(TV News, 12/24/07) The LSU AgCenter is helping parents prepare their children for success in school through a family literacy program called the Little Bookshelf. (Runtime: 1 minute, 39 seconds)

(Distributed 12/05/07) A certain type of staph infection (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus – MRSA) can easily be prevented with proper hygiene and heal with treatment, according to Terri Crawford, Northeast region nutrition agent with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 12/14/07) A New Year’s resolution for many people is to lose weight. The increasing rate of overweight and obesity tells us this pledge hasn’t been working, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 12/07/07) Food, decorations and rituals that make the holidays festive for people can be hazardous to pets. LSU AgCenter veterinarian Dr. Christine Navarre cautions pet owners to keep the season safe for their animals.

(Distributed 12/11/07) Although holiday thoughts are typically happy, the hustle and bustle of holiday schedules can be challenging. The season can bring up many issues for families to deal with, according to LSU AgCenter youth development expert Dr. Janet Fox.

(Distributed 12/10/07) Christmas is a time to celebrate family, friends and traditions. For many, however, it is also a time of great stress and large credit card debt.

(Distributed 12/07/07) Food, decorations and rituals that make the holidays festive for people can be hazardous to pets. LSU AgCenter veterinarian Dr. Christine Navarre cautions pet owners to keep the season safe for their animals.

(Distributed 12/06/07) The holidays abound with tasty treats such as eggnog, cream pies and other dishes containing eggs. Eating raw or undercooked eggs is a risk for foodborne illness, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 12/05/07) The holidays bring a special time for individuals and their families to show others that they care. LSU AgCenter volunteer expert Dr. Janet Fox urges becoming part a growing force of volunteers who are making a difference in their communities.

(Distributed 12/04/07) Gift cards are great for holiday giving – recipients love the option to pick out the exact item, color and size that they want, and givers enjoy their one-size-fits-all convenience and easy availability.

(Distributed 12/04/07) Poinsettias are one of the most popular holiday plants in the United States. Louisiana has a number of poinsettia growers with an abundance of good, locally grown plants, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings.

(Distributed 12/05/07) A certain type of staph infection (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus – MRSA) can easily be prevented with proper hygiene and heal with treatment, according to Terri Crawford, Northeast region nutrition agent with the LSU AgCenter.

(For Release On Or After 12/28/2007) The basic techniques of gardening today are not that much different than those our great grandparents used. Still, technology and the age of communication are definitely changing the way we live, work and garden. Gardeners will, with greater ease and frequency than ever before, exchange ideas and be exposed to new concepts about how and why we garden. How will the new trends affect the plants we use and how we design with them and care for them?

(Distributed 12/20/07) On Dec. 13, residents returning to St. Bernard Parish enjoyed the first Christmas Tour of Homes since hurricanes devastated the area in 2005.

(Distributed 12/12/07) Although not yet graduated from high school, Lauren Ogles said she started her career in the eighth grade. How? “4-H helped me get ready,” she said.

(Distributed 12/22/07) Armed with flashlights and long, sharp probes, LSU AgCenter inspectors search for termites in homes and businesses in the historic New Orleans French Quarter. They crawl through attics and prowl every room in a building, poking at walls suspected of harboring termites and knocking on baseboards listening for hollow sounds that would indicate termites have eaten away the wood.

(For Release On Or After 12/21/2007) The pace of things tends to slow down a bit this time of year in the garden. Although we may continue to plant, prepare beds, harvest winter vegetables and enjoy cool-season flowers, most gardeners find this a more relaxed time of year. This is especially true for high-maintenance jobs like mowing lawns, shearing hedges and watering, since lawn grasses and shrubs are dormant, and cooler, wetter weather reduces the need for extra irrigation.

(For Release On Or After 12/28/2007) The basic techniques of gardening today are not that much different than those our great grandparents used. Still, technology and the age of communication are definitely changing the way we live, work and garden. Gardeners will, with greater ease and frequency than ever before, exchange ideas and be exposed to new concepts about how and why we garden. How will the new trends affect the plants we use and how we design with them and care for them?

