(Distributed 06/01/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana specialty crop producers will have an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of marketing to local groceries, restaurants and other retail outlets during one-day workshop presented by the LSU AgCenter on June 18 and 19.

CROWLEY, La. – Recent weather has not been ideal for growing rice because of frequent rainy and cloudy weather, LSU AgCenter experts told farmers at field days on May 28 in Jefferson Davis and Vermilion parishes.

(Video 05/27/15) Persistent rains have knocked down wheat and contributed to a disease problem that is leading some experts to label this season a disaster for Louisiana wheat producers. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux has the story. (Runtime: 01:28)

(Video 05/27/15) School children in the Greater New Orleans area got to journey through AgMagic, an interactive exhibit on Louisiana agriculture. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited AgMagic on the River. (Runtime: 01:49)

(Distributed 05/29/15) SHREVEPORT, La. – Ricky Kilpatrick, LSU AgCenter northwest area forestry agent, has been named the Extension Forester of the Year by the Forest Landowners Association, a national advocacy group.

(Distributed 05/29/15) HAMMOND, La. – If you like the flowering habit of shade-loving impatiens, you’ll be excited to know more about the impatiens that boldly go when no impatiens have gone before – into full sun.

(Distributed 05/25/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Persistent wet weather is creating conditions for Entomosporium leaf spot to make an appearance in Louisiana. Caused by the fungus Entomosporium mespili, it’s a common disease of various woody ornamentals in the family Rosaceae.

(Distributed 05/28/15) WINNFIELD, La. – Carolyn Whisonant Lang, of Atlanta, Louisiana, in Winn Parish, has been named the national winner of the 2015 4-H Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer award.

(Distributed 05/28/15) CHASE, La. – This time of year should be the “heart” of sweet potato planting season in Louisiana. But instead, the production schedule is being delayed by unrelenting rain.

(Distributed 05/27/15) ST. JOSEPH, La. – The LSU AgCenter Northeast Research Station in St. Joseph will host a crop production and pest management field day on June 17.

(Distributed 05/25/15) Copper plants are great foliage plants for the summer and fall landscape.

(Distributed 05/22/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Two scientists from a university in Slovakia are at the LSU AgCenter Food Incubator for three weeks of intensive training. They’re hoping to start a similar incubator back home.

(Distributed 05/22/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Many varieties of shrubs and trees are no longer grown any in Louisiana landscapes, but that’s about to change with the help of LSU AgCenter researchers.

(Distributed 05/22/15) HAMMOND, La. – The past ten years have seen increased interest in growing olive trees in the southeastern United States. In Louisiana, a number of individuals and businesses have planted a few olive trees. In addition to culinary and processing quality of the fruit, olives can be long-lived trees with finely textured

(Distributed 05/22/15) BATON ROUGE, La – An LSU AgCenter scientist has received more than $187,000 for research to develop smart drilling fluids used in oil and gas exploration with more efficiency and greater efficacy.

(Distributed 05/21/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – With the June 1 beginning of hurricane season rapidly approaching, Louisiana residents need to make preparations now so they have a safe food supply if a storm hits.

(Distributed 05/22/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Heavy rains are causing problems for some Louisiana soybean and corn farmers, especially in the north part of the state where a storm system brought as much as 10 inches of rain in some areas in the past week, but sugarcane and rice are not as affected by the weather, according to LSU AgCenter experts.

(Distributed 05/22/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Excessive rain across Louisiana is compounding already existing problems with the 2015 wheat crop and leading to what LSU AgCenter experts call a disastrous season.

(Distributed 05/20/15) CROWLEY, La. – The LSU AgCenter will host a series of rice field days across Louisiana during the growing season.

(Distributed 05/19/15) LAPLACE, La. – A dozen St. John the Baptist Parish 4-H Club members presented their plans to parish officials on May 14 for a safe room for emergency workers responding to a disaster.

