(Distributed 11/24/10) A free Internet marketing tool offered by the LSU AgCenter for Louisiana agriculture-related businesses provides an avenue to increase opportunities to buy and sell locally produced food. John Westra, LSU AgCenter economist, said the MarketMaker website is like a sign that says, "We are open for business."

(Distributed 11/24/10) The National Science Foundation has awarded the LSU AgCenter a $600,000 grant to make upgrades in the biotechnology laboratories in Harry D. Wilson Laboratory building on the LSU campus.

(Distributed 11/23/10) Six 4-H’ers represented Louisiana at the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 17-18, 2010, according to Theresia Lavergne, LSU AgCenter poultry specialist and leader of the 4-H poultry project.

(Distributed 11/22/10) The LSU AgCenter is seeking photos for its 2012 Get It Growing Calendar and has issued the call for entries in the contest that selects photos for the annual calendar. Both garden lovers and photography enthusiasts have the opportunity for their work to be chosen for the Get It Growing Calendar by submitting entries in the contest, which closes Jan. 31.

(Distributed 11/18/10) The LSU AgCenter’s 2010 poinsettia open house is set for Dec. 3 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Burden Center located at 4560 Essen Lane near the junction of I-10 in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 11/17/10) CROWLEY, La. – The Louisiana Rice Research Board learned Tuesday (Nov. 16) that farmers will have three new varieties of rice, developed by the LSU AgCenter, to consider for planting.

(Distributed 11/17/10) NEW ORLEANS – LSU AgCenter scientists have discovered fusarium wilt of Canary Island date palm trees in the city for the first time. The disease is previously known to occur in Florida, California and Nevada.

(Distributed 11/17/10) Four of 16 students who received Discovering Tomorrow’s Leaders awards in Caddo and Bossier parishes were 4-H members.

(Distributed 11/17/10) Clusters of pecans stayed in trees longer than usual this year in Louisiana. Dry weather throughout summer and into fall kept them in place, according to Randy Sanderlin, coordinator of the LSU AgCenter Pecan Research and Extension Station at Shreveport.

(Distributed 11/16/10) SHREVEPORT, La. – Caddo Parish Public Schools, winner of the Louisiana Promising Practices award, went on to win a national Promising Practices Award for recognition in social-emotional and character development.