(Distributed 09/10/08) Rains from Hurricane Gustav significantly affected a diversity of crops in Northeast Louisiana – particularly with parts of Tensas and Franklin parishes getting 19 inches of rain.

(Video 09/01/08) With fall fast approaching, it’s a great time to grow a vegetable garden in Louisiana. In this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how to choose the right fall tomatoes and bell peppers and how to plant them correctly. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

(Video 09/08/08) If you haven’t started your fall vegetable garden yet, now is a good time to plant it. In this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill provides you with tips on getting your fall cucumbers planted. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

(Video 09/15/08) Fallen and leaning trees serve as reminders of Hurricane Gustav’s destructive power. But should all of these trunks end up in garbage piles? In this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how small trees that have bent or toppled might still be saved. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

(Video 09/29/08) As temperatures begin to transition and the weather goes from being warmer to cooler, it’s a tricky time to decide what’s best to plant in your flower gardens. In this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains the pros and cons of planting cool- and warm-season bedding plants this time of year. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

(Video 09/22/08) After the hurricane force winds Louisiana had in September, scores of dead trees are sprawled on lawns and at curbs. Some are even on homes. But amidst the destruction LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill has an important lesson -- in this edition of Get It Growing. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

(Audio 09/08/08) September weather in Louisiana is not typically fall-like, but the shorter days tell our plants it is time to slow down and prepare for winter. This means you should be careful when choosing what to fertilize. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/08/08) September ushers in a changing of the seasons to some degree. Remember that most flowering trees and shrubs have already set their buds. Anything that blooms from October to May should not be pruned now. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/08/08) Lousiana gardeners can do a lot of planting in new beds from September on into November. This includes cool-season vegetables and bedding plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/08/08) If we have a hot and dry September, there is a good chance chinch bugs will be prevalent in our lawns. A possible sign you have chinch bugs is an area of dead grass that starts small and rapidly begins to enlarge. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/08/08) Mulches are materials spread over soil in our landscape beds and gardens. One of a mulch's most important benefits is weed control. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/15/08) Everybody loves a fresh and juicy tree-ripened peach. A peach tree is a popular item to grow in home landscapes. You can plant one in your landscape, but, before you do, be aware that peach trees can have insect and disease problems. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/15/08) In the past, azaleas flowered in one huge gush in late March and into early April. Now gardeners can plant new groups of azaleas that will bloom in the spring and again in the fall. (Runtime:60 seconds)

(Audio 09/15/08) Caladiums are one of the most reliable summer bedding plants for adding color to shady areas in our landscapes. In September, caladiums become dormant, and we must decide whether to remove them from the landscape for storing or allow them to remain in the ground. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/15/08) Container plants offer many benefits. They can embellish an area where plants won't grow, and they are easily movable. One of the drawbacks of growing plants in containers is that the root system eventually will outgrow the container. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/15/08) Azalea lace bugs are the leading insect pest of azaleas in Louisiana. These lacy-winged insects live on the underside of the plant's leaves. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/22/08) The Louisiana iris is one of the most beautiful perennial flowering plants you can plant in your garden. Since these plants are native to Louisiana, it's easy to see why they do so well here. They go dormant in the summer. This means if you have been looking to transplant your iris, now is the time to do so. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/22/08) September and October are transitional months in Louisiana. We begin to cycle out of summer's intense heat as we see cooler weather move in. We also may notice much drier weather, which means you will find yourself watering your garden more frequently. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/22/08) The prime tree-planting season is right around the corner. It is best to plant trees and shrubs from November into the early part of December. While it is still too hot to actually plant trees, it would be a good idea to evaluate your landscape now and find out where you may need more shade. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/22/08) Garlic is an outstanding vegetable with all kinds of health benefits. Most people don't know how easy it is to plant and maintain in their own vegetable gardens. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/22/08) Late summer is a great time to evaluate the flower beds in your landscape. There are a variety of things you should make notes on, such as the performance of the plants found in the beds and which plants were succesful and which ones you won't plant again. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/29/08) Gardeners often purchase the seeds they need to grow flowers or vegetables from seed racks at a local nursery. They may also mail-order seeds. And there are occasions when it's possible to save seeds from plants in your garden and use them for new plantings. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/29/08) October is when we really begin to focus on cool-season plantings in our vegetable garden. You may still have some fall peppers and tomatoes in your garden, but for the purposes of planting you should really focus on the cool-season vegetables. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/29/08) Many summer-flowering bulbs will continue to bloom well into the fall. Even though they are still growing and blooming, they are reaching the end of their season. October is not a good time to fertilize these plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/29/08) Louisiana gardeners use transplants to establish many vegetables and bedding plants. Transplants normally are young plants grown from seeds in a container and then added to your garden. It is very important that you get these transplants off to a good start. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 09/29/08) We plant caladiums because of the colorful leaves they produce, and they make shaded areas more attractive. These plants grow from tubers much like potatoes. You can use that tuber to grow your caladiums in the following years, but you may need to dig it up and store it this time of year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/30/08) Many cattle in coastal areas were left stranded by flood waters from Hurricane Ike. LSU AgCenter agents are organizing a feed distribution effort for producers that have no feed for their cattle, LSU AgCenter Vermilion Parish agent Andrew Granger said.