(Distributed 05/18/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – As hurricane season approaches, Louisiana residents can turn to the LSU AgCenter website for tools to determine if they live in a flood zone and how to prevent storm damage. Among the resources are interactive flood maps, which have recently been updated with new features.

(Distributed 05/18/15) FARMERVILLE, La. – Twenty-two cattle producers and industry professionals graduated on May 4 from a Louisiana Master Cattleman course hosted in Farmerville by the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 05/18/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Until recent years, blueberries weren’t looked at as a popular warm-season fruit compared to peaches, watermelons and others, said LSU AgCenter horticulturist Charlie Johnson.

(Distributed 05/18/15) HAMMOND, La. – Many Louisianians have watched dogwoods gradually disappear from the landscape in recent years. While environmental factors are partially to blame, some gardening mistakes can also hinder dogwood health, said Mark Windham, professor in the University of Tennessee’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology.

(Audio 05/25/15) Although we love our leafy greens in the South, most of them grow best in the cool season. However, there are a few heat-tolerant plants you could try, such as malabar spinach or amaranth. Listen for more information on these alternatives to customary Southern leafy greens. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/25/15) If you're thinking about adding some palm trees to your landscape to add a tropical look, make sure that they will be hardy enough to withstand freezes. Be aware of what information you should be asking when visiting your local nursery. Listen for more information on palm trees. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/25/15) Nearly every gardener grows some kind of plant in pots. Cleaning pots is important because it reduces the likelihood that your pot will harbor disease-causing organisms. Listen for instructions on cleaning different types of pots. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/25/15) Gardeners generally use the term bulb to describe any plant structure that is fleshy and below the ground. Some of these "bulbs" include tubers, rhizomes, and corms. The plants that these bulbs produce are great options for additions to your summer garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/25/15) Black spot is the leading and most destructive disease in roses in our area. Roses plagued with this disease will get black spots and defoliate over and over again throughout the summer. Use a spray program to treat this fungal disease in roses. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 05/15/15) Gardeners should consider some of the new gomphrena varieties – globe amaranth – for their landscapes.

(Distributed 05/15/15) CROWLEY, La. – Students from across south Louisiana met May 12 at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station to learn about career opportunities in agriculture.

(Distributed 05/15/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – This time of year, most Louisianians are acutely aware of the importance of aquaculture thanks to a unique commodity produced in this state: crawfish.

(Distributed 05/15/15) HAMMOND, La. – Daylilies are one of the most popular flowering plants for late spring and early summer Louisiana landscapes. They have reached peak bloom about three weeks early this spring because of the lack of significant cold weather in February and March.

(Distributed 05/15/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Focusing on the theme “Louisiana’s Coast: Our Unique Culture,” more than 250 students from across the state competed in the second annual Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and 4-H Youth Wetlands Program poetry contest.

(Video 05/25/15) You may be looking at your vegetable plant and thinking, “I see the fruit growing.” In reality, it may not be the fruit; but it has to do with the flowers. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains what sets the flowers on vegetables of the cucumber family apart from others. (Runtime: 01:43)

(Video 05/18/15) Growing your own herbs can be very rewarding when it comes to enhancing your meals. But when flowers start appearing, what do you do? On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains what you should do when your herbs start to bolt. (Runtime: 01:42)

(Distributed 05/14/15) WINNSBORO, La. – The LSU AgCenter will host a workshop on June 9 for farmers and consultants to learn how to reduce off-target pesticide drift and to use new technologies at the LSU AgCenter Macon Ridge Research Station.

(Distributed 05/13/15)HAMMOND, La. – More than 250 Louisiana Master Gardener volunteers experienced the royal treatment while learning and competing for prizes at an appreciation day held at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station on May 8.

(Video 05/13/15) With beef prices near record highs, cattle producers are enjoying the good times. Producers still need to plan and manage their cattle to maximize their investments, and now might be the time to consider different strategies. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux has the story. (Runtime: 01:28)

(Distributed 05/13/15) MANSURA, La. – A dozen individuals were recognized on May 9 as the newest selections for the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame.

