(Video 01/18/10) Hard freezes have affected many plants throughout the state. Now, after the damage has been done, what can you do? On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains what to do with your cold-damaged tropicals. (Runtime: 1:49)

(TV News 01/11/10) Hurricanes marred agriculture production in 2008. In 2009, it was simply rain and plenty of it. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that damage to several crops was severe. (Runtime: 1:37)

(TV News 01/04/10) Louisiana’s sugarcane harvest usually begins to wind down as the year ends, but heavy rains in early and late fall delayed harvest and cut sugar yields. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has the story. (Runtime: 1:49)

(Video 01/11/10) Maybe one of your New Year’s resolutions is to eat healthfully. Growing your own fruit can help you toward that end. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains now is a great time to plant blueberry bushes – which produce some of the most healthful fruit around. (Runtime: 1:49)

(TV News 01/18/10) The hard freeze that settled in for several days across the state froze lakes, burst pipes and damaged plants. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that strawberries producers and nursery owners were both hurt by the cold weather. (Runtime: 1:45)

(TV News 01/18/10) Really cold days are more rare in Louisiana than really hot ones, but both types can show how inefficient our homes are. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard talks with a housing expert about making sure your home is as energy efficient as possible. (Runtime: 1:38)

(Video 01/04/10) After the Christmas holidays, what do you do with the seasonal plants you’ve used? Throw them out or keep them? On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how you can keep and care for some of these holiday plants. (Runtime: 1:40)

(Video 02/15/10) Not all palm plants are created equal. Because of the unusual cold this year, some palms are looking brown and dried up, while others are green and healthy looking. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains the differences among popular palms and how to care for them. (Runtime: 1:37)

(Distributed 01/28/11) Many new gardenia and loropetalum varieties have been introduced to the marketplace over the past few years. Older gardenia varieties are still great plants for us, but the newer varieties offer uniqueness in flowering and repeat bloom tendencies and sometimes have better landscape adaptability. The new loropetalums have unique burgundy-to-purplish foliage color throughout the year.

(Distributed 01/28/11) The LSU AgCenter’s Jefferson Parish office will hold an open house on Wednesday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

(Audio 01/11/10) Tropical plants are often moved indoors during the cold winter weather. Gardeners should remember that although these plants are being protected from the cold, they still require a substantial amount of light. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/11/10) Gardeners who plan to raise transplants for tomatoes, peppers and eggplants should purchase seeds during January. Listen for several conditions necessary for raising successful transplants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/25/10) Plants that are kept indoors require some simple care from their owners. Learn the correct way to most effectively water your indoor plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/18/10) Arbor Day is the day set aside to celebrate trees, and people often plant trees as part of their celebrations. Arbor Day varies from state to state because of the climate and growing conditions in various locations. Find out more about Arbor Day in Louisiana. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/25/10) Although pruning is necessary for some plants, there is some pruning that gardeners should avoid. For example, gardeners should refrain from trimming spring-flowering shrubs this time of the year to ensure the maximum amount of blossoms. Learn more about what not to prune. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(For Release On Or After 01/15/10) Arbor Day is celebrated in Louisiana each year on the third Friday in January. This date is set aside to encourage people to plant trees.

(Audio 01/04/10) Many gardeners may not think January is a good time to grow vegetables. In reality, there are some vegetables that can only be grown during the cooler months in Louisiana. Learn which vegetables develop best during our mild winters. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/25/10) Indoor plants can embellish our homes and even refresh our air, but tese plants can harbor insects such as the mealy bug. Hear about symptoms related to a mealy bug infestation on indoor plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/18/10) Ground covers are low-growing evergreens that spread to fill in spaces in the landscape. Be sure to plant ground covers that are well adapted to the conditions of the location. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/11/10) If you are interested in old-fashioned plants that look great in cottage-style gardens, you should try planting foxgloves, delphinium or holly hock. Hear more to learn tricks for success with these plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/18/10) Winter is a good time to prune many of your landscape plants and not interfere with their blooming seasons. Hear more about trimming the various plants in your yard. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/11/10) Parsley is a popular herb in many Louisiana recipes. Whether you prefer flat leaf or curly leaf parsley, transplants for either are available at your local nursery and can be planted into your garden for everyday use. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/25/10) Although garden pests are more active during the summer months than they are in the winter, gardeners should be aware of a few insects. Caterpillars, aphids, snails and slugs can be a nuisance in vegetable gardens during the winter, and should be dealt with appropriately. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/04/10) Holiday plants are popular as decorations during the Christmas season. Holiday cactuses, Christmas trees and poinsettias are wonderful additions during the holidays, but what do you do when the season is over. Listen for LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill's advice on that topic. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(For Release On Or After 01/22/10) It’s been called both picturesque and spooky, but whatever you think of it, Spanish moss draping live oaks and bald cypress trees contributes a lot to the look of Louisiana.