(Radio News 09/30/08) Many cattle producers and their herds in Southwest Louisiana were affected by Hurricane Ike. LSU AgCenter agent Andrew Granger of Vermilion Parish is working with the cattle relief effort. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 9/30/08) Hurricane Ike tipped the losses in the Louisiana sweet potato crop to 50 percent. Farmer Ken Thornhill in Franklin Parish has started harvesting his fields, but he said he is seeing some encouraging results. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 9/30/08) Hurricane Ike’s slow-moving storm surge crept into areas of Vermilion Parish that had already seen devastating floods three years earlier from Hurricane Rita. Crop land damaged by salt water in 2005 was just returning to normal production. LSU AgCenter county agent Stuart Gauthier says many sugarcane fields that went under water could feel the effects for several years. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/29/08) Hurricane Gustav dumped 18 inches of rain on Ken Thornhill’s sweet potato fields. Hurricane Ike didn’t hit his fields in Franklin Parish as hard, but growers across the state are reeling from the two storms. According to early estimates, the state will lose 50 percent of its crop. The excessive water is causing the potatoes to rot in the field, says LSU AgCenter sweet potato specialist Dr. Tara Smith. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/29/08) Many cattle in Louisiana's coastal areas were left stranded by floodwaters from Hurricane Ike. LSU AgCenter agents, such as Vermilion Parish agent Andrew Granger, are organizing a feed distribution effort for producers that have no feed for the cattle. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/12/08) Most crops in the state suffered damage from Hurricane Gustav, but some commodities were hardest hit by the storm. LSU AgCenter economist Dr. Kurt Guidry says the state’s cotton crop, which is near harvest, suffered wind and rain damage, and the storm drowned many sweet potato fields. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 09/12/08) Hurricane Gustav tore through Louisiana -- uprooting trees, pulling down power lines and damaging homes and structures. Louisiana’s agricultural industries did not escape the storm’s wrath either. LSU AgCenter economist Dr. Kurt Guidry explains. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 09/08/08) Children's reactions to disaster depend on their age and maturity. Their responses also are affected by how close they are to the event, their level of exposure to it through TV and how they see their parents react.

(Distributed 09/08/08) Those who survive hurricanes and other natural disasters are at risk for behavioral and emotional readjustment problems. Most child and adult survivors experience one or more normal stress reactions for several days after a natural disaster.

(For Release On Or After 09/05/08) September is one of our most active months for tropical storms and hurricanes. Trees are particularly vulnerable to the effects of high winds and sustain various types of damage as a result.

(For Release On Or After 09/12/08) Roadsides and meadows come alive with colors of native wildflowers in September, October and November. Gardeners – who sometimes struggle to create beautiful displays of flowers in their landscapes – often marvel at the way nature seems to achieve such beauty without effort.

