(Video News 04/11/11) Corn prices are up this year, but this will not lead to a large increase in corn acres in Louisiana. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has an outlook on the 2011 corn crop. (Runtime: 1:12)

(Video News 04/25/11) Caterpillars are descending from trees looking for an ideal spot to undergo their metamorphosis. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard says most caterpillars are only a minor nuisance. Others can deliver a painful sting. (Runtime: 1:25)

(Video News 04/18/11) Rice planting has started in Louisiana, and much of the crop in the southern part of the state is in the ground. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard says the state's rice farmers will plant fewer total acres this year despite an earlier start. (Runtime: 1:50)

(Video News 04/04/11) Weed scientists across the South are battling herbicide-resistant weeds. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard talked with two in Louisiana who are trying to keep the problem from spreading. (Runtime: 1:50)

Video (04/01/11) Looking for a small tree to ideally adapt to your landscape? In this edition of Get it Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to a native Louisiana tree that’s extremely functional and adaptable. (Runtime: 1:34)

(Video 4/25/11) Looking for plants that grow best in Louisiana landscapes? Then you probably want to select a Louisiana Super Plant – plants proven to grow best in Louisiana landscapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to the beautiful Serena angelonia – a Louisiana Super Plant that can take the heat of summer. (Runtime: 1:41)

(Video 4/11/11) The LSU AgCenter introduces various Louisiana Super Plants throughout the year. They’re superior plants for Louisiana landscapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to the fragrant Frostproof gardenia. It’s a Louisiana Super Plant with a super smell. (Runtime: 1:36)

(Distributed 04/13/11) LSU AgCenter agents in northeast Louisiana are conducting classes in detention centers in Franklin, Richland, Morehouse and Union parishes to help prisoners prepare for reentering society.

(Distributed 04/29/11) Midspring is here, and it’s time to mow, mow, mow.

(Radio News 04/28/11) As wind whipped across Marsh Island, a plane buzzed overhead raining down seeds across a 15-acre swath of land. LSU AgCenter researcher Herry Utomo is testing aerial seeding of the marsh plant smooth cordgrass on this barrier island off the coast in Iberia Parish. (Runtime: 1:50)

(Distributed 04/28/11) The LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station will hold an open house from 9 a.m. to noon May 21.

(Distributed 04/26/11) CROWLEY, La. – A stored grain pest management workshop will be held May 10 with experts from five states. The clinic will be at the Acadia Parish Extension Office, 157 Cherokee Drive, in Crowley from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

(Distributed 04/26/11) PONCHATOULA, La. – The LSU AgCenter youth wetlands program staff and Ponchatoula High School FFA members taught elementary students the value of wetlands at their Wetlands Celebration Day on April 21 as part of Youth Wetlands Week.

(Distributed 04/25/11) Fourteen 4-H students were winners in the State 4-H Commodity Ambassador Contest on April 19 on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. In all, 71 4-H’ers from across the state competed in the chicken, egg, seafood, sugar and turkey contests.

(Distributed 04/25/11) MANSFIELD, La. – Chesapeake Energy Corp. awarded two students laptop computers at an awards banquet April 19, honoring the winners of the Discovering Tomorrow’s Leaders contest in DeSoto Parish.

(Distributed 04/21/11) With cattle prices at historical highs and many families struggling economically, cattle theft has the potential to increase, warns LSU AgCenter extension beef specialist Allen Nipper. He offers tips for cattle producers to prevent theft.

(Distributed 04/12/11) JEANERETTE, La. – An LSU AgCenter study has shown that cattle can produce acceptably tender beef with a Brahman influence exceeding the national recommendation, a researcher said at the April 9 Acadiana Cattle Producers Spring Field Day held at the Iberia Research Station.

(Distributed 04/21/11) We are approaching the time of spring to get your heat-loving, warm-season bedding plants into the ground. Anytime from mid-March through May in Louisiana is a great time to add new flowers to your landscape beds.

(Audio 04/25/11) Indoor plants can help freshen the air and make a room more welcoming. Plants are happier outside, however, so it's a good idea to let them spend some time outdoors during the summer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/25/11) Spring-flowering bulbs can dress up a landscape. Plants such as Louisiana iris or daffodils can bloom year after year. To keep them in good shape, cut off developing seed pods after the plants finish flowering. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/25/11) As plants begin to rapidly grow during the summer, a fungal disease called powdery mildew tends to show up. Powdery mildew prefers dry weather, but it can be controlled by a fungicide. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/19/11) Each Wednesday Cynthia Richard, a family resource agent with the LSU AgCenter, offers a personal or family finance class at Care Help of Sulphur. On the day we visited, she talked about credit scores and the importance of paying your bills on time. (Runtime: 1:30)

