(Distributed 05/25/12) Ornamental sweet potatoes are a popular warm-season annual for adding foliage colors to the summer landscape. The original varieties include plants with leaves that are chartreuse-lime green (Marguerite), blackish purple (Blackie, Black Beauty, Ace of Spades) and tricolored (Pink Frost).

CROWLEY, La. – Rice growers heard details Thursday (May 24) of using a new fungicide that could help them with an untreatable form of the disease sheath blight.

(Distributed 05/25/12) Alligator gar are declining in numbers across much of the country. Researchers at the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station have successfully spawned gar in tanks to be used in studies to better understand this ancient fish.

(Distributed 05/25/12) The LSU AgCenter recognized the volunteer efforts of the Louisiana Master Gardener program with an appreciation day at the Hammond Research Station on May 18.

(Video 05/22/12) Researchers at the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station have succeeded in spawning alligator gar, a fish that is dwindling in numbers across the country. (Runtime 1:32)

(Video 05/22/12) Soybeans will be Louisiana's largest crop in terms of acreage with more than a million acres expected to be planted this year. LSU AgCenter correspondent Craig Gautreaux gives an update on the current condition of Louisiana's soybean crop. (Runtime 1:36)

(Distributed 05/22/12) MANSURA, La. – A dozen individuals recognized for their dedication to youth were inducted into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame here Saturday (May 19).

(Audio 05/22/12) Researchers at the LSU AgCenter Aquaculture Research Station have successfully spawned alligator gar. These gar will be used for future research projects to help researchers understand more about these ancient fish that are declining across the country. (Runtime 1:10)

(Audio 05/22/12) Soybean planting is nearly complete with producers expected to plant more than 1.1 million acres across the state. (Runtime: 1:05)

This guide for 2012 contains suggestions for management of the most important or more prevalent diseases of Louisiana plants. It includes information on fungicides, bactericides and nematicides, as well as safety precautions for using them.