(Distributed February 2006) February starts the Louisiana vegetable gardening season. This is especially true for the southern parishes.

(Distributed February 2006) Snap beans are adapted to a wide range of soils in Louisiana and make an excellent crop for the home garden. Their freshness is a real treat at the dinner table.

(Distributed February 2006) Louisiana gardeners are getting "itchy green thumbs" about now, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske. They want to jump-start their spring gardens.

(Distributed February 2006) The answer to the hungry question, "Is it Done Yet?" is the basis of a national campaign to encourage the use of food thermometers when preparing meat, poultry and egg dishes, to prevent foodborne illness.

(Distributed February 2006) March is National Nutrition Month and is sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association. This year’s theme is "Step Up to Nutrition & Health."

(Distributed February 2006) The 4-H livestock show season is upon us and offers an opportunity for the showcasing of the youth exhibitors and their animals. Parish shows are the first step of the journey followed by the district and state shows.

(Distributed February 2006) February is American Heart Month. Women throughout America will again "Go Red for Women" by wearing red to raise awareness of heart disease, women’s No. 1 killer.

(Distributed February 2006) Take advantage of the fact that this year Valentine’s Day occurs a couple of weeks before Mardi Gras and share your heart with others. That’s the advice of LSU AgCenter family resource management specialist Dr. Karen Overstreet.

(Distributed February 2006) Getting the right start in the spring is especially important for a productive garden, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

(Distributed February 2006) February and March signal the beginning of spring in many parts of Louisiana – at least in terms of home landscape activities.

(Distributed February 2006) February is the best time to prune most fruit trees in Louisiana. The coldest part of winter is usually over, and trees will soon be growing and can heal pruning injuries.

(Distributed February 2006) Don’t let food poisoning be a memento of the Mardi Gras season," says LSU AgCenter nutritionist and food safety expert Dr. Beth Reames. "By following some simple practices, you can enjoy the festivities without suffering from foodborne illnesses."

(Distributed February 2006) Millions of Americans are on the latest fad diets to lose weight. The problem is, most of these diets don’t provide lasting results, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed March 2006) Louisiana may soon have a new way for you to determine how well your child-care program measures up. LSU AgCenter child-care associate Cheri Gioe says the state is on a mission to develop a child-care rating system that could help you compare the quality of one center to another.

(Distributed March 2006) Older adults who consume nearly three servings of whole-grain foods daily are significantly less likely to have "metabolic syndrome," a condition that increases the chances of developing diabetes and heart disease.

(Distributed March 2006) Shopping for a riding mower or mowing tractor requires several choices – including the transmission, according to an engineer with the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station.

(Distributed March 2006) A number of tax benefits are available to volunteers. Donors and volunteers can deduct out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the services given to a charitable organization if they itemize deductions on their tax returns.

(Distributed March 2006) March is a critical month in our vegetable gardens - early for some things and late for others, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

(Distributed March 2006) Special rules for victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma will ease the eligibility requirements for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC).

(Distributed March 2006) "Go fly a kite!" Although the expression is usually derisive, it could be good advice, according to LSU AgCenter family resource management specialist Dr. Karen Overstreet.

(Distribtued March 2006) Many homeowners have several small engines in the garage or tool shed on equipment like a lawnmower or string trimmer. Some may also have a garden tiller, a hedge trimmer, a lawn edger or a chainsaw. Most of these small engines have an air filter.

(Distributed March 2006) Six C.E. Byrd High School students have won honors in the national Foundations for Life character essay contest.

(Distributed March 2006) A Newellton resident won Best of Show at the 20th annual Louisiana State Pecan Show held January 20-21.

(Distributed March 2006) Eating well and being physically active are keys to better health. Following the Dietary Guidelines can help Americans "Feel better today. Stay healthy for tomorrow," according to a slogan of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

(Distributed March 2006) A huge pool of potential volunteers and social activists in the United States – 26 million young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 – remains untapped.

(Distributed March 2006) More than half of all taxpayers pay a tax preparer to file their tax returns. Before using a commercial preparer, however, find out if there is a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site nearby that can help you prepare your taxes for free, advises LSU AgCenter family economics professor Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

(Distributed March 2006) It happens often when children receive a gift. The youngsters often are happier playing with the box than the present. Although amused at first, the gift-givers may soon suspect that their money was ill-spent.

(Distributed March 2006) Many ways are available to contribute to the economic well-being of your family, parish, state and country. Producing fresh, healthy garden produce is just such a way, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

(Distributed March 2006) The Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 and the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 provide certain tax breaks to help victims of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.

(Distributed March 2006) Consumers who make only the minimum payment on their credit card bill each month can expect to write bigger checks. That’s because many credit card issuers are increasing their minimum payment amounts.

(Distributed March 2006) Although homeowners have a wide choice of products to use in their lawns and gardens, sometimes a hand-cranked spreader for granular fertilizers and pesticides is more practical than a wheeled model, according to an engineer at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station.

(Distributed March 2006) Louisiana farmers and agricultural researchers now can obtain estimates of daily evapotranspiration, thanks to a new tool available through the LSU AgCenter's Louisiana Agriclimatic Information System.

(Distributed March 2006) You can eat healthy and watch your weight when dining out if you know how. Most restaurants are glad to prepare food the way you want it. You can even call ahead to make sure that the restaurant can accommodate your special requests.

(Distributed March 2006) On March 28 the American Diabetes Association will issue its annual alert to locate the millions of Americans with undiagnosed diabetes. The event is a one-day call-to-action held on the fourth Tuesday every March for people to learn if they are at risk for diabetes.

(Distributed March 2006) Gardening can be a great learning experience for children, even the very young. It gives them an opportunity to watch life unfold and develop, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

(Distributed March 2006) One of the things that separate good gardeners from those who are not such good gardeners is experience, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

(Distributed March 2006) Many people likely think that excessive eating and zero exercise are the sole culprits for weight gain. The reality is that as few as 100 calories a day can make a major difference in weight gain or loss, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed March 2006) It is easy for parents to get so busy they neglect to carve out some "fun time" with their kids. Building a little family time into daily life isn’t easy, but it can be done if parents allow themselves the freedom to relax with their kids, according to LSU AgCenter family development professor Dr. Rebecca White.