(Distributed 12/12/08) Flowering trees add color and beauty to our landscapes in late winter and early spring. These great trees add flower color at a time when many of us think we have to wait for spring. Most of these trees also are low-maintenance and reliable for long-term performance.

(Radio News 12/01/08) Louisiana sugar mills are up and running, and harvesters are making their way through sugarcane fields. Hurricanes Gustav and Ike toppled some sugarcane fields, but recent weather has cooperated with the harvest, according to LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Dr. Ben Legendre. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/01/08) Deer tagging regulations are in effect for the 2008-2009 hunting season. LSU AgCenter wildlife specialist Dr. Don Reed says tagging was voluntary last year, but this year the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is enforcing the rule. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/01/08) Certain varieties of Christmas trees can be grown in Louisiana. For homeowners interested in growing their own holiday trees, a good place to start is a local nursery or a Christmas tree farm, says LSU AgCenter wildlife and forestry specialist Dr. Don Reed. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/01/08) Trees were one casualty of the hurricanes that hit Louisiana this year. Thousands of trees in the storms’ paths were snapped, twisted or uprooted. Christmas tree farms in those paths weren't spared either, says LSU AgCenter wildlife and forestry specialist Dr. Don Reed. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/01/08) Choose-and-cut tree farms offer the freshest trees, according to the experts, and LSU AgCenter wildlife and forestry specialist Dr. Don Reed has some advice for people picking out a Christmas tree. He says determining what size tree you need before you buy is a key consideration. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/08/08) The LSU AgCenter is studying new poinsettia varieties. Although classic red and classic white maintain the traditional poinsettia look, if you are looking for something different this year, there are many varieties to suit any taste, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Jeff Kuehny. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/08/08) The nation’s financial crisis has many people cutting back this holiday season. LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker says consumers should approach spending this Christmas with a plan. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/08/08) Gift cards are popular Christmas presents with buyers and receivers, but LSU AgCenter economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker says you may spend less by choosing a different option. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/08/08) A citrus tree is a great addition to the home landscape. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Jimmy Boudreaux says fall and winter are the perfect times to plant a citrus tree in your yard. Unlike some other fruit trees, citrus trees are relatively easy to maintain.

(Radio News 12/08/08) Louisiana citrus is reaching its prime. Consumers can find satsumas and navel oranges this time of the year -- although LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Jimmy Boudreaux says Hurricane Gustav back in September damaged some of this year's crops. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/15/08) Louisiana has fewer dairy cows than it did 10 years ago. LSU AgCenter researchers are working with dairy producers to help these fewer cows make more milk. Dr Mike McCormick says the state's dairy farmers currently produce 50 percent or less of the total milk needed by Louisianians for fluid consumption and ice cream products. (Runtime: 50 seconds)

(Radio News 12/15/08) The price of milk has risen considerably in the past year, but LSU AgCenter dairy researcher Dr. Mike McCormick says high consumer prices don’t necessarily translate into high profits for dairy producers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/15/08) Farmers have planted Louisiana’s winter wheat crop. Wheat requires two conditions around planting time. LSU AgCenter wheat specialist Dr. Ed Twidwell explains the first. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/15/08) An experimental dairy lagoon on the LSU AgCenter’s Southeast Research Station is removing waste from water that exits dairy facilities and keeping that waste from making its way into public lakes and rivers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/15/08) Pickpockets and thieves are always active during the holidays, and these days people also need to avoid falling prey to identity thieves. LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker says the first thing to do is safeguard your incoming and outgoing mail. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/22/08) LSU AgCenter economists released a new damage assessment from hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The cost to agriculture is now estimated to be near $1 billion. The bulk of the losses involved lost revenue to producers at $645 million. LSU AgCenter economist Dr. Kurt Guidry explains the rest. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/22/08) Real Christmas trees adorn homes and businesses during the holidays, but they can harbor unwanted holiday guests in the form of aphids and lady beetles. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/22/08) Many people use container plants to embellish decks and patios, but some of these plants must come indoors for the winter. LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet warns that the soils of these plants are good dwelling places for a variety of insects. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/22/08) The holidays mark the season for shopping and eating, and at this time of the year both can occur at the mall. But LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames says dining at the mall doesn’t have to break your healthy eating habits. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/22/08) It’s easy to pack on a pound or two during the festive holiday season, so Dr. Beth Reames, a nutritionist with the LSU AgCenter, has some advice on trying to stay slim. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/29/08) LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker is encouraging consumers to take advantage of tax breaks before the year ends. She says workers should be sure to check the balance of flexible spending accounts for health care or child care and take appropriate action before the year ends. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/29/08) As 2008 winds down, people start thinking about resolutions, and many people will resolve to be healthier in 2009. LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Heli Roy says to keep your goals simple.