(Audio 01/04/10) Cool-season bedding plants do a wonderful job of brightening winter landscapes. While it is not too late to plant them in your yard, these cool-season plants require attention. Hear more about ways to care for winter bedding plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(For Release On Or After 01/01/10) All-America Selections is a nonprofit organization that tests newly developed seed-grown varieties of bedding plants and vegetables in garden plots all across the United States. Duplicating conditions in the average home garden, the testing program is independent and unbiased.

(Audio 01/25/10) January is an excellent time for planting camellias because it allows them to settle into their new environment without much stress. Visit your local nursery to purchase the specific camellias you want for your landscape, and be sure to plant them in a suitable location. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/18/10) Irish potatoes are one of the most popular vegetables grown in Louisiana during the winter. Learn how to grow this wonderful vegetable in your own garden for easily available and delicious potatoes. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/18/10) While some common fungicides and insecticides lose their potency over time after being opened, fertilizers maintain their effectiveness as long as they are stored properly. Learn the conditions under which your fertilizers should be kept. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/04/10) Most lawns are dormant over the winter months, so they turn a brown or tan color. The bright or dark green color of cool-season weeds is particularly noticeable against these lawns. Although winter is not the prime time for weed control, it is practical to begin now instead of waiting for the spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/11/10) Most spring-flowering bulbs should have been planted in the fall, but tulips and hyacinth require special treatment before planting. If your tulip and hyacinth bulbs have been chilling in a refrigerator, early January is the best time to get them planted. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 01/04/10) Roses are considered one of the hardiest of shrubs planted into Louisiana landscapes. While roses are widely grown during the spring, it is wise to plant bushes now during the winter months. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(For Release On Or After 01/08/10) Cool days and chilly nights are just the kind of weather lettuce enjoys. Lettuce is a vegetable that is easy to grow, delicious and so attractive any gardener should include – whether in with a vegetable garden, flower garden or even container garden on a balcony.

(For Release On Or After 01/29/10) At the beginning of a new year it’s tempting to look back on the previous year and think of ways to do things better. A worthy goal for gardeners is to keep better records of their gardening activities.

(Distributed 01/19/10) Recent cold weather in south Louisiana will cause this year’s strawberry crop to come in a little later, but the damage is not as bad as the industry first believed, LSU AgCenter experts say.

(Distributed 01/25/10) Ag Adventures, an educational experience in agriculture for third- through fifth-graders, will be held Feb. 23-24 at the Northeast District Livestock Show Barn and Civic Center in Delhi.

(Distributed 01/14/10) The LSU AgCenter’s LaHouse Home and Landscape Resource Center will offer a class on ways to improve residential landscape on February 6, 13, 20 and 27 in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 01/22/10) LAKE CHARLES, La. – Rice farmers and a Lake Charles rice mill are donating rice for Haitians to eat after the massive earthquake hit last week. The Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LRGA) has agreed to buy two tons of rice, and Farmer’s Rice Mill is donating five tons in addition to providing a 10 percent match to any other rice donated for the cause.

Photo gallery of Master Farmers recognized at a luncheon during the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts Annual meeting at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge on Jan. 14.

(Distributed 01/04/10) Although the new year just arrived, Louisiana photographers only have until the end of the month to submit photos for the LSU AgCenter’s 2011 Get It Growing Lawn and Garden Calendar. The deadline for all submissions is Jan. 29. Those photos then will be reviewed for potential use in next year’s calendar.

