(Distributed 01/31/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Until rice mills start to offer incentives for quality grain, farmers will continue to choose varieties based on yield, LSU AgCenter rice breeder Steve Linscombe told his colleagues from rice-growing regions across the United States.

(Distributed 01/31/12) NEW ORLEANS – Getting back to nature and spending time in the great outdoors is an activity that some inner- city youth in New Orleans are making part of their childhood.

(Distributed 01/30/13) HAMMOND, La. – The LSU AgCenter and the Tangipahoa Master Gardeners are sponsoring their annual camellia garden stroll from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 10, at the Hammond Research Station.

(Distributed 01/28/13) WINNSBORO, La. – LSU AgCenter entomologist David Kerns was honored Jan. 18 in a ceremony recognizing him as the Jack Hamilton Regents Chair in Cotton Production in the AgCenter.

(Distributed 01/25/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter is offering two new short courses for tree care and landscape professionals. The first course, Introduction to Arboriculture, will be held Feb. 18-22.

(Distributed 01/25/13) ST. GABRIEL, La. – The fledgling biofuels and bioprocessing industry in the South took a step forward Friday, Jan. 25, with the formal commissioning of a pilot plant at the LSU AgCenter Audubon Sugar Institute.

(Distributed 01/25/13) HAMMOND, La. – No specific set of rules will cover all pruning. The important consideration should be preserving the natural form of a particular species.

(Distributed 01/25/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced plans to increase lead safety and awareness of the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule by mailing postcards to uncertified renovation contractors as a reminder of their obligation to become certified and by increasing its monitoring and enforcement activities.

(Distributed 01/24/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Heavy rains that soaked south Louisiana in early January were not what strawberry farmers needed.

(Distributed 01/24/13) WEST MONROE, La. – Keeping sites productive in today’s economy is an important consideration to managing forestlands, according to LSU AgCenter forestry specialist Mike Blazier.

(Distributed 01/23/13) RAYVILLE, La. – Louisiana rice farmers heard Tuesday, Jan. 22, that federal regulations for large fuel storage tanks on farms and ranches will go into effect May 15 unless Congress can be convinced to delay the measures for another year.

(Distributed 01/23/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Winter wheat is one of the few crops currently in the ground and subject to the adverse effects of flooding.

(Distributed 01/22/13) WEST MONROE, La. – Trail rides and other horse-related enterprises are big business across the country, particularly in the South. “Trail riders spend $50-$70 million yearly,” said Clint Depew, retired LSU AgCenter equine specialist.

(Distributed 01/21/13) ALEXANDRIA, La. – Farmers getting ready to plant their cotton and small grain crops this year got advice from a full slate of LSU AgCenter experts on Jan. 17 at the Dean Lee Research Station.

(Distributed 01/17/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Several LSU AgCenter experts will discuss their research projects for rice, corn, soybean and cotton farming at the 16th Annual National Conservation Systems Conference on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

(Distributed 01/17/13) HAMMOND, La. – Some people consider roses to be hard to grow. This is not true. Difficulty in growing roses is a common misconception that many gardeners have a hard time believing.

(Distributed 01/17/13) DELHI, La. – An irrigation workshop will be held Feb. 5 in Delhi.

(DIstributed 01/16/13) HAMMOND, La. – Government officials, community leaders and educators discussed the current situation and the future of Internet connectivity in rural areas of Louisiana at the Connect My Louisiana broadband summit held on Jan. 15.

(Distributed 01/16/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Hundreds of youth from across Louisiana will be gathering in Gonzales next month for the 78th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.

(Distributed 01/11/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – The 2013 class of Louisiana Master Farmers was recognized at a luncheon sponsored by the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 01/16/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – What does it take to get started in production agriculture? The LSU AgCenter‘s Louisiana Young Ag Producers Program will provide some answers for high school students who apply and are accepted into the 2013-2014 class.

(Distributed 01/16/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter is providing mentoring services for moms with local support in Iberia, St. Mary and St. Martin parishes.

(Distributed 01/11/13) KAPLAN, La. – An LSU AgCenter economist told Vermilion Parish farmers that they have more reasons to be more optimistic this year than they had in 2012.

(Distributed 01/15/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – This winter’s flu outbreak has been widespread, and children are particularly vulnerable to flu, colds and other illnesses this time of the year. Parents can help their youngsters fight off infections by providing them with a healthful diet.

(Distributed 01/14/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Dwight Landreneau, LSU AgCenter associate vice chancellor and associate director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, has announced plans to retire June 1, 2013.

(Distributed 01/11/13) CROWLEY, La. – The possibility of selling American rice to China is becoming more likely as trade negotiations progress, according to the director of the USA Rice Federation.

CROWLEY, La. – As Mardi Gras gets closer, many in Louisiana look forward to consuming their favorite crustacean, the crawfish. While it is still early in the season, there have been indicators that this year’s supply will be improved when compared to last year’s.

(Distributed 01/11/13) HAMMOND, La. – Our great dogwoods (Cornus florida) once reigned supreme as one of the traditional Southern landscape plants. Dogwoods are deciduous, spring-flowering trees native to the eastern half of the United States and grow to a height of 30 feet. They are beautiful plants for partially shady, understory and sandy soil areas.

(Distributed 01/11/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana photographers who want to submit photographs for the LSU AgCenter 2014 Get It Growing Lawn and Garden Calendar have only a few weeks to enter.

(Distributed 01/10/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – The fourth annual Arbor Day celebration at Burden that was set for Jan. 19 has been rescheduled due to weather concerns. The new date for the activities is Sat., Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

(Distributed 01/08/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Farmers are disappointed that Congress couldn’t pass a new farm bill in 2012 and instead extended the 2008 farm bill, which technically expired in September. LSU AgCenter economist Mike Salassi says this puts farmers in a difficult position as they make planting decisions for this year.

(Distributed 01/08/13) HAMMOND, La. – The LSU AgCenter will host a Connect My Louisiana summit on the importance of being connected to the Internet on Jan. 15 in the Southeast Region Office at the Hammond Research Station.

(Distributed 01/04/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Paul Coreil, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor and director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, has announced plans to retire Sept. 15, 2013. He will continue in his present duties until July 1.

(Distributed 01/04/13) HAMMOND, La. – Many residents of southeast Louisiana may not know that the LSU AgCenter has an agricultural experiment station in this area. It’s devoted to horticulture research and extension programs to aid commercial nursery and landscape professionals, along with homeowners.

(Distributed 01/03/13) ST. GABRIEL, La. – The LSU AgCenter Audubon Sugar Institute will hold a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. on Jan. 25 to mark the completion of a pilot plant dedicated to producing biofuels and biochemicals from agricultural crops and byproducts.