(Distributed 02/22/10) GONZALES, La. – Hundreds of young people from across Louisiana were named state champions during the 75th Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show Presented by Price LeBlanc Feb. 13-20 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.

(Distributed 02/26/10) The theme for National Nutrition Month this March is Nutrition From the Ground Up, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Beth Reames.

(Distributed 02/11/10) SHREVEPORT, La. – The LSU AgCenter will conduct a seminar for commercial fruit and vegetable growers Saturday, Mar. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Caddo Parish extension office, 2408 E. 70th St. in Shreveport.

(Distributed 02/03/10) Clayton Hollier, professor of plant pathology in the LSU AgCenter Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Friends of Southern IPM Thursday, Jan. 21, during the Ag Outlook conference at Alexandria.

(Distributed 02/08/10) CALHOUN, La. – Louisiana forest landowners heard about ways to improve timber, wildlife and product value from their lands at an LSU AgCenter forum recently.

(Distributed 02/25/10) DELHI, La. – Ag Adventures, an educational experience in agriculture, attracted nearly 800 students Feb. 23-24 to the Northeast District Livestock Show Barn and Civic Center here.

HAMMOND, La. – The LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station and Tangipahoa Master Gardeners will host a stroll through the W. F. “Hody” Wilson Camellia Garden at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010, from 1-4 p.m.

(Distributed 02/19/10) A safe food supply doesn’t just happen, as 28 people could tell you after attending a three-day training session on Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points, commonly called HACCP, at the LSU AgCenter in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 02/26/10) BENTON, La. – The No. 1 yard tree problem is damage caused by construction of new houses, according to Ricky Kilpatrick, LSU AgCenter agent in Bossier Parish.

(Distributed 02/10/10) The Louisiana 4-H Museum is offering storytelling programs for youngsters age 3 on up on the first and third Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. each month, according to Rose Anne St. Romain, the director. On Feb. 20, the program theme will be “Favorite Things” and will include St. Romain’s dramatization of “The Old Woman and Her Pet.”

(Distributed 02/03/10) ALEXANDRIA, La. – El Niño is back, and Louisiana farmers – especially those in the southern part of the state – could be looking at a wet planting season, according to Jay Grymes, LSU AgCenter climatologist.

(Distributed 02/15/10) ALEXANDRIA, La. – The Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association inducted Dr. Ben Legendre, LSU AgCenter sugarcane scientist, into the Agricultural Hall of Fame during the organization’s annual conference recently (Feb. 10-12).

(Distributed 02/23/10) GONZALES, La. – Six exceptional Louisiana youths were recognized Saturday (Feb. 20) for their knowledge, skills and communication abilities as they were named winners of the Gerry Lane Premier Exhibitor Awards at the 75th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show Presented by Price LeBlanc at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center here.

(Distributed 02/26/10) BILOXI, Miss. – Dr. Eric Webster, LSU AgCenter weed scientist, received the Distinguished Research and Education Award on Wednesday (Feb. 24) at an international rice conference held by the Rice Technical Working Group.

(Distributed 02/26/10) The 26th annual Ark-La-Tex Forestry Forum will be held Thursday, March 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Financial Plaza in Shreveport.

(Distributed 02/26/10) The LSU AgCenter’s Audubon Sugar Institute will present its annual sugar processing short course May 20-21 in Savannah, Ga.

(Distributed 02/09/10) WELSH, La. – U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany praised the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station for its innovations that could make U.S. products more competitive.

(Distributed 02/11/10) BATON ROUGE, La. – The sixth annual Louisiana Food Processors Conference is scheduled for March 17-18 at the Energy, Coast and Environment Building on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 02/11/10) With the specter of increasing foreclosures looming over the Baton Rouge area as a result of the downturn in the economy, a group of local nonprofits and their community development partners are joining together to help keep people in their homes.

(Distributed 02/22/10) New insect pest, plant disease and weed management guides for 2010 are now available from the LSU AgCenter. The price for the guides is $12 each plus 9 percent tax; shipping is free. The guides can be ordered online at www.lsuagcenter.com/onlinestore or by phoning 225-578-2263.

(Distributed 02/02/10) Abner Hammond, professor of entomology at the LSU AgCenter, has been honored with the 2010 Distinguished Achievement Award from the National Sweet Potato Research Council. This award is given for long-term and distinguished service to the sweet potato industry. Hammond specializes in management of sweet potato insect pests, especially the sweet potato weevil.

(Distributed 02/10/10) Camellia enthusiasts are invited to “Camellia Morning and Tutorium at Burden” on Saturday, Feb. 27, from 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the LSU AgCenter’s Burden Center in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 02/20/10) The LSU AgCenter honored an outstanding volunteer leader and five 4-H and FFA members Saturday (Feb. 20) for their work with youth livestock projects. Sponsored by the Louisiana 4-H Foundation and Louisiana FFA, the annual awards were presented as part of the 75th Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show.

(Distributed 02/08/10) LAKE CHARLES, La. – More than 800 children learned about animals and the origins of their food recently (Feb. 3-4) at Ag Adventures held in conjunction with the LSU AgCenter’s Southwest Regional Livestock Show.

(Distributed 02/18/10) The LSU AgCenter has been named 2009 Conservation Communicator of the Year in the 46th annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Recognition Program. This is one of several awards given by the Governor’s Office to top conservation organizations and individuals. The awards and presentation event are conducted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation.