(Video 06/21/10) Hosta is a genus of plants that can produce nice, green foliage in your landscape. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill offers some advice on the best ways to grow hosta plants. (Runtime: 1:29)

(Video 06/28/10) A popular plant for producing colorful flowers throughout the summer is the impatiens. These traditional impatiens only grow in shady areas. But on this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to a new, bigger impatiens, which prefers direct sunlight over shade. (Runtime: 1:42)

(TV News 06/07/10) Farmers have finished harvesting the state’s wheat crop. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that yields are varied and prices could be better. (Runtime: 1:20)

(TV News 06/14/10) Oil threatens wildlife and plants that live in Louisiana's marshes. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard talks with a plant and a fisheries specialist about the spill and what it could mean for the fragile ecosystem and fishing communities. (Runtime: 1:55)

(Distributed 06/30/10) Two new LSU AgCenter blogs related to rice farming have made debuts this season on the Web. Natalie Hummel, entomologist, documents her work with rice insects, and Johnny Saichuk, rice specialist, has turned his Field Notes newsletter into a blog.

(Distributed 06/29/10) CROWLEY, La. – A facility aimed at helping farmers export rough rice to Mexico by rail is progressing and could be in operation by next year, the Louisiana Rice Growers Association Board of Directors learned at a recent meeting. Jim Watkins of Welsh reported to fellow board members that the rail facility to load rice at Lacassine is closer to being built.

(Distributed 06/29/10) Twenty-one 4-H students from across Louisiana spent two days in June learning to prepare and present shrimp dishes as practice for national competition at the Great American Seafood Cook-off in New Orleans in August. The youth were part of a new educational track during 4-H University on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, June 22-25, called the Next 4-H Food Star.

(Distributed 06/28/10) BATON ROUGE, La. – Hundreds of Louisiana youth took home honors as state contest winners and alternates during the 96th annual 4-H University June 22-25 on the LSU campus. All together nearly 1,550 4-H’ers participated in the event, which is the culmination of a year of activities in the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H youth development program.

(Distributed 06/28/10) Consumers and businesses are advised to be alert for scams following the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico – and to report their experiences to federal and state authorities, advises Jeanette Tucker, LSU AgCenter extension family economist.

(Distributed 06/25/10) NEW ORLEANS – The LSU AgCenter has launched a new online service to help agriculture businesses market their products. Called Market Maker, the service is offered via a website so anyone in the world 24 hours a day can find items they want to purchase from Louisiana businesses.