(Distributed 03/15/10) Louisiana agriculture contributed $8.3 billion to the state’s economy in 2009, which was the lowest contribution since 2002 and down from $9.5 billion in 2008, according to the latest figures compiled by the LSU AgCenter in its annual Ag Summary, which was released on March 15.

(Distributed 03/15/10) The New Orleans 2010 Spring Garden Show will be at the City Park Botanical Garden April 10-11 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day.

(Distributed 03/12/10) Pest problems will become more common as we move into the warmer summer months. Some gardeners still feel they should immediately get an insecticide and begin spraying when they see insects or some apparent insect damage in their gardens.

(Distributed 03/12/10) A new college scholarship is available for north and central Louisiana 4-H’ers through a $20,000 donation from Hilda D. Williams and her children, Rosy Williams Bromell, Vickie Williams Phelps and Donald Vardaman Williams.

(Distributed 03/12/10) SHREVEPORT, La. – Persist for the long run and remain aware of what is happening in the short run to be productive in the end LSU AgCenter forester Ricky Kilpatrick told forest landowners at the 26th annual Ark-La-Tex Forestry Forum here March 11.

(Distributed 3/11/10) Tractor Supply stores in Louisiana have joined with the LSU AgCenter as part of a national fundraising campaign to support local 4-H programs.

(Distributed 03/10/10) TALLULAH, La. – More north Louisiana farmers are switching to rice instead of corn, soybeans and cotton. Garrett Marsh of Tallulah grew his first rice crop last year. “I was here to get a refresher,” he said of a rice growing clinic here on March 4 sponsored by the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 03/09/10) Tuesday, March 23, is American Diabetes Alert Day, an annual event sponsored by the American Diabetes Association to call attention to the risk of developing this disease. Beth Reames, LSU AgCenter extension nutritionist, wants to call people’s attention to their eating habits and how they can affect the chance for developing diabetes.

(Distributed 03/08/10) SHREVEPORT, La. – A panel of small business managers at the LSU AgCenter’s Market Gardening Seminar on March 6 said their customers like to buy locally grown produce and flowers and would welcome more local suppliers.

(Distributed 03/08/10) A goal of sustainable landscaping is to reduce the amount of maintenance our landscapes require. But reduce does not mean eliminate. You can make choices, however, that will reduce the amount of work it takes to maintain your landscape.