(Distributed 02/21/06) Will the South American rice leaf miner be affected by salt water pushed ashore by Hurricane Rita? LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Boris Castro said it’s possible the rice pest’s population could have been weakened by the high salinity, but there’s no way of knowing yet.

(Distributed 02/21/06) With most of the citrus groves in Plaquemines Parish destroyed by last fall’s hurricanes, growers in the Lafourche-Terrebonne area are preparing to fill part of that market niche.

(Distributed 02/21/06) South Louisiana rice fields contaminated with salt from Hurricane Rita’s storm surge have shown some improvements, although not as much as expected, and salinity levels actually have increased in some sugarcane fields.

(Distributed 02/21/06) "I’ve never won anything in my life," cried Tasha Miller. But her day had come. Miller, a 4-H volunteer from New Orleans who lost her home in Hurricane Katrina, was one of 10 who won a 2006 Toyota Prius hybrid from NBA star Amare Stoudemire.

(Distributed 02/20/06) Hundreds of young people from across Louisiana were named state champions during a week of competition at the 71st Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show.

(Distributed 02/18/06) The LSU AgCenter honored a group of outstanding volunteer leaders and 4-H and FFA members Saturday (Feb. 18) for their work with youth livestock projects.

(Distributed 02/18/06) Top exhibitors of market animals received scholastic premiums of more than $44,000 Saturday (Feb. 18) at the conclusion of the 71st Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show.The scholastic awards, which ranged from $1,500 to $5,500 for individual winners, went to 4-H and FFA youth who showed champion market animals during the Feb. 11-18 events that included competition for beef and dairy cattle, goats, hogs, poultry and sheep.

(Distributed 02/18/06) Six exceptional Louisiana teen-agers were recognized Saturday (Feb. 18) for their knowledge, skills and communication abilities when they were named winners of the Gerry Lane Premier Exhibitor Awards at the 71st annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show. Now in its ninth year, the premier exhibitor program recognizes 4-H and FFA members who may or may not have champion animals but who have a thorough understanding of animal science.

(Distributed 02/18/06) 4-H and FFA members from across Louisiana participated in the 71st annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show Feb. 11-18. The competitors qualified for the 2006 show by winning awards at parish and district livestock shows across Louisiana, and, in all, more than 3,000 young people came to Gonzales to compete with 5,300 animals.

(Distributed 02/17/06) Hurricane Rita destroyed homes, schools and barns when it ripped through Cameron Parish last fall. It also bruised and battered the hopes of hundreds of 4-H’ers looking forward to showing livestock.