(Distributed 11/22/06) Consumers must be cautious of identity thieves when shopping during the holiday season, says LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker. "Be on your guard all the time. By taking certain precautions, you can save yourself hours of time recovering from identity theft," she advises.

(Distributed 11/21/06) Five Louisiana 4-H members attended the first Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference earlier this month at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Ga.

(Distributed 11/21/06) Many people use poinsettias to decorate their homes during the holiday season. The plants you purchase now can be a beautiful part of your decorations, but they’re probably only good for this season, the experts say.

(Distributed 11/21/06) The LSU AgCenter recently brought beef producers from around the state together at the Bald Cypress Cattle Co. in Amite for a field day designed to demonstrate scientifically based and environmentally sound management practices they could implement.

(Distributed 11/21/06) Louisiana’s pecan crop this year is excellent. The harvest forecast is 19 million pounds, which is 5 million pounds above Louisiana’s average of 14 million pounds, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. John Pyzner.

(Distributed 11/21/06) This year’s plentiful Louisiana pecan crop is a pleasant surprise following last year’s hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It is unusual to have a good pecan crop following a hurricane, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. John Pyzner.

(Distributed 11/17/06) The LSU AgCenter’s 2007 Get It Growing calendar provides a variety of helpful information tailored to Louisiana gardeners, and it’s available for holiday gift-giving. The calendar, now in its third year of publication, features advice and photos tailored to Louisiana’s growing conditions and climates.

(Distributed 11/16/06) Twenty-one members of the most recentt LSU AgCenter Community Leadership and Economic Development class in Livingston Parish were on hand for the final session and presentation of certificates Monday (Nov. 13). Known as CLED, for short, the program is designed to help volunteers learn leadership skills that can help them work to improve their local economies and make their communities better places to live.

(Distributed 11/16/06) The LSU AgCenter’s 2006 Poinsettia Open House is set for Dec. 8 at its Burden Center in Baton Rouge. The annual event provides poinsettia growers and the public with an opportunity to view some of the latest poinsettia varieties and to see results of LSU AgCenter research with the plants. (EVENT CANCELED AFTER NEWS RELEASE ISSUED)

(Distributed 11/15/06) Four LSU AgCenter employees were recognized Tuesday (Nov. 14) for their outstanding service to the university. The LSU AgCenter winners – Joseph Alexis, Cheryl Duplechain, Nona Everett and Joan Gobert – were among 13 people honored as LSU Foundation Staff Outstanding Service Award winners.