(Distributed 12/18/09) Farmers getting ready for the 2010 rice growing season can get advice and the latest information at seven meetings being held in January, all featuring experts from the LSU AgCenter. The first will be Jan. 5 at the community center in Welsh starting at 8 a.m.

(Distributed 12/18/09) Many landscape trees are planted from fall through the winter in Louisiana. Homeowners need to be aware of some of the common mistakes made in planting, establishment and follow-up care of trees.

(Video 12/21/09) The poinsettia easily is the most popular Christmas season plant, but another beautiful holiday plant that is less known is the paperwhite. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how to care for paperwhites early in their growth – by properly planting the bulbs. (Runtime: 1:57)

(Video 12/28/09) Wax begonias are a popular plant used during the summer, but their beautiful cousins, Rex begonias, can be purchased now to be used as indoor plants. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how to properly care for these colorful plants with a funny name. (Runtime: 1:39)

(TV News 12/28/09) A proposed ban on raw oysters harvested during warm months would have hurt an already fragile oyster industry in Louisiana. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has the story. (Runtime: 1:48)

(TV News 12/21/09) Plants can play a featured role in holiday decorations, but you can’t put them on display and then ignore them. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports these plants need care throughout the holiday season. (Runtime: 1:25)

(Distributed 12/17/09) A Claiborne Parish teacher and her school have won the first Promising Practices Award in Louisiana, an honor created by the LSU AgCenter 4-H program to recognize educators who emphasize character education with their students. Dana Smith, a Haynesville Junior/Senior High School teacher, coordinates an annual training to teach teen teams from Claiborne Parish schools about the importance of ethical, social and academic growth through character education.

(Distributed 12/17/09) For more than 15 years, Dr. Zhijun Liu with the LSU AgCenter’s School of Renewable Natural Resources has been investigating plants for medicinal properties. He started by looking at plants that traditionally have been used as folk remedies to treat diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer.

(Distributed 12/15/09) Many doting grandparents (and others) have established family traditions of giving U.S. savings bonds as holiday gifts. Gifts of bonds help grandchildren save for the future and teach them about investing at the same time according to LSU AgCenter family economist Jeanette Tucker.

(Distributed 12/15/09) NEW ORLEANS – LSU AgCenter representatives gave their perspectives on the 2009 growing season in Louisiana and the upcoming year during the 2009 USA Rice Outlook Conference held in New Orleans Dec. 9-11.