(For Release On Or After 09/19/08) When it comes to home landscaping, many gardeners remain confused about how to create what they want. The important thing to remember is that developing an attractive, properly functioning landscape is best done using a process.

(For Release On Or After 09/26/08) Birds can contribute wonderful things to the enjoyment of a landscape, such as movement, color, sounds and even pest control. The presence of birds is almost universally welcome among gardeners. Gardeners can even go so far as to design and plant landscapes that are particularly attractive to birds.

(Distributed 09/26/08) One of the most exciting new plants for home gardeners released in the past few years has been the Knock Out rose. It is receiving a lot of attention, and rightfully so. More than 6 million plants are being sold every year across the country. This rose fits perfectly into a sustainable, low-maintenance landscape.

(Distributed 09/05/08) Rice is among the many Louisiana agricultural commodities hurt by Hurricane Gustav, although the majority of the crop had been harvested in the southwest Louisiana rice belt before the storm came through.

(Distributed 09/05/08) Most of the mosquitoes being bred in the standing water left in Louisiana from Hurricane Gustav are not the kind that carry West Nile virus, according to LSU AgCenter entomologist and mosquito expert Wayne Kramer.

(Distributed 09/05/08) Louisiana agricultural producers who suffered crop damage from Hurricane Gustav need crop insurance or non-insured crop disaster assistance coverage to be eligible to participate in federal disaster assistance programs, according to LSU AgCenter agricultural economist Kurt Guidry.

(Distributed 09/05/08) Rain resulting from Hurricane Gustav across the crawfish-producing parishes of Louisiana may cause problems for crawfish producers, according to LSU AgCenter aquaculture specialists Greg Lutz and Mark Shirley.

(Distributed 09/07/08) A child may continue to be fearful following a hurricane because of the uncertainty of the future. “A child can mix up real fear and make-believe fear. This is OK, and a parent or other care-giver can help in many ways,” says LSU AgCenter family and consumer sciences specialist Becky White.

(Distributed 09/07/08) When disasters happen, dedicated volunteers and professionals swing into action to help those affected by the tragedy. But these helpers also have needs, says LSU AgCenter family and consumer sciences specialist Becky White.

(Distributed 09/07/08) You probably can’t avoid the stress coming in the wake of Hurricane Gustav, but you can manage it, says LSU AgCenter family and consumer sciences specialist Becky White.

(Distributed 09/08/08) Louisiana’s commercial ornamental horticulture industry received significant but not major damage from the effects of Hurricane Gustav, according to experts at the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 09/09/08) WHITEVILLE – Farmer Jeffrey Sylvester gazed over a field that looked more suited for water-skiing than growing rice. “There’s a rice crop under that water,” he said. “That’s all standing rice.”

(Distributed 09/10/08) Hurricane Gustav caused many problems for people throughout Louisiana, and wildlife also are feeling the effects of the storm.

(Distributed 09/10/08) Louisiana’s farmers are facing lost income from reduced yields and product quality in the neighborhood of $370 to $450 million as a result of the effects of Hurricane Gustav, according to economists with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 09/11/08) Red Cross officials were so impressed by the inaugural operation of the Louisiana Emergency Shelter near Alexandria during Hurricane Gustav they have invited the manager to address chapter and city officials in New York City later this year.

(Distributed 09/12/08) LSU AgCenter economists estimate Louisiana’s agricultural damage from Hurricane Gustav will total hundreds of millions of dollars while stressing the economic losses stretch well beyond the losses to farmers and associated businesses.

(Distributed 09/15/08) Dr. Ron Levy has been named the state soybean specialist for the LSU AgCenter effective Sept. 15 according to Dr. Paul Coreil, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor for extension.

(Distributed 09/16/08) Classes on how to do business online will be offered in four locations across the state, beginning in Oak Grove on Sept. 23. The two-day classes are offered jointly by the LSU AgCenter, the Southern University Agricultural Center and the Louisiana Economic Development Department (LED).

