(Distributed 10/16/09) Students at Warren Easton High School in New Orleans along with 10 other schools around the state really know what it means to get down and dirty, thanks to a $25,000 grant secured by the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H Youth Development office.

(Distributed 10/28/09) The LSU AgCenter has received two specialty crop block grants for two research and promotion projects to enhance the competitiveness of Louisiana-grown sweet potatoes and nursery crops.

(Distributed 10/26/09) Louisiana’s agricultural and seafood industries will have a new marketing tool in early 2010 when MarketMaker, a national Internet-driven service, is inaugurated in the state, according to officials with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 10/21/09) Entrepreneurs considering cut flowers as a full-time or part-time business may want to attend the regional “Rolling the Dice with Cut Flowers” workshop Nov. 17-18 at the Hilton Hotel in Memphis, Tenn.

(Distributed 10/23/09) An affordable “high-performance” demonstration home in Ponchatoula will be open Nov. 12 for free tours and live demonstrations of home performance testing.

(Distributed 10/22/09) BOSSIER CITY – Marbling is the No. 1 way to determine quality in a cut of meat, said LSU AgCenter county agent Johnny LeVasseur at the latest monthly Lunch and Ag Discovery program at the AgCenter’s Red River Research Station.

(Distributed 10/21/09) Everything looks good for the Christmas tree crop in Louisiana, according to Dr. Don Reed, LSU AgCenter forestry and wildlife specialist.

(Distributed 10/20/09) A leisurely bicycle tour of Shreveport’s most significant trees will be held Nov. 7, led by Shreveport native Dr. Hallie Dozier, an urban forester with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 10/20/09) To recognize the exceptional contributions made to Louisiana through agriculture, the Louisiana Agri-News Network, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will honor the 2010 Louisiana Farmer of the Year. Nominations for the award are being accepted now through Dec. 11, 2009.

(Distributed 10/19/09) The LSU AgCenter has approved the release of two new Clearfield lines for the 2010 rice-growing season, according to Dr. Steve Linscombe, LSU AgCenter rice breeder.

(Distributed 10/16/09) The LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development have partnered to bring e-business training to north Louisiana beginning Oct. 21.

(Distributed 10/16/09) FARMERVILLE, La. – A youth wetland camp in Union Parish on Oct. 10-11 included a variety of activities to let 4-H’ers know the importance of clean water in an area affected by the gradually diminishing Sparta Aquifer.

(Distributed 10/15/09) More than 100 commercial turf and landscape professionals from across Louisiana heard about the latest research with ornamental plants and turfgrass at an LSU AgCenter field day Oct. 15.

(Distributed 10/14/09) The Burden Horticulture Society will conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Nov. 7 to celebrate for the grand opening of Trees and Trails, a 5-mile system of pedestrian, recreational and educational trails located at the LSU AgCenter’s Burden Center in the heart of Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 10/14/09) CROWLEY, La. – Coastal restoration using native marsh plants will be the focus of a field day at the LSU AgCenter’s Rice Research Station Oct. 28.

(Distributed 10/14/09) ZWOLLE, La. – AgCellent Expo, an educational event held at the Zwolle Tamale Fiesta Oct. 9, taught students about wildlife and furs, dairy products, nutrition and forestry.

(Distributed 10/08/09) Managing animal waste and finances in these tight economic times will be two topics featured at the LSU AgCenter dairy field day Nov. 12 at the AgCenter’s Southeast Research Station in Franklinton.

(Distributed 10/13/09) The LSU AgCenter, along with a Mississippi agriculture agency and three other southern universities, has been awarded a $518,000 grant to develop an interactive, educational Web site about blueberries. The site’s initial purpose will be to teach people in the southeastern United States how to grow this commodity, which is increasingly popular, and to encourage consumers to eat more blueberries, which are a valuable source of many nutrients and fiber.

(Distributed 10/09/09) The Venice Port Complex has donated $7,500 to Plaquemines Parish 4-H, according to Jan Morgan, LSU AgCenter 4-H agent.

(Distributed 10/08/09) CROWLEY, La. – Agriculture producers attending an LSU AgCenter seminar Oct. 6 learned how they can make extra income by opening their farms and ranches to tourists. “Across the state, people are learning they can make money off the family farm,” said Dora Ann Hatch, LSU AgCenter rural community development agent.

(Distributed 10/08/09) FRANKLINTON, La. – LSU AgCenter 4-H agents, parents and volunteers celebrated National Hunting and Fishing Day Sept. 26 at the LSU AgCenter’s Southeast Research Station here.

(Distributed 10/06/09) BATON ROUGE – Wood outperforms other building products because it requires less energy to produce, provides better insulation in buildings, stores carbon and can be fabricated into many advanced building products.

(Distributed 10/06/09) Heavy rains since mid-September have severely delayed sweet potato harvest in some northern Louisiana parishes, according to the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 10/06/09)The 13th Louisiana Plant Materials Conference is scheduled for Oct. 29 at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station.

(Distributed 10/05/09) An $11,600 donation from the Lincoln Health Foundation will provide additional resources for teachers at two Ruston elementary schools for the Take 10! classroom program.

(Distributed 10/05/09) Frequent rains during September and continuing into October have kept cotton farmers out of their fields and have jeopardized the crop, according to LSU AgCenter cotton specialist, Don Boquet.

(Distributed 10/02/09) Who knows when we will get another bad storm blowing through Louisiana? We may get just a nasty wind from some front or tornado-like activity. In any case, there will be fallen limbs and branches to deal with.

(Distributed on 10/1/09) NEW ORLEANS – Military families had a chance to enjoy some quality time together at a camp at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans September 18-19.Sponsored by Operation Military Kids, children and their parents got back to nature, complete with the sounds of the zoo animals in the background.