(Distributed 12/17/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Professionals in the plant materials industry heard about plants with potential and the latest plants from the industry at the Louisiana Plant Materials Conference at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden on Dec. 8.

(Distributed 12/17/15) HAMMOND, La. – Although poinsettias are typically associated with the holidays, another group of plants to consider are the Thanksgiving and Christmas cactuses. These are highly recommended for long-term enjoyment.

(Distributed 12/16/15) BATON ROUGE, La.—The LSU AgCenter, the LSU College of Agriculture and the Southern University AgCenter announced the winners of their annual faculty and staff awards at a ceremony held Dec. 16 at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden.

(Distributed 12/16/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The American Forage and Grasslands Council will hold its annual conference on Jan. 10-13, 2016, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 12/16/15) LAKE CHARLES, La. – With crawfish season starting, LSU AgCenter experts offered advice Tuesday (Dec. 15) for producers to improve their harvests.

(Distributed 12/16/15) ALEXANDRIA. La. – Members of the Louisiana Forage and Grassland Council heard about the importance of good soil health at their annual meeting on Dec. 4.

(Distributed 12/16/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden has renewed its call for entries for the sixth annual Brush with Burden art exhibition.

(Distributed 12/14/15) NEW ORLEANS – Retired LSU AgCenter county agent Keith Fontenot and rice farmer Jimmy Hoppe, of Fenton, Louisiana, were recognized at the USA Rice Outlook Conference for their decades of work in the rice industry.

(Video 12/16/15) During the Christmas season, you will see Christmas cactuses for sale in nurseries, home improvement stores and even supermarkets. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how to care for your Christmas cactus during the holiday season and throughout the year to help them do their best for years to come. (Runtime: 01:42)

(Video 12/09/15) Most plants are fertilized during the spring. But on this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains why some plants need to be fertilized during winter. (Runtime: 01:38)

(Audio 12/14/15) By the time December rolls around, bunching onions that have been planted in the summer or fall are ready to be harvested. Once you've harvested what you need, you can replant the remaining part of the plant. Listen for more information on harvesting onions this winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/14/15) Although most people don't think of apples when they think of fruit trees in Louisiana, it is possible to grow apple trees here. The key is planting varieties that require fewer chill hours and planting them in the winter. Listen for more information on planting apple trees in Louisiana. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/14/15) Around this time of year, gardening catalogs will begin to arrive in the mail. Make sure that you don't get carried away and order unrealistic plants for our Louisiana climate. Listen for more information on ordering from gardening catalogs. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/14/15) If you're a Louisiana pecan lover, keep in mind that winter is a great time to plant pecan trees. However, you should first make sure you have enough room for them on your property. Listen for more information on pecan trees in winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/14/15) Deciduous trees are useful in both summer in winter. In the summertime, they provide shade that can keeps us cool. When their leaves drop in the wintertime, they can allow sunlight to come through and warm our homes and landscapes. Listen for more information on deciduous trees in the winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 12/14/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Division of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists and the Grain Elevator and Processing Society’s Gulf South Chapter have each established a scholarship for LSU College of Agriculture students.

(Distributed 12/11/15) Nicotianas, or flowering tobacco, are good alternative cool-season bedding plants for south Louisiana.

(Distributed 12/11/15) HAMMOND, La. – Winter is here, and this time of year brings questions about protecting landscape plants during the cold months of December, January and February. The best approach to protecting plants in winter is to pay attention to the weather forecasts and try to know a couple days ahead of time when a freeze is approaching.

(Video 12/09/15) Louisiana is expected to have fewer acres of wheat this year for several reasons. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux tells us why we can expect to see much less of those amber waves of grain across the state. (Runtime: 01:20)

(Video 12/09/15) Go climb a tree was the assignment for a group of students in the LSU College of Agriculture. The task called for use of special techniques. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has the story. (Runtime: 01:32)

(Distributed 12/09/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana homeowners can learn how to keep warm this winter without paying high utility bills at the LSU AgCenter LaHouse Resource Center winter open house on Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(Distributed 12/09/15) BOSSIER CITY, La. – Farmers can improve irrigation efficiency by understanding the environmental factors that affect their operation and by using technology to make better decisions, experts with the LSU AgCenter and National Resources Conservation Services said at a workshop held Dec. 8-9.

(Distributed 12/09/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Turfgrass Association will hold its annual conference Jan. 7, 2016, at Tiger Stadium on the LSU campus.

(Distributed 12/09/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Winter isn’t the time for gardeners to stop considering pollinators when they work in their gardens.

(Distributed 12/09/15) GONZALES. La. – PCS Nitrogen, a subsidiary of Potash Corporation of Canada, recently made it possible for Ascension Parish students to learn science and math while growing their own food.

(Distributed 12/08/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU College of Agriculture will award the LSU University Medal posthumously to Lutrill Payne Sr. at its December commencement ceremony on Dec. 18 at 9 a.m. in the Maddox Fieldhouse.

(Distributed 12/08/15) LAKE CHARLES, La. – The LSU AgCenter will hold a meeting Dec. 15 for crawfish producers to present information on research-based practices to improve their crop.

(Distributed 12/08/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – A one-day workshop focusing on fish identification to help fisheries professionals expand their ichthyology knowledge was held Dec. 5 at the LSU AgCenter School of Renewable Natural Resources.