(For Release On Or After 12/14/2007) The majority of the plants in our landscapes are completely winter hardy. The primary concern during freezes is our tender plants in the ground or in containers outside. These plants – native to tropical regions of the world where it never freezes – do not have the ability to protect themselves from sub-freezing temperatures. If we want them to survive freezing temperatures during winter, we must provide protection for them.

(For Release On Or After 12/14/2007) The majority of the plants in our landscapes are completely winter hardy. The primary concern during freezes is our tender plants in the ground or in containers outside. These plants – native to tropical regions of the world where it never freezes – do not have the ability to protect themselves from sub-freezing temperatures. If we want them to survive freezing temperatures during winter, we must provide protection for them.

(For Release On Or After 12/07/2007) We use a variety of decorative plants to dress up our homes during the holidays. Poinsettias, holiday cactuses and living Christmas trees, in particular, play an important part in decking the halls. How well you care for them once you get them home has a lot to do with how long they will stay attractive.

(Distributed 12/04/2007) Two years after the worst hurricane season in Louisiana history, the citrus industry is showing resilience.

(Distributed 12/05/07) Louisiana nature photographers will have an opportunity to show off their work and earn recognition if their photos are selected for the LSU AgCenter’s 2009 Get It Growing calendar.

(Distributed 12/07/07) ORLANDO, Fla. – Dr. Steve Linscombe, LSU AgCenter rice breeder and director of the Rice Research Station, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual USA Rice Outlook Conference recently (Dec. 2-4).

(Distributed 12/13/07) Newly elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain will present his views and visions on Louisiana forestry at the Ag Expo Forest Landowner Forum.

(Distributed 12/13/07) Louisiana corn and soybean producers can hear about the latest research designed to help them grow profitable crops during the 2008 Louisiana Corn and Soybean Forum slated for Jan. 15 at the Delhi Civic Center.

(Distributed 12/17/07) Ag Adventures, an educational experience in agriculture for fourth graders, will be held Jan. 28-29 at the Northeast District Livestock Show Barn and Civic Center, both in Delhi.

(Distributed 12/12/07) Although not yet graduated from high school, Lauren Ogles said she started her career in the eighth grade. How? “4-H helped me get ready,” she said.

(Distributed 12/07/07) Dr. Steve Linscombe, LSU AgCenter rice breeder and director of the Rice Research Station, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual USA Rice Outlook Conference recently (Dec. 2-4).

(Distributed 12/17/07) Ag Adventures, an educational experience in agriculture for fourth graders, will be held Jan. 28-29 at the Northeast District Livestock Show Barn and Civic Center, both in Delhi.

(Distributed 12/13/07) Newly elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain will present his views and visions on Louisiana forestry at the Ag Expo Forest Landowner Forum.

(Distributed 12/13/07) Louisiana corn and soybean producers can hear about the latest research designed to help them grow profitable crops during the 2008 Louisiana Corn and Soybean Forum slated for Jan. 15 at the Delhi Civic Center.

(Distributed 12/21/07) The LSU AgCenter honored five individuals and two teams with its top awards for faculty members as well as two staff members for their outstanding service during its annual conference Dec. 17-18 in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 12/21/07) Large acreage shifts, high yields and good prices marked Louisiana agricultural production in 2007. Many acres shifted away from cotton and into corn. Wheat acres also rose. Overall, Louisiana farmers had a strong year, according to an LSU AgCenter economist Dr. Kurt Guidry.

(Distributed 12/20/07) Louisiana farmers are approaching the end of a good sugarcane harvest, according to industry observers.

(Distributed 12/20/07) Two researchers have been added to the faculty at the LSU AgCenter’s Calhoun Research Station to develop environmentally friendly and economically viable products and methods to recycle decommissioned preservative-treated wood.