(Audio 04/25/11) April is the peak month for wonderful cool-season bedding plants. If these plants were planted back in the fall, they should be hitting their stride now. This time of the year is not a good time to plant cool-season plants, but you can make evaluations about what worked in your garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/25/11) Louisiana gardeners use a variety of container plants in outdoor areas. The warm weather will encourage these plants to grow, increasing their need for fertilizer. Fertilize them regularly to keep them healthy and attractive. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 04/19/11) Louisiana’s sweet potato farmers soon will be planting their crop. And for most, the transplants, or “slips,” they put in the ground will be from seed roots that had their start at the LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Research Station at Chase.

(Distributed 04/19/11) KINGSTON, La. – Typically grown as a cash crop in southeast Louisiana, strawberries are flourishing in DeSoto Parish.

(Distributed 04/19/11) Industry professionals and elected officials learned about the work at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station at an appreciation event on April 14.

(Distributed 04/18/11) If mom's a gardener or just likes flowering plants, you can shop for her at the Master Gardeners' Mother’s Day plant sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 7 at the LSU AgCenter Burden Center.

(Distributed 04/15/11) Although dyed Easter eggs may look like decorations, they are a perishable food. Improper care of perishable foods can trigger foodborne illness, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Beth Reames.

(Audio 04/18/11) Tomato vines tend to sprawl on the ground if they aren't supported. In Louisiana, this would likely lead to fruit rot, so gardeners need to provide some sort of support for their plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/18/11) The weather is fairly warm in mid- to late April in Louisiana, so gardeners can plant tender summer bedding plants. These plants will not tolerate freezes but will perform well during Louisiana's hot summer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/18/11) Louisiana gardeners can find many colorful bedding plants at nurseries and garden centers. Even though stores may still be carrying cool-season bedding plants, it's best to plant warm-season bedding plants now. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/18/11) A wide variety of herbs that we grow are sensitive to heat. These herbs are growing well now but will fade as summer sets in. Use these herbs generously over the next few weeks or preserve them for use later this year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 04/15/11) Who knows how much rain we’ll get during spring and summer? We need to keep in mind that many areas of Louisiana are experiencing below-average rainfall amounts. And it’s common to get significant rain events followed by three to four weeks of dry weather. How do we irrigate our landscapes under these conditions?

(Radio News 04/14/11) The white-marked tussock moth caterpillar may look menacing, with its red head, white tufts and prominent tail, but this caterpillar won’t sting. It and other common caterpillars can be found around trees this time of the year. (Runtime: 1:25)

(Audio 04/18/11) Louisiana gardeners should try to get their tomato transplants now. Waiting could reduce the quality of your crop. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 04/13/11) The LSU AgCenter has scheduled a second biodiesel workshop for May 11 due to overwhelming response to the workshop scheduled a week earlier, according to Bill Carney, LSU AgCenter director of the Callegari Center.

(Distributed 04/13/11) The LSU AgCenter will conduct a two-day workshop at the Vidalia Conference Center June 9-10 for entrepreneurs interested in business opportunities related to paddling and canoeing.

(Radio News 04/11/11) Clearfield varieties make up about 70 percent of the rice acreage in Louisiana. These varieties allow growers to control the red rice weed with the herbicide Newpath, but LSU AgCenter rice specialist Johnny Saichuk says growers are starting to see problems with some of these varieties. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/04/11) Louisiana gardeners often wait until roses are in bloom to purchase them and plant them. It is better to plant roses earlier in the season, however, so they are less stressed when trying to produce flowers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 04/08/11) Most Louisiana gardeners are familiar with Knock Out roses. They have introduced roses to many home gardeners who otherwise never would have grown them. And they fit perfectly into a sustainable, low-maintenance landscape.

(Radio News 04/08/11) Farmers have planted most of Louisiana’s corn crop. The LSU AgCenter’s corn specialist says he expects acreage to be up only slightly from last year. Corn, soybeans and cotton all are seeing high commodity prices. (Runtime: 1:10)

(Audio 04/11/11) As the weather warms, Louisiana gardeners have to deal with more pests, including weeds, insects and diseases. It's important to get a proper diagnosis of a problem so you can treat it correctly. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/11/11) Permanent lawn grasses such as centipede and St. Augustine are best planted from April through August. Solid sodding is expensive, but it creates an instant lawn and reduces weed problems. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 04/08/11) A 13-year-old federal program to combat Formosan subterranean termites in New Orleans’ French Quarter is winding down, according to officials. The program called Operation Full Stop featured treating French Quarter properties for termites through professional pest management companies paid with funds provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service.

