(Distributed 08/31/11) Louisiana rice farmers are helping Texas ranchers by providing rice straw to be used as cattle feed in the drought-stricken Lone Star State. The Texans are baling the rice straw for hay and hauling it back to Texas.

(Distributed 08/29/11) LAFAYETTE, La. – Louisiana’s First Lady honored a Lake Charles woman Aug 25 for her volunteer work with 4-H.

(Distributed 08/31/11) Tropical storm season is about the worst time of year for a marsh to burn because of the possibility of a tropical storm surge flooding the soil, according to Andy Nyman, LSU AgCenter associate professor in the School of Renewable Natural Resources.

(Distributed 08/31/11) Three LSU AgCenter administrators have been selected to receive the Honorary American FFA Degree.

(Distributed 08/30/11) Louisiana’s sub-tropical climate can present numerous challenges to agricultural producers. Numerous insects thrive in this environment and can prove difficult and costly to manage.

(Distributed 08/30/11) Reading to the Heart, the Louisiana sustainable community project, is a five-year literacy program in its final year, but in search of ways to continue helping students increase reading skills.

(Distributed 08/29/11) OAK GROVE, La. – Researchers from the LSU AgCenter’s Sweet Potato Research Station showed growers how to optimize production at a field day on the Lee Jones and Sons Farm on Aug. 24.

(Distributed 08/29/11) FOLSOM, La. – Come out to the LSU AgCenter’s first polo tournament on Oct. 2 and watch a few chukkers of this equine sport and help raise money for extension horse programs.

(Distributed 08/26/11) BATON ROUGE – The LSU AgCenter will conduct an eight-week Master Horseman program for adults in the Baton Rouge area, with the first class Sept. 27 at Parker Coliseum on the LSU campus.

(Distributed 08/24/11) The Louisiana Jump$tart Coalition in partnership with the LSU AgCenter will host the 2011 Financial Education Summit at the Crowne Plaza hotel Sept. 15-16 in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 08/23/11) SHREVEPORT, La. – The Food Initiative Taskforce (FIT) for Kids taught 20 youth ages 11 to 16 how to eat healthful this summer.

(Distributed 08/23/11) John W. Finley, head of the LSU AgCenter Department of Food Science, has been named a fellow of the American Chemical Society.

(Distributed 08/23/11) BOSSIER CITY, La. – Natural deer food may be in short supply this year because drought is causing acorns to drop early, and hogs are competing for them.

(Distributed 08/22/11) A two-day workshop on developing outdoor recreation on agricultural lands has been scheduled for Sept. 28-29 at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Monroe, La.

(Distributed 08/19/11) LAFAYETTE, La. – A $10,000 donation by the TransCanada pipeline company will help fund construction of a multi-purpose building at the LSU AgCenter Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center near Pollock, La.

(Distributed 08/17/11) With blueberry production increasing at a rapid rate in southeastern states, the LSU AgCenter and other land grant universities are providing much-needed information for producers and consumers through All About Blueberries, a webpage on the website, eXtension.org.

(Distributed 08/17/11) MANSURA, La. – The Louisiana 4 H Hall of Fame now has 12 additional members after an induction ceremony held Aug. 13 at the Louisiana 4 H Museum.

(Distributed 08/15/11) Vadim Kochergin, a researcher with the Audubon Sugar Institute, has been named the director of the Louisiana Institute for Biofuels and Bioprocessing, effective Aug. 15. Both institutes are part of the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 08/15/11) NEW ORLEANS – Young chefs from four southern states recently competed in the second annual Louisiana 4-H Seafood Cook-off, with the Mississippi team taking top honors.

(Distributed 08/12/11) OAK GROVE, La. – Ways to enhance tourism resources and create new ones in rural areas of Louisiana and Mississippi were featured at the 2011 Miss-Lou Regional Tourism Summit held Aug. 9-11.

(Distributed 08/12/11) Cristina Sabliov, associate professor in the LSU AgCenter Department of Biological and Agriculture Engineering, has received the 2011 New Holland Young Researcher Award.

(Distributed 08/10/11) A new chemical for stink bug control on rice has been given federal approval on a limited basis for Louisiana farmers. The chemical Tenchu, made by Mitsui, will be available to treat up to 50,000 acres in Louisiana, according to LSU AgCenter entomologist Natalie Hummel.

(Distributed 08/10/11) Louisiana corn farmers are wrapping up a difficult year. Dry conditions throughout most of the growing season put stress on the crop.

POLLOCK, La – Ask any geologist, and they will tell you their job rocks. Chesapeake Energy Corporation’s geologists feel the same way. Their passion for geology, coupled with a companywide education program, created the This School Rocks interactive presentation, which introduces geology and mineral development to students from elementary to high school.

(Distributed 08/09/11) Two LSU AgCenter researchers recently received more than $87,000 in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support economic opportunities for agricultural producers and businesses.

(Distributed 08/08/11) MANSURA, La. – Exhibit enhancements are under way at the Louisiana 4-H Museum. “The new pieces will create a dynamic, self-guided experience for museum visitors,” said museum coordinator Rose Anne St. Romain. “They will be completed by September 30.”

(Distributed 08/05/11) BOSSIER CITY, La. – LSU AgCenter wildlife specialist Don Reed will conduct a deer management meeting Aug. 22 in Bossier City.

(Distributed 08/04/11) Twenty-three youth from around the state participated in the 2011 Louisiana Young Ag Producers Program Summer Institute held July 18-22 on the LSU-Baton Rouge campus, according to LSU AgCenter program coordinator Bradley Leger.

(Distributed 08/04/11) Cathleen Williams, an associate professor in the LSU AgCenter School of Animal Sciences, has been named the 2011 winner of the Land O’Lakes/Purina LLC Teaching Award in Dairy Production, which is presented by the American Dairy Science Association to recognize outstanding teaching of undergraduate students in dairy science.

(Distributed 08/04/11) The LSU AgCenter will host an on-farm sweet potato field day Aug. 24 in northeast Louisiana.

(Distributed 08/02/11) ST. JOSEPH, La. – With help from a grant from the United Soybean Board, the LSU AgCenter is looking at best management options to maximize soybean yield in Louisiana.

(Distributed 08/02/11) HOMER, La. – The LSU AgCenter’s Hill Farm Research Station has scheduled a field day for Thursday, Sept. 15.

(Distributed 08/01/11) ARCADIA, La. – Jurors Empowering Teens, a Bienville Parish program the LSU AgCenter oversees, completed its fourth year July 29 as 12 youth who are employed by the police jury completed their summer jobs.

(Distributed 08/01/11) The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared Aug. 7-13 as Farmers Market Week.