(Distributed 12/21/07) Rice farmers can get up-to-date information in preparation for the 2008 crop at a series of four meetings being held across Southwest Louisiana, beginning Jan. 8 in Welsh, by the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 12/22/07) The LSU AgCenter has announced a conference on the Atchafalaya on Jan. 10-11 at the Embassy Suites hotel in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 12/17/07) The LSU AgCenter kicked off its Little Bookshelf program in St. Helena Parish at the parish health unit in Greensburg on Dec. 12.

(Distributed 12/13/07) Newly elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain will present his views and visions on Louisiana forestry at the Ag Expo Forest Landowner Forum.

(Distributed 12/05/07) Louisiana nature photographers will have an opportunity to show off their work and earn recognition if their photos are selected for the LSU AgCenter’s 2009 Get It Growing calendar.

(Distributed 12/04/07) Two years after the worst hurricane season in Louisiana history, the citrus industry is showing resilience.

(Distributed 12/07/07) Dr. Steve Linscombe, LSU AgCenter rice breeder and director of the Rice Research Station, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual USA Rice Outlook Conference recently (Dec. 2-4).

(Distributed 12/13/07) Louisiana corn and soybean producers can hear about the latest research designed to help them grow profitable crops during the 2008 Louisiana Corn and Soybean Forum slated for Jan. 15 at the Delhi Civic Center.

(Distributed 12/17/07) Ag Adventures, an educational experience in agriculture for fourth graders, will be held Jan. 28-29 at the Northeast District Livestock Show Barn and Civic Center, both in Delhi.

(Distributed 12/17/07) The LSU AgCenter kicked off its Little Bookshelf program in St. Helena Parish at the parish health unit in Greensburg on Dec. 12.

(Distributed 12/20/07) Louisiana farmers are approaching the end of a good sugarcane harvest, according to industry observers.

(Distributed 12/20/07) Two researchers have been added to the faculty at the LSU AgCenter’s Calhoun Research Station to develop environmentally friendly and economically viable products and methods to recycle decommissioned preservative-treated wood.

(Distributed 12/20/07) On Dec. 13, residents returning to St. Bernard Parish enjoyed the first Christmas Tour of Homes since hurricanes devastated the area in 2005.

(Distributed 12/21/07) Large acreage shifts, high yields and good prices marked Louisiana agricultural production in 2007. Many acres shifted away from cotton and into corn. Wheat acres also rose. Overall, Louisiana farmers had a strong year, according to an LSU AgCenter economist Dr. Kurt Guidry.

(Distributed 12/21/07) The LSU AgCenter honored five individuals and two teams with its top awards for faculty members as well as two staff members for their outstanding service during its annual conference Dec. 17-18 in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 12/21/07) Rice farmers can get up-to-date information in preparation for the 2008 crop at a series of four meetings being held across Southwest Louisiana, beginning Jan. 8 in Welsh, by the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 12/22/07) Armed with flashlights and long, sharp probes, LSU AgCenter inspectors search for termites in homes and businesses in the historic New Orleans French Quarter. They crawl through attics and prowl every room in a building, poking at walls suspected of harboring termites and knocking on baseboards listening for hollow sounds that would indicate termites have eaten away the wood.

(Distributed 12/22/07) The LSU AgCenter has announced a conference on the Atchafalaya on Jan. 10-11 at the Embassy Suites hotel in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 12/04/2007) Two years after the worst hurricane season in Louisiana history, the citrus industry is showing resilience.

(Distributed 12/05/07) Louisiana nature photographers will have an opportunity to show off their work and earn recognition if their photos are selected for the LSU AgCenter’s 2009 Get It Growing calendar.

(Distributed 12/07/07) ORLANDO, Fla. – Dr. Steve Linscombe, LSU AgCenter rice breeder and director of the Rice Research Station, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual USA Rice Outlook Conference recently (Dec. 2-4).