(Audio 05/18/15) Unlike mistletoe, Spanish moss is not parasitic to trees in your landscape. However, Spanish moss can become a nuisance if it adds too much weight to or overpowers a tree. Listen for more information on Spanish moss. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/18/15) The Irish potato is one of several vegetables that are ready to be harvested in late May or early June. Keep an eye on your plants for telltale signs that they are ready for harvesting. Listen for more information on proper harvesting techniques. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/18/15) May is the month in which blackberries and their relatives begin to ripen. Although it's possible to harvest wild blackberries, it is much more convenient to harvest them from your own garden. Listen for more information on harvesting blackberries. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/18/15) It's time to replace those tired-looking spring bedding plants with some fresh and new summer bedding plants. Head to your local nursery and pick out some beautiful new plants to place in a well-prepared bed. Listen for more instructions on caring for summer bedding plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/18/15) If you have planted a new tree recently, it is very important to take care of it properly in the summer heat. New trees can dry out very easily, so it is important to irrigate them during their first summer. Listen for more information on keeping new trees watered in the summer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 05/13/15) This year’s cotton crop may be the lowest on record in terms of acreage. Low prices for cotton and better prices for other commodities are to blame. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux explains how low cotton acres affect rural economies. (Runtime: 01:26)

(Distributed 05/12/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Unpasteurized, raw milk can harbor several bacteria that can cause severe illness, particularly in young children, the elderly and immune-compromised individuals, said an LSU AgCenter food safety specialist.

(Distributed 05/12/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – A recent outbreak of the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes in ice cream has demonstrated how challenging it can be to prevent foodborne illness.

(Distributed 05/11/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – A new disease is making its appearance on loropetalum plants in Louisiana nurseries and landscapes. It’s caused by a bacterium called Pseudomonas savastanoi, which is also known to cause galls or knots on olives and oleanders, said LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Raj Singh. Other important known hosts include ash, privet and forsythia.

(Distributed 05/11/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Monsanto and the Thomas A. Plein Foundation are helping support students in the LSU College of Agriculture by establishing two new scholarships.

(Distributed 05/08/15) Luna hibiscus was named a Louisiana Super Plant in spring 2014. It comes in four colors and is a hardy hibiscus for Louisiana.

(Distributed 05/08/15) HAMMOND, La. – Roses are completing their initial spring bloom across Louisiana, and one group of roses is getting a good deal of attention.

(Distributed 05/07/15) BATON ROUGE, La – The 2015 Louisiana 4-H Commodity Ambassador contests were held on April 28 on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. In all, 98 4-H’ers from across the state competed in the chicken, egg, seafood, sugar and turkey ambassador contests.

(Audio 05/11/15) Tomatoes are extremely prone to insect and disease problems such as buckeye rot. Buckeye rot affects the fruit hanging lowest to the ground and causes it to become discolored right under the skin. Listen for more information on preventing buckeye rot. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/11/15) In the month of May, both hydrangeas and gardenias bloom beautifully. Gardenias will bloom into June while hydrangeas will bloom until late June and sometimes July. Listen for more information about these beautiful flowering summer shrubs. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/11/15) Now is the time to evaluate your lawn to see if summer weeds will be an issue in the coming months. Identify the weeds if you can, then buy herbicide to control those particular weeds. Listen for more weed control information. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/11/15) After you lay sod in your lawn during the summertime, it is important to take care of it properly. Water it regularly and give it the attention it needs to flourish. Listen for more specific instructions on caring for a new lawn. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/11/15) Summer is the perfect time to plant sod in your landscape. You can plant sod to repair damage from insects and diseases or to grow a new lawn. Listen for more information and instructions about planting sod. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 05/06/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter has published five new information brochures on home vegetable gardening in Louisiana.

(Distributed 05/06/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU Dairy Science Club recognized an animal science professor, a long-time dairyman and students at its annual banquet at the LSU Student Union on May 2.