(Distributed 01/05/10) A roaring fire in the fireplace may sound like the perfect escape from the bitter cold weather in Louisiana. But while a fireplace can offer ambiance, it won’t raise the temperature much in your home, and it could raise your energy costs, says Claudette Reichel, LSU AgCenter housing specialist.

(01/15/10) WEST MONROE, La. – More than 1,800 first and fourth graders from seven northeast Louisiana parishes heard about agriculture commodities at Ag Alley in special showings Jan. 13-14 at Ag Expo.

(Distributed 01/15/10) BATON ROUGE – A group of 23 Louisiana farmers, including one married couple, recently attained the status of master farmer – a title that means they have not only learned the latest in conservation practices, but they are implementing them on their farms.

(Distributed 01/26/10) POLLOCK, La. – One hundred campers from across Louisiana gathered around their sewing machines to create several items at the annual 4-H Fashion Camp Jan. 23-24.

(Distributed 01/15/10) Master Farmers were recoginized at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge on Jan. 14, 2010.

(Distributed 01/20/10) BATON ROUGE – Youth from across Louisiana are preparing to compete in the 75th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show next month at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.

(Distributed 01/12/10) Twenty-five men and women from across Louisiana began a two-year venture in the LSU AgCenter’s Agricultural Leadership Development Program when they attended their first class last week (Jan. 5-7) in Baton Rouge. Established in 1988, the Ag Leadership Program provides educational opportunities for potential leaders involved with agriculture and agribusiness in Louisiana.

(Distributed 01/07/10) Well-below-average temperatures in January will influence the crawfish harvest significantly, according to LSU AgCenter researcher Ray McClain. “Catch is related to water temperature. Cold weather cuts down on the catch, and extended cold weather negatively affects the growth rates of crawfish,” he said.

(Distributed 01/25/10) The public can learn the latest about the greenhouse tomato industry at the LSU AgCenter Red River Research Station’s 14th annual greenhouse tomato seminar Feb. 26 in Bossier City.

(Distributed 01/29/10) CROWLEY, La. – Farmers attending the 2010 joint annual meeting of the Louisiana Rice Council and the Louisiana Rice Growers Association heard an optimistic report from a Washington, D.C., agriculture journalist recently (Jan. 26).

(Distributed 01/21/10) RAYVILLE, La. – Farmers learned ways to improve the quality and yield potential of cotton from LSU AgCenter experts at the Northeast Louisiana Crop Forum Jan. 19. Each year, scientists evaluate cotton varieties and publish guidelines for cotton production practices associated with planting time and variety selection, said Donald Boquet, agronomist.

(Distributed 01/29/10) BUNKIE, La. – Rice farmers could be facing challenges in the marketplace this year, but the outlook is countered by positive news, an LSU AgCenter economist advised them.

(Distributed 01/28/10) The LSU AgCenter has scheduled training sessions across the state to certify contractors, painters and others who perform renovation projects that disturb lead-based paint in housing and other child-occupied facilities built before 1978.

(Distributed 01/26/10) BOSSIER CITY, La. – Your soil is alive, and you need to feed it, Dr. Grace Peterson, an LSU AgCenter agent, said at the monthly Lunch and Ag Discovery session held at the LSU AgCenter Red River Research Station Jan. 20.

(Distributed 01/15/10) Sugarcane growers are nearing the end of the harvest season with the last mill set to shut down around Jan. 16.

(Distributed 1/15/10) Photos and caption for Master Farmers recognized in Baton Rouge at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Jan. 14, 2010

(Distributed 02/01/10) A home remodeling project – and your investment in it – can do much more than update your surroundings. It can make your home a healthier place to live and breathe, according to Claudette Reichel, LSU AgCenter housing specialist.

(Distributed 01/11/10) “Selecting the right plant for the right place” is a frequently mentioned phrase in many of our home horticulture educational presentations. How very important it is. When planning new landscape areas or renovating old landscape areas, you need to consider many factors, including gardening style.

(Distributed 01/05/10) You can avoid a frozen pipe crisis and all of the misery that comes with it – being without water while on a plumber’s long waiting list and thousands of dollars of damage to your walls, floors and furniture – by taking a few simple measures to protect your home.

(Distributed 01/04/10) If one of your New Year goals is to lose weight, choose a plan that helps you make healthy lifestyle changes instead of following the latest diet craze, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 01/27/10) During February, the American Heart Association wants people to Go Red for Women and call attention to the need for women to take charge of their heart health. On Feb. 5, women across America are to wear something red as part of the National Wear Red Day, according to Beth Reames, LSU AgCenter nutritionist.

(Distributed 01/06/10) Horses need help to get through the coming freezing weather, according to LSU AgCenter equine agent Howard J. Cormier. Horse owners need to make plans to protect the animals from a possible deadly combination of extreme cold and rain.

(Distributed 01/29/10) Landscape beds, parking lots and construction activities around trees are all possible without harming the trees if you understand where the tree roots are and what they need to survive. Louisiana celebrated Arbor Day earlier in January, and now is a good time of the year to be reminded about tree care in landscape beds, parking lots and construction sites.

(Distributed 01/01/10) Cool-season bedding plants continue to be popular in Louisiana. Most home gardeners do more warm-weather flower gardening than cool-weather flower gardening, but we all need to realize we have many, great, cool-season flowers that will do well in our climate from mid-fall through late spring.

(Distributed 01/15/10) Mulching is a great sustainable landscape practice when done correctly. The new year is a good time to review the use of mulch in the landscape and how to apply it properly to achieve the maximum benefit.

(Distributed 01/25/10) Iron chlorosis is a common and sometimes serious problem in landscape plants across Louisiana.

(Radio News 01/18/10) Covers blanketed rows of strawberries on Eric Morrow’s farm in Pontchatoula. The covers can make a 4 to 6 degree difference in the temperature around the plants, but they couldn’t offer enough protection from several nights in the twenties and teens. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/04/10) Despite a dismal two years for many Louisiana farmers, an LSU AgCenter economist is optimistic heading into 2010. Dr. Kurt Guidry says agricultural producers could see more profits in the new year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio 01/18/09) Strawberry acreage in Louisiana has declined in recent years although new varieties and techniques have increased strawberry production. This year the state's growers planted just 300 acres, but Dr. Regina Bracy, resident coordinator at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station, says the industry is still strong. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/04/10) The holidays are over, and the decorations have come down, but LSU AgCenter forestry specialist Dr. Don Reed says your Christmas tree still has some value to it. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/04/10) Louisiana’s oyster industry is still struggling to recover from the effects of Hurricane Katrina back in 2005. Oyster fisherman George Barisich lost boats in the storm and saw his business nearly wiped out. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 02/01/10) Altering cultivation practices can help farmers sequester carbon dioxide. Kevin Norton, Louisiana’s director of the Natural Resource Conservation Service, says farmers have started adopting cultivation practices that help store carbon dioxide in the soil rather than releasing it into the environment. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 02/01/10) Scissors were cutting and sewing machines were stitching at the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center where 100 4-H’ers gathered for the 4-H fashion camp. 4-H fashion board member Tiera Harris of Claiborne Parish helped plan camp activities. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 02/01/10) Weather hasn’t been kind to Louisiana farmers recently, but an LSU economist predicts farmers may have better luck with the economy in 2010. Dek Terrell spoke to farmers at the LSU AgCenter’s AgOutlook Conference and said he expects the U.S. gross domestic product to grow in the coming year and the recession to end. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/25/10) Tax planning and preparation aren't just activities for April. They should be a year-round process, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker, who says you should always be on the lookout for ways to save on your taxes. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 02/01/10) Record-setting rainfall in Louisiana during the late fall and early winter can be attributed to El Niño, a weather pattern marked by warmer-than-normal waters in the Pacific Ocean. With El Niño conditions persisting, LSU AgCenter climatologist Jay Grymes says farmers may have to brace for more rain this spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 02/15/10) Overall, Tod Hibbard is glad to be raising chickens again. His houses sat empty for months after Pilgrim’s Pride closed its poultry processing facility in Farmerville. He is now growing chickens for Foster Farms, but his houses aren’t as full as they used to be. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/25/10) Bitter cold temperatures swept into Louisiana recently, and if you found your heating system working overtime and your energy bill skyrocketing, you may want to find areas where air may be leaking into your home, says LSU AgCenter housing specialist Dr. Claudette Reichel. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/11/10) Rain caused problems for sugarcane growers at the start of harvest season. Farmers got a break in November, but as the end of this year's harvest draws nearer, LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Dr. Ben Legendre says December rains led to even more troubles. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/25/10) You can have your king cake and eat it too. Just do it moderation, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Heli Roy, who adds that along with moderation comes balance. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/18/10) While a roaring fire in the fireplace may sound like the perfect escape from the cold, if you really want to warm your home efficiently, LSU AgCenter housing specialist Dr. Claudette Reichel says to put down the matches. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/11/10) If you’re looking for ways to save money this winter, try cutting your energy costs. LSU AgCenter housing specialist Dr. Claudette Reichel has some tips that start with advice about curbing air leakage in your home. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 02/15/10) Poultry producers are still struggling to rebound after the closing and then reopening of a processing facility in Northeast Louisiana. The facility has been running for several months, but LSU AgCenter county agent Matt Stephens says it’s not running at capacity. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/04/10) The Food and Drug Administration has backed off a proposed ban that would have restricted the sale of untreated, warm-water, raw oysters during the months of May through October. The state currently has only a few facilities equipped to treat oysters with either high-pressure or low-temperature pasteurization. (Runtime: 1:10)