(Radio News 12/29/08) Research on "energy cane," a sugarcane designed to be converted to ethanol, has been in full swing in recent years. But the research started several decades ago, according to LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Dr. Ben Legendre, who says one variety called L79-1002 is nearly 30 years old. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/29/08) Sugarcane researchers are always looking for ways to get more sugar out of their varieties, but LSU AgCenter researchers are studying several varieties where the sugar content really isn’t a factor. Energy cane is grown for its fiber or cellulose, which can be converted to ethanol. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 12/29/08) Large portions are a culprit in America’s obesity epidemic, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Heli Roy. She says controlling portion sizes is the key to losing weight. Cooking less and cutting out seconds can help you drop pounds. She also says to fill your plate with the right things. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(For Release On Or After 12/5/08) Of the many kinds of plants we use to decorate our homes for the holidays, the holiday cactuses possess a special beauty. And yes, despite the fact that these plants don’t possess spines, they are true cactuses.

(For Release On Or After 12/19/08) Among my favorite dishes for breakfast is a stack of hot, buttered pancakes drowning in maple syrup. Although we can’t grow the sugar maples that produce that delicious syrup here in Louisiana, a wonderful selection of maples can be used as shade trees and ornamentals in our landscapes

(For Release On Or After 12/26/08) I recently received a copy of a book called The Garden in Winter. Imagining what I would see inside, I opened the book and the pictures were just what I had expected. The pages were filled with snowy scenes.

(For Release On Or After 12/12/08) Now is an excellent time to evaluate your landscape for any pruning that needs to be done, since many plants can be pruned now through February.

(Video 12/01/08) It’s not actually a camellia, but the sasanqua looks like one, and it’s in the same family. Unlike the camellia, the plant featured on this edition of Get it Growing blooms in fall. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how this camellia look-alike grows great as a shrub or a small tree. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

(Video 12/08/08) Bulb flowers in bloom probably conjure thoughts of springtime. But, in this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how you can purchase and maintain amaryllis bulbs now. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

(Video 12/15/08) The poinsettia clearly is the most popular plant for the Christmas season. A native of Mexico, it was once thought to be poisonous. In this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill talks about choosing and caring for your Christmas poinsettia.

(Video 12/22/08) Cool-season flowers can be as attractive as ever if you select the right plants and care for them properly. On this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill shows you some newly introduced plants that will help make your yard beautiful during the fall and winter. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

(Video 12/29/08) Bushes help accentuate a nice landscape. On this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to the changing colors and beauty of evergreen bushes.(Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

(Audio 12/01/08) Poinsettias are the most commonly used plant in decorating for the holiday season. With proper selection and care, you can keep these plants looking attractive for as long as possible. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/01/08) Christmas trees play an important part in celebrating the holiday season, and selecting the right kind of tree is a big part of the process. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/01/08) Recent freezes may have killed tomato plants, but if your plants are still surviving, here are a few tips to protect them in cold weather. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/01/08) There is still time to plant cool-season flowers even though we are into early December. Plant violas, snapdragons and pansies now for great color in the winter and an outstanding spring display. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/08/08) In December, freezes threaten plants in your lanscape. With the thermometer dipping into the 30s, you should begin thinking about protecting tender tropicals from the cold. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/08/08) For most gardeners, the activities we conduct in our landscapes tend to slow down during the winter. Many of our gardening tools take a break this time of the year, so we need to make sure they are stored properly and safely. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/08/08) Gardeners shouldn't worry about the wind chill factor. Plants do not feel wind chill -- which is how cold it feels to warm-blooded animals like us. The plants only feel the actual temperature of the air. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/01/08) Gardening doesn't stop in the winter. The vegetable garden can be productive all year long in Louisiana. Gardeners have a number of vegetables they can plant in December. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/08/08) Louisiana's mild winter conditions allow many types of plants to grow over the winter season. Unfortunately, this includes weeds, so there are many different types of winter weeds to be on the lookout for this time of year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/08/08) A pecan tree is wonderful for your landscape -- if you have room. Pecan trees grow very large, and because of their brittle wood, they should not be planted close to structures. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/15/08) The leaves that fall from your trees can be useful in your landscape. You can collect these leaves and use them as mulch or compost over the winter season. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/15/08) Many gardeners enjoy starting their plants from seeds. You can do this by either planting seeds directly into your garden or starting the plants in pots or flats. You often will have leftover seeds, and it's a good idea store them properly for future use. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/15/08) All permanent lawn grasses we use in Louisiana go dormant during winter and turn brown. Green lawns this time of the year have been overseeded with ryegrass. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/15/08) Camellias bloom with large, beautiful flowers during the winter. But there are a few things you need to keep in mind when caring for these wonderful winter plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/15/08) It is important to store garden chemicals safely during the winter. Keep them in an area where they won't freeze and where children can't get to them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/05/09) Cool-season weeds grow actively from January through February in Louisiana. If you feel the need to eradicate those weeds, you can use a herbicide on a mild day. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/22/08) There are a variety of reasons why a plant's foliage changes color this time of year. This shouldn't necessarily concern gardeners -- even if the plant is an evergreen. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/22/08) The everblooming roses in your landscape may still be blooming. With these plants, it is not unusual to have new roses well into December. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/22/08) With recent freezes and even snow in some areas, you will probably see cold damage on your tender tropicals. Your best option is to simply prune it away. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/22/08) Louisiana vegetable gardeners grow a wide variety of leafy vegetables in their winter gardens. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/22/08) Unlike the poinsettia, a holiday cactus will bloom for us year after year. So hang onto those plants even after the holidays are over. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/29/08) Now through January is the time to plant those tulip and hyacinth bulbs you've been chilling in your refrigerator to get them ready for planting. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/29/08) Gardening catalogs normally arrive in mailboxes in December and January. Most of these are available for free if you go online and request one. Just be cautious when ordering from catalogs and make sure you choose plants appropriate for your area. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/29/08) Many gardeners purchased amaryllis bulbs in October. If you haven't, but you still want to grow amaryllis, there are a few things to keep in mind when selecting your bulbs. If you were one of those gardeners who planted your bulbs in October, however, your plants are likely to have bloomed already . (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/29/08) At the beginning of a new year many people make resolutions -- and gardeners are among those people. If you make gardening resolutions, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill has advice for you. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/29/08) One of the biggest problems for indoor plants during winter is the dry air produced by our heating systems. Move house plants away from vents and be sure to water them as needed. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 12/01/08) The Louisiana 4-H Educational Awards Trip is one that 4-H members across the state look forward to. In addition to receiving awards, winners are treated to meals and tours in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 12/02/08) Views and visions on Louisiana forestry will be presented at the 2009 Ag Expo Forestry Forum sponsored by the LSU AgCenter in conjunction with the North Louisiana Agri-Business Council.

(Distributed 12/02/08) Agricultural producers from Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi will have an opportunity to hear the latest in soybean research during the 2009 Tri-State Soybean Forum Jan. 9 at the Thomas Jason Lingo Center in Oak Grove, La.

(Distributed 12/05/08) The 27th annual Ag Expo will be open to the public Jan. 16 from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Jan. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ike Hamilton Expo Center in West Monroe.

(Distributed 12/05/08) The latest in research to help grow profitable crops will be presented at the Northeast Louisiana Crop Forum Jan. 21 at the Delhi Civic Center.