(Radio News 04/07/11) Tax time is a good time to review your tax withholdings and adjust them, if necessary. When would an adjustment be in order? LSU AgCenter family economist Jeanette Tucker says adjustments should be made when your financial situation changes. If you bought a house, got married or started collecting Social Security, for example, you may want to change the amount that is withheld from your paycheck. (Runtime: 1:10)

(Radio News 04/07/11) Taxpayers have three extra days to file their federal tax returns this year. The deadline was extended to April 18 because of a holiday in the District of Columbia that falls on April 15 this year. As the deadline approaches, LSU AgCenter family economist Jeanette Tucker encourages taxpayers who are expecting a refund to file electronically. (Runtime: 1:10)

(Audio 04/11/11) Caladiums allow gardeners to create beautiful beds in the shade. The colorful foliage can make a nice show in shady areas. You can buy tubers now. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/11/11) Perennials are plants that grow in our flower gardens and live from year to year. These colorful plants can add punch to our landscapes and lower maintenance of flower beds. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/11/11) Louisiana gardeners shouldn't fertilize their lawns too early. The grass needs to wake up and establish roots before feeding the new growth. Remember, fertilizing is optional. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 04/06/11) The LSU AgCenter will host a one-day comprehensive workshop on how to make biodiesel fuel from used vegetable oil on May 4 at the Callegari Environmental Center in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 04/01/11) Because of cuts in state funding and to make more efficient use of resources, the LSU AgCenter has begun phasing out research programs at three of its 20 research stations. The three are the Coastal Area Research Station in Plaquemines Parish, the Rosepine Research Station in Vernon Parish and the Calhoun Research Station in Ouachita Parish.

(For Release On Or After 04/29/11) An important part of gardening successfully is learning to water your plants properly. Learning how to water properly is not complicated, but during hot, dry weather it can make a world of difference to the health of the plants in your landscape. New trees, shrubs and many warm-season bedding plants are planted in March, April and May. With intense heat right around the corner, watering will become increasingly important.

(For Release On Or After 04/22/11) Do you know what Spanish moss and pineapples have in common? Believe it or not, they are actually related and belong to the same family of plants – the Bromeliad family. Bromeliads are a beautiful family of tropical plants, many of which posses colorful foliage, beautiful flowers or both.

(For Release On Or After 04/15/11) An outstanding angelonia has been named a spring 2011 Louisiana Super Plant selection. Serena series angelonia is a long-blooming summer bedding plant with a tough constitution and a long blooming season.

(For Release On Or After 04/08/11) Fertilizing lawns in most of Louisiana is best done in early to mid-April. At that time our warm-season lawn grasses, such as centipede, St. Augustine, Bermuda and zoysia, have begun active growth and reestablished a strong root system and are ready for the extra nutrients fertilizer provides.

(Distributed 04/01/11) Lantanas continue to be one of the most popular herbaceous perennials for Louisiana landscapes. Many varieties – some old and some new – offer a multitude of growth forms and flower colors. Lantanas can be added to the landscape from now through summer for great color into late fall.

(Audio 04/04/11) Hydrangeas are popular shrubs for growing in shady areas. They may not look like much right now, but soon they will send out new leaves and bloom. You can alter the color of your hydrangea by changing the pH of your soil. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/04/11) Thrips are tiny insects that invade the flower buds of roses and feed on the petals. Affected petals may open but appear old and damaged. Controlling thrips is difficult, but not impossible.

(Audio 04/04/11) It's time to take the lawnmowers out. Once you start mowing, you are going to want to mow regularly. Have your lawnmower serviced before you start this year's mowing season. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/04/11) Louisiana gardeners use tropical plants in their landscapes. Freezes may have damaged your tropical plants, but wait to see if they put on new growth later this month before pulling them out. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/04/11) "Step into fun with 4-H" is the theme of this summer’s 4-H camp experience at the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center in Pollock. Thousands of youth attend camp each year where they make lifelong friends and memories. (Runtime: 1:05)

(Radio News 04/04/11) An LSU AgCenter program that provides a wetland education curriculum to Louisiana teachers each year is helping students improve science scores. The Youth Wetland Program is in its fifth year. Youth Wetland Program coordinator Ashley Mullens explains. (Runtime: 1:05)

(Radio News 04/04/11) Students across the state will take part in Youth Wetlands Week April 18-22. The week focuses on educating students about the importance of conserving and restoring Louisiana’s wetlands. Ashley Mullens, youth wetland program coordinator for the LSU AgCenter, says the program kicks off at the Louisiana Earth Day celebration in Baton Rouge. (Runtime: 1:15)