(Radio News 02/15/10) Crowds of animals and youngsters gather every year for LSU AgCenter Livestock Show, and this year with be the 75th for the state livestock show. LSU AgCenter livestock show manager Dwayne Nunez said the first shows were much smaller than then ones today. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio 01/25/10) If you pipes survived the recent freezing temperatures, remember to protect them from any additional cold weather we may get this year. LSU AgCenter housing specialist Dr. Claudette Reichel says homeowners often remember to protect pipes outdoors but forget about other ones. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/18/10) Temperatures that fell into the teens across most of Louisiana had nursery owners scrambling to protect their plants. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings explains. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/11/10) Cooler evenings become more frequent this time of year. A roaring fireplace can add warmth and ambiance to your home, but you can also bring in unwanted pests when you bring in the firewood, says LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 02/15/10) The heart is in focus during February, not only because of Valentine’s Day, but also because this month the American Heart Association calls attention to the threat of heart disease. LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames says a healthful diet can guard against a heart attack.

(Radio News 02/01/10) Agricultural activities are sources of methane and nitrous oxide. LSU AgCenter climatologist Jay Grymes says agricultural industries should be proactive in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions before regulations force them to do so.

(Radio News 02/15/10) Every February, cows, goats, rabbits, pigs and poultry – accompanied by the youngsters responsible for them – come together from every corner of the state for the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show. Even though livestock has always been in the event’s name, it is more about helping young people develop life skills than it is the about the animals, according to LSU AgCenter livestock show manager Dwayne Nunez. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio 01/18/10) If you didn’t take tender plants indoors during the recent cold spell, you can expect to see damage to them. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dr. Allen Owings explains. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

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(Radio News 01/25/10) The public is invited to stroll through the camellias at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research station located on Old Covington Road in Hammond. The Tangipahoa Parish Master Gardeners are sponsoring annual camellia stroll on February 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/04/10) 2009 was another challenging year for Louisiana farmers. The persistence of rain during fall harvest season caused significant damage to several crops. LSU AgCenter economist Dr. Kurt Guidry says fields of sweet potatoes, cotton and soybeans did not get harvested because of poor quality. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 01/11/10) With the recent talk of banning the sale of untreated oysters during the summer months, an LSU AgCenter food scientist says irradiating oysters could kill the potentially harmful pathogens. Dr. Lucina Lampila says irradiated food is nothing to fear. (Runtime: 1:10 seconds)

(Radio News 01/11/10) Five years ago, LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Dr. Ray Schneider discovered Asian soybean rust on a research soybean plot in Baton Rouge. This discovery, the first of the disease in the United States, set off an alert across the country. Experts were assembled, and a plan of action to manage the disease was put into place. (Runtime: 1:30 seconds)