(Distributed 12/07/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Production at the LSU AgCenter Food Incubator has more than doubled this year. Tenants made more than 44 tons of their unique food products at the incubator in 2015, up from 21 tons in 2014.

(Audio 12/07/15) If you have tropical plants in your landscape, it's a good idea to pay attention to the temperature during the winter. However, make sure the temperature you're paying attention to isn't the wind chill temperature. Listen for more information on protecting your plants against cold weather. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/07/15) Louisiana gardeners are fortunate to have a suitable climate for growing camellias. These beautiful and hardy flowers require minimal maintenance during the winter. Listen for more information on caring for camellias this season. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/07/15) Although Louisiana's mild winters allow weeds to flourish, there are a couple of things you can do to prevent them from getting out of hand. Be sure to keep your beds well-mulched and apply weed killers in mild weather. Listen for more information on preventing weeds this winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/07/15) During the Louisiana winter, many plants put on a nice display of color in their foliage before shedding their leaves. Keep an eye out for plants such as dwarf nandinas, junipers, and azaleas. Listen for more information on color changes in plant foliage in the wintertime. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 12/07/15) During the wintertime, we tend to move tropical plants indoors to keep them safe from the cold. Ensure that these plants, in addition to your usual indoor plants, receive sufficient sunlight and are kept away from hot air vents. Listen for more information on caring for indoor plants in the winter. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 12/04/15) Pansies are the “decoration of winter landscapes” in the South. With a multitude of flower colors and sizes, these are durable and well-justified cool-season bedding plants for November through April.

(Distributed 12/04/15) HAMMOND, La. – We’re approaching winter in Louisiana, and this is the time when crape myrtle pruning becomes commonplace. Unfortunately, these are among the most abused trees in Louisiana’s residential and commercial landscapes.

(Distributed 12/04/15) ALEXANDRIA, La. – A key provision of a sweeping reform to American food safety laws will take effect in January 2016, requiring produce growers to take more steps to prevent contamination.

(Distributed 12/04/15) BATON ROUGE, La – Nearly 100 LSU College of Agriculture students were recognized for their academic achievement at the college’s Honors Convocation on Nov. 19 at the LSU Club at Union Square.

(Distributed 12/01/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter School of Nutrition and Food Sciences will conduct a workshop for acidified foods processors in on Jan. 12-13.

(Distributed 12/03/15) CROWLEY, La. – South Louisiana rice farmers wrapped up their rice growing season with an excellent second crop harvest.

(Distributed 12/03/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – December marks the start of the strawberry harvest season in Louisiana. “Louisiana strawberries are delicious whether produced on a Louisiana farm or in your backyard,” said LSU AgCenter fruit and vegetable specialist Kiki Fontenot. “Fresh-picked berries that have fully ripened on the bush are amazing.”

(Distributed 12/03/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – As people embark on Christmas shopping trips at crowded stores, some entrepreneurs are reaping the benefits of a trend toward giving locally made food items as gifts. Tenants in the LSU AgCenter Food Incubator have been ramping up production since the fall to meet holiday demand.

(Distributed 12/02/15) HAMMOND, La. – Home gardeners and industry professionals are invited to attend the annual conference of the Louisiana State Horticulture Society (LSHS) at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station on Jan. 13, 2016.

(Distributed 12/02/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – If you have someone on your shopping list whose interests run from gardening to gourmet, the LSU AgCenter has a couple of gift ideas.

(Distributed 12/01/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter will host a series of seasonal children’s garden activities at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden beginning in December.

(Distributed 12/01/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Going in search of the perfect Christmas tree can be an annual event enjoyed by the entire family.

(Distributed 12/01/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The seventh annual Arbor Day at Burden in the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens has been scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Festivities will be held at the Barton Arboretum, celebrating the restoration of the James Wandersee Palmetto Walk, the Mosaic Black Swamp Boardwalk and the Early American Camellia Collection.

(Distributed 12/01/15) JONESVILLE, La. – The LSU AgCenter, National Audubon Society and Louisiana Delta Adventures will host an ecotourism workshop on Dec. 16 at the Honey Brake Lodge in Jonesville.

(For Release On 12/25/15) Pruning is one gardening job that often is neglected because gardeners are not exactly sure what to do. There is a great deal of confusion about how to prune, when to do it and even why pruning is done. As a result, pruning is often delayed until radical and extensive pruning is required.

(For Release On 12/04/15) As cold winter weather begins to settle in over the state, we can expect freezing temperatures in the 20s and even occasionally the teens for the next few months. And cold weather brings concerns for tropical plants in our landscapes.

(For Release On 12/18/15) The pace of things tends to slow down a bit this time of year in the garden. Although we may continue to plant, prepare beds, harvest winter vegetables and enjoy cool-season flowers, most gardeners find this a more relaxed time of year.

(For Release On 12/11/15) Paperwhite and amaryllis are two bulbs that are popular for forcing during winter in Louisiana. Forcing bulbs means growing them to bloom earlier than they would under normal landscape conditions. Paperwhite bulbs and amaryllis bulbs are commonly available from November to late December. Forcing them to bloom during winter is not difficult, and the results are beautiful.

(Video 12/07/15) Turk’s cap can be used to fill a large portion of your landscape and grab attention. In the fall, it displays countless brilliant red blooms. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how to care for this strikingly vibrant plant. (Runtime: 01:54)