Distributed 11/08/13) We are now at the time of the year ideal for shade tree planting in Louisiana. Oaks are one of our most popular landscape trees. The willow oak (Quercus phellos) has been named a Louisiana Super Plant for fall 2013.

(Distributed 11/08/13) BELLE CHASE, La. – The lingering cold temperatures last spring may be affecting the quantity and size of some citrus crops but growers harvesting satsumas say this could be a bumper crop that is definitely better than last year.

(Distributed 11/27/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Eleven Louisiana 4-H members took home top prizes from the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference held in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 20-21.

(Distributed 11/27/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Nominations for the 2014 Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction are being accepted through Dec. 15.

(Distributed 11/27/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter will host a poinsettia open house and sale from 8 a.m. to noon on Dec. 6 at the Botanic Gardens at Burden, which is located at 4560 Essen Lane near the junction of I-10 in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 11/22/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Students from the LSU Laboratory School got out of the classroom for a wetlands education field day at LSU’s Hilltop Arboretum on Nov. 14. The event, known as Louisiana Wetlands Exploration Day, was one of seven similar events held around the state this fall, according to Ashley Mullens, LSU AgCenter 4-H Youth Wetlands Program manager.

(Distributed 11/25/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter has published a valuable guide for those interested in fruit and nut production in the state.

(Distributed 11/22/13) The Camelot series foxglove (Digitalis) is seed-propagated and includes four colors – Camelot Cream, Camelot White, Camelot Rose and Camelot Lavender.

(Distributed 11/21/13) THIBODAUX, La. – Debbie Melvin likes to say that it takes 30 days to make something a habit. She spends eight Monday evenings with a group of women helping them form healthy habits they can have for the rest of their lives.

(Distributed 11/22/13) HAMMOND, La. – The U.S. forestry industry has migrated from the Pacific Northwest to the South over the past two decades, providing additional opportunities for Southern forest landowners, an LSU AgCenter business development expert told an audience at a workshop on forest-based bioenergy.

(Distributed 11/22/13) HAMMOND, La. – The sasanqua species of camellia is one of our most popular flowering shrubs for late fall through early spring. These go by the scientific names of Camellia sasanqua.

(Distributed 11/21/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – More than 60 Master Gardeners from across the state attended the Louisiana Plant Materials Conference at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens as part of a training program on Nov. 19.

(Distributed 11/20/13) HAMMOND, La. – The Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season means it’s time for poinsettias.

(Distributed 11/20/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter has issued a call for entries for photographs for its 2015 Get It Growing calendar to give photographers an opportunity to have their photos selected for the upcoming edition.

(Distributed 11/18/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Eight animal science faculty members from three federal universities in Brazil spent Nov. 11-15 at the LSU AgCenter visiting with professors, scientists and students in an effort to learn more about various research programs.

(Distributed 11/18/13) BATON ROUGE, La – Louisiana cooks shopping for Thanksgiving will find the costs of traditional dinner items up for the second year in a row. The 2013 Thanksgiving market basket will average $48.50 for 10 people, according to an LSU AgCenter survey.

(Distributed 11/15/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – A recent meeting sponsored by the LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry brought dairy farmers together to discuss their nutrient management plans and to make sure they are in compliance before EPA visits in the coming weeks.

(Distributed 11/15/13) The LSU AgCenter has been evaluating landscape performance of columbines the past five years and selected the Swan series as a Louisiana Super Plant in fall 2011.

(Distributed 11/15/13) HAMMOND, La. – We are now at the time of the year ideal for planting shade trees in Louisiana, and oaks are among our most popular landscape trees.

(Distributed 11/15/13) ALEXANDRIA, La. – LSU AgCenter soybean specialist Ron Levy is conducting the first year of a study at the Dean Lee Research Station to find the balance between preparing an adequate seedbed and retaining organic matter left from the harvest.

(Distributed 11/14/13) FORT POLK, La. – The U.S. Army has honored Sgt. Melvin Jennings for helping 4-H students prepare for a statewide 4-H culinary competition.

(Distributed 11/13/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Farmers have planted most of Louisiana’s wheat crop. With ideal weather recently, they’ve been able to plant quickly. “We’ve had good conditions,” said LSU AgCenter wheat specialist Josh Lofton. “The rain has played with us nicely. We’ve had some showers that helped with germination, but not enough to kick us out of the field for long periods of time.”

(Distributed 11/13/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – For many years, fall in central and south Louisiana meant smoke causing power outages, poor visibility for drivers and ash falling from the sky.

(Distributed 11/13/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – November weather in Louisiana can be extremely variable. One day we are wearing flip flops and T-shirts; the next, temperatures are dipping into the 30s.

(Distributed 11/11/13) SHREVEPORT, La. – Several thousand students and their teachers visited the LSU AgCenter’s AgMagic exhibit at the 2013 Louisiana State Fair.

(Distributed 11/08/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – A plant materials conference for Louisiana nursery, landscape and garden center professionals has been set for Dec. 5 at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 11/08/13) HAMMOND, La. – Foxglove (Digitalis species and hybrids) is a lesser-known, cool-season flower for Louisiana landscapes. Most home gardeners aren’t familiar with this plant.

(Distributed 11/07/13) WINNSBORO, La. – When Paul “Trey” Price began his career with the LSU AgCenter, he didn’t expect to be in the position he holds now.

(Distributed 11/05/13) NEW ORLEANS, La. – Four LSU College of Agriculture students attended a recent Produce Marketing Association Career Pathways program in New Orleans.This event, which was Oct. 17-20, is designed to attract students into careers in the fresh produce industry, said LSU AgCenter economist R. Wes Harrison.

(Distributed 11/01/13) Want to add color to your fall, winter and early spring garden? Plant some colorful Sorbet series violas.

(Distributed 11/01/13) HAMMOND, La. – Most of us think of pansies, violas, dianthus, snapdragons and petunias to decorate our fall-through-early-spring landscape. Another nice addition to cool-season flower beds is ornamental types of kale and cabbage.