(Distributed 05/04/15) SHREVEPORT, La. – More than 350 Louisiana 4-H regional shooting sports winners participated in the 4-H State Shooting Sports competition held in Shreveport and Grand Cane, Louisiana, on April 23-26.

(Video 05/11/15) All ornamental grasses aren’t as exciting as the Fireworks purple fountain grass, which was recently selected as an LSU AgCenter Louisiana Super Plant. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains the reasons for this plant’s high accolades. (Runtime: 01:48)

(Video 05/04/15) The plant species coleus grows in a variety of different styles, sizes and colors. The Henna coleus was selected as an LSU AgCenter Louisiana Super Plant for 2015. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains why the Henna coleus is worthy of its Super Plant status. (Runtime: 01:48)

(Distributed 05/05/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Agriculture has led Joseph Musa around the world, from his native Sierra Leone to a university in Costa Rica, and most recently to Louisiana, where he is a visiting scholar at the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 05/04/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – A tour of small local family farms north of Baton Rouge is scheduled for May 17. Sponsored by the Louisiana Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Professional Development Program, the tour will provide an opportunity for urban consumers to visit local sustainable farms and to appreciate the contribution of these local businesses to our local food system.

(Distributed 05/01/15) BOSSIER CITY, La. – With cattle prices at or near historic levels, it seems to be a good time to be a cattle producer. According to an economist and beef researchers presenting at the Northwest Beef and Forage Day at the LSU AgCenter Red River Research Station, it is a good time, but producers need to plan and manage their cattle to maximize their investments.

(Distributed 05/01/15) Frostproof gardenia is a great plant for home gardeners to enjoy. It is a Louisiana Super Plant selection.

(Distributed 05/01/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – Getting close to farm animals and learning where food comes from provide learning with a twist at Farm Day at the LSU AgCenter campus dairy on April 28.

(Distributed 05/01/15) HAMMOND, La. – With spring in full swing, it’s time for another Louisiana Super Plant announcement from the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 05/01/15) BATON ROUGE, La. – As foreign countries and the U.S. demand more of each other’s agriculture products, new economic opportunities that may benefit Louisiana are growing.

(Audio 05/04/15) Caladiums are great bedding plants for shady areas. Decide whether you would like to plant tubers or from potted plants. Listen for more information about purchasing, planting and caring for caladiums. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/04/15) Remember that vegetables you plant in May will be growing in the summer heat. Be sure the vegetables in your garden now will be able to tolerate the hot weather in the coming months. Try vegetables such as hot peppers, eggplant transplants, okra, pumpkins and cantaloupes. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/04/15) It's time to move tropical container plants back outdoors for the summer. Move them into a shady location and gradually introduce them to more light. Listen for more information on proper transitioning of houseplants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/04/15) If you planted herbs such as sage, parsley and cilantro in the fall, they should be producing well this time of year. Harvest these herbs generously before summer heat hits. Listen for more information on harvesting herbs. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 05/04/15) It is possible to grow several types of peppers at home in our vegetable gardens. Some peppers thrive in the summer heat while others need cooler temperatures to grow well. Listen for instructions on harvesting and growing peppers. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(For Release On Or After 05/29/15) The high temperatures that will be with us now until October take their toll in the vegetable garden. Tomatoes set fewer fruit and snap beans produce poor quality beans, for instance.

(For Release On Or After 05/22/15) You can recycle yard waste through the process of composting. Doing this can benefit your gardens, your budget and the environment.

(For Release On Or After 05/01/15) I’ve heard it said – and even said so myself in earlier years – that spring is short in Louisiana, with weather rapidly transitioning from winter to summer. But this really isn’t accurate.

(For Release On Or After 05/08/15) Choosing a fertilizer for your landscape is not as difficult as it might seem.

(For Release On Or After 05/15/15) Grown and used in cuisines around the world, basil is also indispensable to Louisiana cooks. Besides having extraordinary taste, basil is attractive and really easy to grow.