(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 02/15/10) 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 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 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 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 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 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) 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 02/01/10) 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.