(Distributed 09/16/08) Coastal residents assessing their damage from Hurricane Ike compared this storm with the Hurricane Rita in 2005. In Vermilion Parish, residents said the water rose much slower and was not as high. That wasn’t the case in Cameron Parish, where LSU AgCenter county agent Gary Wicke said the surge even reached the Lake Charles airport.

(Distributed 09/17/08) The deadline has been extended to Sept. 30 for farmers who need waivers from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to qualify for federal disaster insurance to help cover their losses from hurricanes Gustav and Ike. “The deadline had been Sept. 16, but because some of the FSA offices were without power because of the hurricanes, the deadline was extended a couple of weeks,” said Dr. Kurt Guidry, LSU AgCenter agricultural economist.

(Distributed 09/11/08) For the first time in the history of the LSU AgCenter, a powerful storm did not completely shut down communications in the hardest-hit areas.

(Distributed 09/19/08) Hurricane Gustav dumped 18 inches of rain on Ken Thornhill’s sweet potato fields in Franklin Parish. Hurricane Ike didn’t hit his fields as hard, but sweet potato growers across the state are reeling from the two storms. “It’s really a sad period of time for Louisiana’s sweet potato industry,” Thornhill said.

(Distributed 09/18/08) Residents of Cameron and Calcasieu parishes are still coping with the ordeal of putting their lives back together after Hurricane Ike. People began trickling back to their homes in Cameron and Grand Chenier to see if anything remains to be cleaned up, although they are not being allowed to stay. Cattle owners were struggling to deal with herds still in the marsh.

(Distributed 09/19/08) LSU AgCenter Chancellor Bill Richardson was part of a group of agricultural representatives that met with Louisiana’s Congressional delegation earlier this week to provide an accurate picture of the severe damage caused to Louisiana agriculture as a result of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

(Distributed 09/11/08) Earl Fontenot may have to wait a month before any losses are apparent in his sweet potato crop after Hurricane Gustav. “It’s too early to tell if we’re going to have some loss,” he said. “But it’s not looking good. They are under stressful conditions now.”

(Distributed 09/19/08) Healthy trees can make for safer neighborhoods and healthier relationships between neighbors, according to an urban forester with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 09/23/08) The 2008 Fall Garden Show in New Orleans will be held at the City Park Botanical Garden from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Oct. 18-19.

Following are pages of photos shot by AgCenter Communications photographers of the effects of hurricanes Gustav and Ike on agriculture and communities in Louisiana. They include photos from three of the AgCenter research stations in the Baton Rouge area – Sugar Station, Central Station and Burden Center. The photos include the photographer’s name and the date the photo was taken.

(Distributed 09/25/08) Louisiana waterfowl hunters should make sure they are following the law when hunting in crop-damaged areas of the state this year, according to a wildlife specialist with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 09/26/08) The totals related to hurricanes Gustav and Ike include up to $763 million in lost revenue to Louisiana farmers, ranchers, foresters and fishers and as much as $175 million to $200 million in additional damage to the equipment and facilities that form the industries’ infrastructure.

(Distributed 09/29/08) Louisiana 4-H’ers will join others across the country in the celebration of National 4-H Week Oct. 5-11. The main focus of the week is to celebrate the accomplishments of the young people, volunteer leaders and parents involved in 4-H Clubs – as well as to encourage others to become involved in the unique youth development program.

(Distributed 9/29/08) ABBEVILLE – The LSU AgCenter is working closely with the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, state Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Louisiana Farm Bureau to get affected cattle producers back on their feet along coastal Louisiana following hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

(Distributed 09/30/08) Ten LSU AgCenter faculty members were part of a multi-state team that received the 1st Place National and Southern Region Program Excellence through Research Award at the Galaxy III National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) conference held Sept. 15-19 in Indianapolis, Ind.

(Distributed 10/03/08) The aftereffects of two hurricanes last month are still being felt in north and south Louisiana rice fields.

