(For Release On Or After 04/25/08) Nature never created a houseplant. The plants we call houseplants are native to various, generally tropical, areas of the world, and in all cases their natural habitat is outdoors.

(For Release On Or After 04/18/08) When you think about adding color to your landscape, flowering bedding plants are usually the first thing that comes to mind. Many plants with colorful foliage, however, can serve the same purpose.

(For Release On Or After 04/11/08) Interest in growing herbs has been rising over the years as Louisiana gardeners increasingly have planted herbs in herb gardens or containers or in beds among existing plants.

(For Release On Or After 04/04/08) It’s amazing how many times I’ve gotten questions about growing grass in shady areas. This is a common issue because shade trees in a landscape grow larger over time.

(Distributed 04/09/08) Members of the 2008 USA Rice Leadership Development class toured the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station April 3.

(Distributed 04/09/08) Sixth-grade students from Meaux Elementary School in Vermilion Parish got a better understanding of what they have learned about coastal ecology by taking a field trip to the marsh as part of the LSU AgCenter's Youth Wetlands Week. They toured the Freshwater Bayou Locks – only a mile from the Gulf of Mexico.

(Distributed 04/01/08) The LSU AgCenter’s Rosepine Research Station will host its annual cattle and forage field day May 1.

(Distributed 04/01/08)Six people from North Central Louisiana were inducted into the LSU AgCenter's 4-H Hall of Fame on March 27. They will join 94 others across the state who will be the first 100 honored as part of the state’s 4-H centennial celebration.

(Distributed 04/02/08) POLLOCK – Hundreds of permanent, long-time residents of the LSU AgCenter’s Grant Walker 4 H Educational Center are being treated to brand new housing, thanks to the efforts of 4 H’ers.

(Distributed 04/04/08) To help small municipalities and parishes comply with Phase II Urban Stormwater Permit renewal, LSU AgCenter in conjunction with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is conducting one-day workshops at three locations in Louisiana.

(Distributed 04/08/08) Food safety and food security took center stage as more than 100 industry representatives met for the fourth annual Louisiana Food Processors Conference April 2-3.

(Distributed 04/16/08) The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service has awarded the LSU AgCenter a grant to become the country’s 11th Center for Wood Utilization Research.

(Distributed 04/21/08) Louisiana landowners will have the opportunity to learn about carbon credits and how they may benefit at a conference on May 14 at Alexandria.

(Distributed 04/18/08) The LSU AgCenter’s Bob R. Jones-Idlewild Research Station near Clinton will hold a white-tailed deer field day on Saturday, April 26.

(Distributed 04/18/08) Twenty-two individuals from 11 parishes in southwestern Louisiana were inducted into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame at a ceremony held here April 15. The ceremony was one of several across the state to recognize 100 former members, volunteers and retired LSU AgCenter employees for their outstanding service to the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H program during its centennial celebration.

(Distributed 04/17/08) Some gardeners shop for plants to fill voids in their gardens. Other gardeners buy plants they “just must have” and then search for spots to put them. Whichever group you fit into, East Baton Rouge Master Gardeners have the plants for you at their annual sale May 10.

(Distributed 04/17/08) The LSU AgCenter has scheduled a variety of model farm field tours this spring and summer for producers who need to complete the second phase of the Louisiana Master Farmer Program and learn about specific conservation practices.

(Distributed 04/16/08) LSU AgCenter rice research scientists conduct many projects at locations other than the Rice Research Station near Crowley. These off-station sites, typically between 2 and 6 acres, are in the state’s two rice-growing areas. This year four sites have been selected in southwestern Louisiana and two in northeastern Louisiana.

(Distributed 04/18/08) Typically grown in southeastern Louisiana, strawberries are flourishing in Madison Parish at Grady’s Garden, said R.L. Frazier, LSU AgCenter county agent, who is helping Lynne Grady with her crop on her farm 12 miles south of Tallulah on Highway 65.

(Distributed 04/21/08) Dr. Daniel Stephenson has been hired as the new weed scientist for row crop agriculture at the LSU AgCenter’s Dean Lee Research and Extension Center in Alexandria. He begins work May 1. He will replace Roy Vidrine, who has retired after 36 years of service.

(Distributed 04/22/08) SHREVEPORT – The Louisiana Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences presented awards and installed officers at their recent annual conference. The LSU AgCenter organization chose for its theme this year, Lights, Camera, Action! Focus on Louisiana Families.