(Distributed 12/07/07) Dr. Steve Linscombe, LSU AgCenter rice breeder and director of the Rice Research Station, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual USA Rice Outlook Conference recently (Dec. 2-4).

(Distributed 12/12/07) Although not yet graduated from high school, Lauren Ogles said she started her career in the eighth grade. How? “4-H helped me get ready,” she said.

(Distributed 12/13/07) Louisiana corn and soybean producers can hear about the latest research designed to help them grow profitable crops during the 2008 Louisiana Corn and Soybean Forum slated for Jan. 15 at the Delhi Civic Center.

(Distributed 12/13/07) Louisiana corn and soybean producers can hear about the latest research designed to help them grow profitable crops during the 2008 Louisiana Corn and Soybean Forum slated for Jan. 15 at the Delhi Civic Center.

(Distributed 12/13/07) Newly elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain will present his views and visions on Louisiana forestry at the Ag Expo Forest Landowner Forum.

(Distributed 12/13/07) Newly elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain will present his views and visions on Louisiana forestry at the Ag Expo Forest Landowner Forum.

(Distributed 12/13/07) Newly elected Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain will present his views and visions on Louisiana forestry at the Ag Expo Forest Landowner Forum.

(Distributed 12/17/07) Ag Adventures, an educational experience in agriculture for fourth graders, will be held Jan. 28-29 at the Northeast District Livestock Show Barn and Civic Center, both in Delhi.

(Distributed 12/17/07) Ag Adventures, an educational experience in agriculture for fourth graders, will be held Jan. 28-29 at the Northeast District Livestock Show Barn and Civic Center, both in Delhi.

(Distributed 12/17/07) The LSU AgCenter kicked off its Little Bookshelf program in St. Helena Parish at the parish health unit in Greensburg on Dec. 12.

(Distributed 12/20/07) Louisiana farmers are approaching the end of a good sugarcane harvest, according to industry observers.

(Distributed 12/20/07) Two researchers have been added to the faculty at the LSU AgCenter’s Calhoun Research Station to develop environmentally friendly and economically viable products and methods to recycle decommissioned preservative-treated wood.

(Distributed 12/20/07) On Dec. 13, residents returning to St. Bernard Parish enjoyed the first Christmas Tour of Homes since hurricanes devastated the area in 2005.

(Distributed 12/21/07) Large acreage shifts, high yields and good prices marked Louisiana agricultural production in 2007. Many acres shifted away from cotton and into corn. Wheat acres also rose. Overall, Louisiana farmers had a strong year, according to an LSU AgCenter economist Dr. Kurt Guidry.

(Distributed 12/21/07) The LSU AgCenter honored five individuals and two teams with its top awards for faculty members as well as two staff members for their outstanding service during its annual conference Dec. 17-18 in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 12/11/07) Although holiday thoughts are typically happy, the hustle and bustle of holiday schedules can be challenging. The season can bring up many issues for families to deal with, according to LSU AgCenter youth development expert Dr. Janet Fox.

(Distributed 12/10/07) Most people face the holiday season with some fear of gaining weight. This is a good news, bad news situation, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 12/10/07) Christmas is a time to celebrate family, friends and traditions. For many, however, it is also a time of great stress and large credit card debt.

(Distributed 12/14/07) Don't start the New Year with the newest fad diet. Instead, choose a plan that helps you make healthy lifestyle changes, advises LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 12/11/07) Have you ever searched the stores looking for the latest “must have” toy or gadget for the children in your life? A better idea is to give a financial-related gift, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

(Distributed 12/07/07) Although poinsettias are typically associated with the holidays, another group of plants to consider are the Thanksgiving and Christmas cactuses. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings recommends them for long-term enjoyment.

(Distributed 12/06/07) With the holidays in full swing, malls are popular not just for their stores but for their many restaurants and snack shops. Shoppers may be tempted to overeat as well as overspend, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.