(Distributed 12/05/08) BOSSIER CITY – Eleven 4-H members were among 16 students in Caddo and Bossier parishes who received Discovering Tomorrow’s Leaders awards, a new program sponsored by Chesapeake Energy.

(Distributed 12/10/08) To help address the problem of obesity and physical inactivity among children, LSU AgCenter extension agents have put together a Family Nutrition Night kit for check-out as part of participation in a nutrition education coalition in northeast Louisiana.

(Distributed 12/11/08) Researchers at the LSU AgCenter’s Audubon Sugar Institute are combining their knowledge of sugarcane processing and chemical engineering to develop a synergy between sugar production and ethanol.

(Distributed 12/12/08) Photographers have the chance to contribute their work to the LSU AgCenter’s popular Get It Growing Lawn and Garden Calendar. Although 2009 is just about to begin, preparations for the 2010 Get It Growing calendar are under way, and the LSU AgCenter is once again offering photographers an opportunity to participate in the competition that selects photos for the upcoming edition.

(Distributed 12/12/08) U.S. rice industry leaders met recently for the USA Rice Federation Outlook Conference with one eye on the economy and the other peering at the prospects for the 2009 crop.

(Distributed 12/15/08) Although the exact costs aren’t in yet, the unexpected snowfall on Dec. 11 caused more damage to Louisiana’s commercial ornamental horticulture industry than hurricanes Gustav and Ike. “Wholesale growers in the Forest Hill area and the Florida parishes saw the most damage, and these areas represent the two major nursery production areas in the state,” said Allen Owings, LSU AgCenter horticulture specialist at the Hammond Research Station.

(Distributed 12/22/08) BATON ROUGE – The LSU AgCenter and the Southern University Ag Center recognized nine individuals and three teams of faculty members for outstanding service in 2008 during the centers’ joint annual conference Dec. 15.

(Distributed 12/22/08) The LSU AgCenter has approved a new variety of aromatic rice to compete with foreign imports.

(Distributed 12/22/08) Dr. Lakshman Velupillai, associate vice chancellor for international programs for the LSU AgCenter and LSU, has been accepted for the fall 2008 Food Systems Leadership Institute (FSLI).

(Distributed 12/23/08) Southwest Louisiana rice farmers making plans for their 2009 crop can get help with their decisions at a series of meetings on Jan. 6 through Jan. 9 conducted by the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 12/02/08) C.J. Naquin of Baton Rouge, a retired Louisiana 4-H state program leader, was one of 17 people named to the 2008 National 4-H Hall of Fame. “This is the highest honor that can bestowed upon someone in 4-H,” said Dr. Paul Coreil, vice chancellor for the LSU AgCenter and director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. “He dedicated his career to 4-H and was one of our most innovative leaders.”

(Distributed 12/04/08) Kids enjoy being holiday helpers. This year, let your children share in planning and preparing holiday meals. Include some of their favorite foods as an extra incentive, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 12/05/08) Pines are one of our many great native tree species. They, along with baldcypress, southern magnolias and oaks, are typically associated with Louisiana.

(Distributed 12/18/08) Perennials are plants that live for three years or more and often require two years or more from seed to flower. Technically, trees, shrubs and lawn grasses are all perennials, but gardeners use the term perennial as an abbreviation for “hardy, herbaceous perennial” – a group of nonwoody plants that reliably survive winter cold and grown for their attractive flowers or foliage.

(Distributed 12/18/08) Knowing what nutrients are in your soil and what nutrients are needed is a basic step towards good plant health. Soil nutrient balance must be managed for best plant growth, according to LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Tom Koske.

(Distributed 12/18/08) Are you or members of your family homebound for the holidays? Many families are limited to their homes, hospitals rooms or nursing homes this year.

(Distributed 12/18/08) Yes, Virginia, they do exist – the holiday blues, that is. How can you feel blue with all the glitz of decorations, party invitations, cheerful TV ads and so on? LSU AgCenter family sciences professor Dr. Diane Sasser says feeling blue is common, but it doesn’t have to be.

(Distributed 12/19/08) A wise New Year’s resolution for parents is to talk more to their young children by reading aloud to them, according to LSU AgCenter family and child development expert Dr. Rebecca White.