(Distributed 04/23/08) Using Louisiana sugar mills to produce biofuels and value-added chemicals in addition to sugar can help the state’s sugar industry become a driving force for economic growth in Louisiana and produce alternative fuels to satisfy the state’s demand, LSU AgCenter researchers told the U.S. secretary of energy April 21.

(Distributed 04/23/08) MONROE – The Louisiana Volunteers for Family and Community heard about life lessons to be learned from family activities, gardening and finding happiness at the group’s statewide meeting April 16.

(Distributed 04/25/08) HAMMOND – Seventeen lifelong 4-H supporters from southeastern Louisiana were inducted into the Louisiana state 4-H Hall of Fame April 20. They are among the first 100 chosen statewide for the honor during the 100th anniversary of 4-H in Louisiana this year.

(Distributed 04/25/08) Despite predictions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, LSU AgCenter experts say 2008 rice acreage likely will be up in Louisiana.

(Distributed 04/25/08) More than 180 students had an opportunity to see what it’s like to be an adult at the “Welcome to The Real World” event at Lutcher High School on April 18.

(Distributed 04/28/08) The LSU AgCenter’s Southeast Research Station and the Louisiana Forage and Grassland Council will sponsor a forage field day May 8.

(Distributed 04/30/08) The LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station will hold its second annual Landscape Horticulture Field Day for green industry professionals on May 15.

(Distributed 04/30/08) BOSSIER CITY – Bees are the angels of agriculture, said honey producer Bill Walker at the LSU AgCenter Lunch and Ag Discovery held April 22 at the Red River Research Station.

(Distributed 04/23/08) Fifteen individuals from Central Louisiana were honored April 17 as inductees to the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame. “Here are the heroes we should be emulating,” said Dr. Paul Coreil, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor for extension, about the honorees, who join 85 others as the first members of the Hall of Fame during 2008 – the centennial year for the 4-H organization in Louisiana.

(Distributed 04/22/08) The LSU AgCenter will conduct a Pond Management Workshop on Tuesday, May 6, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Folsom First Baptist Church Living Center in Folsom.

(Distributed 04/09/08) Members of the 2008 USA Rice Leadership Development class toured the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station April 3.

(Distributed 05/01/08) The 2008 State Fair of Louisiana, Oct. 23-Nov. 9 in Shreveport, will be dedicated to Louisiana 4-H to help celebrate the centennial of the youth organization. The fair theme is “Celebrate and Educate.”

(Distributed 05/01/08) The 2008 State Fair of Louisiana, Oct. 23-Nov. 9 in Shreveport, will be dedicated to Louisiana 4-H to help celebrate the centennial of the youth organization. The fair theme is “Celebrate and Educate.”

(Distributed 04/02/08) Enjoy a guilt-free celebration in April by observing national pecan month with one of Louisiana’s locally grown commodities. You’ll be helping the state’s economy and treating yourself to a nutrient-rich food.

(Distributed 04/02/08) If springtime brings mild weather and an extended wet period, watch for a sinister-looking fungus or slime attacking your lawn.

(Distributed 04/14/08) Even if you are not otherwise required to file a tax return, you may still be eligible for an economic stimulus payment from the federal government, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Gloria Nye. Filing a return, however, is required to receive the money.

(Distributed 04/14/08) April 27–May 3 is Louisiana Volunteers for Family and Community week, as proclaimed by Gov. Bobby Jindal. The volunteer program, whose members used to be called extension homemakers, is a project of the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 04/14/08) The 2008 All-American Daylily winner is Sweet Summer Valentine, chosen by the All-American Daylily Selection Council. The plant has light, buff-pink flowers with a vivid burgundy maroon eyezone and a matching edge.

(Distributed 04/02/08) Consumers may learn how to avoid scams, fraud and identity theft through a program offered across the state by the LSU AgCenter and other organizations.

(Distributed 04/03/08) MANSFIELD – Nutrition educators and area residents learned they are never too old to improve bone health at Hats Off to Nutrition, a presentation by LSU AgCenter faculty March 27.

(Distributed 04/14/08) Choose Louisiana strawberries for a nutritious and delicious treat. Besides being naturally sweet and tasty, these locally grown berries require less shipping time than those grown out-of-state. This helps insure a fresher, higher quality product, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.