(Distributed 10/06/08) Ray Schexnayder farms 1,800 acres of soybeans in Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge parishes. Hurricanes Gustav and Ike left his fields scattered with tree limbs, and some covered with water. “We had 200 acres that flooded. There’s nothing to them, just a little dry stem now.”

(Distributed 09/30/08) Ten LSU AgCenter faculty members were part of a multi-state team that received the 1st Place National and Southern Region Program Excellence through Research Award at the Galaxy III National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) conference held Sept. 15-19 in Indianapolis, Ind.

(Distributed 9/29/08) ABBEVILLE – The LSU AgCenter is working closely with the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, state Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Louisiana Farm Bureau to get affected cattle producers back on their feet along coastal Louisiana following hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

(Distributed 09/29/08) Louisiana 4-H’ers will join others across the country in the celebration of National 4-H Week Oct. 5-11. The main focus of the week is to celebrate the accomplishments of the young people, volunteer leaders and parents involved in 4-H Clubs – as well as to encourage others to become involved in the unique youth development program.

(Distributed 09/26/08) The totals related to hurricanes Gustav and Ike include up to $763 million in lost revenue to Louisiana farmers, ranchers, foresters and fishers and as much as $175 million to $200 million in additional damage to the equipment and facilities that form the industries’ infrastructure.

(Distributed 09/25/08) Louisiana waterfowl hunters should make sure they are following the law when hunting in crop-damaged areas of the state this year, according to a wildlife specialist with the LSU AgCenter.

Following are pages of photos shot by AgCenter Communications photographers of the effects of hurricanes Gustav and Ike on agriculture and communities in Louisiana. They include photos from three of the AgCenter research stations in the Baton Rouge area – Sugar Station, Central Station and Burden Center. The photos include the photographer’s name and the date the photo was taken.

(Distributed 09/23/08) The 2008 Fall Garden Show in New Orleans will be held at the City Park Botanical Garden from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Oct. 18-19.

(Distributed 09/19/08) LSU AgCenter Chancellor Bill Richardson was part of a group of agricultural representatives that met with Louisiana’s Congressional delegation earlier this week to provide an accurate picture of the severe damage caused to Louisiana agriculture as a result of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

(Distributed 09/04/08) Hurricane Gustav put a lot of limbs and whole trees on the ground in various areas of the state, and many people already are working on cleanup efforts. An LSU AgCenter forest safety specialist says safety should be a major consideration during those efforts – particularly when it comes to use of a chainsaw.

(Distributed 09/05/08) Rice is among the many Louisiana agricultural commodities hurt by Hurricane Gustav, although the majority of the crop had been harvested in the southwest Louisiana rice belt before the storm came through.

(Distributed 09/05/08) Most of the mosquitoes being bred in the standing water left in Louisiana from Hurricane Gustav are not the kind that carry West Nile virus, according to LSU AgCenter entomologist and mosquito expert Wayne Kramer.

(Distributed 09/05/08) Louisiana agricultural producers who suffered crop damage from Hurricane Gustav need crop insurance or non-insured crop disaster assistance coverage to be eligible to participate in federal disaster assistance programs, according to LSU AgCenter agricultural economist Kurt Guidry.

(Distributed 09/05/08) Rain resulting from Hurricane Gustav across the crawfish-producing parishes of Louisiana may cause problems for crawfish producers, according to LSU AgCenter aquaculture specialists Greg Lutz and Mark Shirley.

(Distributed 09/07/08) A child may continue to be fearful following a hurricane because of the uncertainty of the future. “A child can mix up real fear and make-believe fear. This is OK, and a parent or other care-giver can help in many ways,” says LSU AgCenter family and consumer sciences specialist Becky White.

(Distributed 09/07/08) When disasters happen, dedicated volunteers and professionals swing into action to help those affected by the tragedy. But these helpers also have needs, says LSU AgCenter family and consumer sciences specialist Becky White.

(Distributed 09/07/08) You probably can’t avoid the stress coming in the wake of Hurricane Gustav, but you can manage it, says LSU AgCenter family and consumer sciences specialist Becky White.

