house or business building and the structure is damaged in a natural disaster, read your lease carefully to determine what you need to do regarding damages, terminating the lease, securing temporary housing and other matters, advises LSU AgCenter family economics professor Dr. Ann Berry.

(Distribtued October 2005) After crises like hurricanes Katrina and Rita, your life will never be the same. Many of us survived this natural disaster, but much of what we care about may be lost.

(Distributed October 2005) After a disaster strikes, whether it is a hurricane, flood or tornado, you could find yourself without a job and needing a source of income. The Louisiana Department of Labor responds to disasters with unemployment insurance benefits and disaster unemployment assistance.

(Distributed October 2005) To help educators and caregivers help youth cope with the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the LSU AgCenter 4-H Youth Development program is reviewing and recommending curriculum materials that emphasize hands-on activities.

(Distributed October 2005) When young people help others, they tend to make positive lifestyle choices. Evidence is mounting on the benefits on youth involved in community service, says LSU AgCenter 4-H youth volunteer expert Dr. Janet Fox.

(Distributed October 2005) As hurricane evacuees are allowed to return to their homes, LSU AgCenter family economics professor Dr. Ann Berry makes several recommendations for filing insurance claims.

(Distributed October 2005) New guidelines have been developed for those who were eligible for the Food Stamp Program before hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as for those who may have become eligible because of the storms.

(Distributed October 2005) Your child may continue to be fearful following hurricanes Katrina and Rita because of the uncertainty of your future. A child can mix up real fear and make-believe fear. This is OK, according to LSU AgCenter family professor Dr. Rebecca White.