(Distributed 09/08/08) Louisiana’s commercial ornamental horticulture industry received significant but not major damage from the effects of Hurricane Gustav, according to experts at the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 09/09/08) WHITEVILLE – Farmer Jeffrey Sylvester gazed over a field that looked more suited for water-skiing than growing rice. “There’s a rice crop under that water,” he said. “That’s all standing rice.”

(Distributed 09/10/08) Hurricane Gustav caused many problems for people throughout Louisiana, and wildlife also are feeling the effects of the storm.

(Distributed 09/10/08) Rains from Hurricane Gustav significantly affected a diversity of crops in Northeast Louisiana – particularly with parts of Tensas and Franklin parishes getting 19 inches of rain.

(Distributed 09/10/08) One sure vestige of a hurricane or bad blow is a large, dead area of the lawn. It usually is located near curbside where yard debris is piled up for many days.

(Distributed 09/10/08) Louisiana’s farmers are facing lost income from reduced yields and product quality in the neighborhood of $370 to $450 million as a result of the effects of Hurricane Gustav, according to economists with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 09/11/08) For the first time in the history of the LSU AgCenter, a powerful storm did not completely shut down communications in the hardest-hit areas.

(Distributed 09/11/08) Earl Fontenot may have to wait a month before any losses are apparent in his sweet potato crop after Hurricane Gustav. “It’s too early to tell if we’re going to have some loss,” he said. “But it’s not looking good. They are under stressful conditions now.”

(Distributed 09/11/08) Red Cross officials were so impressed by the inaugural operation of the Louisiana Emergency Shelter near Alexandria during Hurricane Gustav they have invited the manager to address chapter and city officials in New York City later this year.

(Distributed 09/12/08) LSU AgCenter economists estimate Louisiana’s agricultural damage from Hurricane Gustav will total hundreds of millions of dollars while stressing the economic losses stretch well beyond the losses to farmers and associated businesses.

(Distributed 09/15/08) Dr. Ron Levy has been named the state soybean specialist for the LSU AgCenter effective Sept. 15 according to Dr. Paul Coreil, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor for extension.

(Distributed 09/16/08) Classes on how to do business online will be offered in four locations across the state, beginning in Oak Grove on Sept. 23. The two-day classes are offered jointly by the LSU AgCenter, the Southern University Agricultural Center and the Louisiana Economic Development Department (LED).

(Distributed 09/16/08) Coastal residents assessing their damage from Hurricane Ike compared this storm with the Hurricane Rita in 2005. In Vermilion Parish, residents said the water rose much slower and was not as high. That wasn’t the case in Cameron Parish, where LSU AgCenter county agent Gary Wicke said the surge even reached the Lake Charles airport.

(Distributed 09/17/08) The deadline has been extended to Sept. 30 for farmers who need waivers from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to qualify for federal disaster insurance to help cover their losses from hurricanes Gustav and Ike. “The deadline had been Sept. 16, but because some of the FSA offices were without power because of the hurricanes, the deadline was extended a couple of weeks,” said Dr. Kurt Guidry, LSU AgCenter agricultural economist.

(Distributed 09/18/08) Residents of Cameron and Calcasieu parishes are still coping with the ordeal of putting their lives back together after Hurricane Ike. People began trickling back to their homes in Cameron and Grand Chenier to see if anything remains to be cleaned up, although they are not being allowed to stay. Cattle owners were struggling to deal with herds still in the marsh.

(Distributed 09/19/08) Hurricane Gustav dumped 18 inches of rain on Ken Thornhill’s sweet potato fields in Franklin Parish. Hurricane Ike didn’t hit his fields as hard, but sweet potato growers across the state are reeling from the two storms. “It’s really a sad period of time for Louisiana’s sweet potato industry,” Thornhill said.

(Distributed 09/19/08) Healthy trees can make for safer neighborhoods and healthier relationships between neighbors, according to an urban forester with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 09/15/08) If you don’t include mulches in your gardening efforts, you really should give them a try. You will be amazed by how much they spare you from weeding and how nice they can make your yard and garden look.