(Audio 03/20/13) Corn planting has started across the state. Frequent rains in recent months have farmers behind schedule, but LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that farmers will plant as much as they can while the corn-planting window is open. (Runtime: 1:15)

(Distributed 03/20/13) ALEXANDRIA, La. – Farmers sowed the first seeds of spring with corn going into the ground early in March. Wet weather delayed the start of planting, according to LSU AgCenter corn specialist, Ronnie Levy, but once drier conditions moved in, farmers planted a lot of corn in a short time.

(Audio 03/24/13) Gardeners often wait until roses are in bloom to head out to nurseries to purchase plants. Planting is stressful for a plant, so it's best done before it starts blooming. Late March is a good time to plant roses. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/24/13) Thrips are tiny insects that invade the flower buds of roses. As the bud opens, the flower may appear burned on the edges. Some buds may never fully open. Systemic insecticides can help control thrips. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/24/13) Louisiana gardeners use many types of tropical plants in their landscapes. They may have been damaged by freezes this winter, so you can trim them back. Wait until April or May to plant new ones. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 03/24/13) Gardeners use the term deadhead when talking about removing faded flowers from their plants. This keeps the plants looking attractive, and also prevents the plant from setting seed - which encourages more blooms. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 3/24/13) The buck moth caterpillar, found primarily on live oaks, has black stinging spines. Usually by late March, you can see caterpillar masses up in trees. A tree service can spray the trees before the caterpillars descend. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 03/18/13) CROWLEY, La. – LSU AgCenter research funded by Louisiana rice farmers’ checkoff funds led to federal approval of a bird repellent, AV-1011, that prevents birds from eating rice seed once it is planted.

(Distributed 03/18/13) CLINTON, La. – How best to deal with feral hogs and an overview of the epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) problem in white-tailed deer were featured at the LSU AgCenter Wildlife Field Day at the Bob R. Jones-Idlewild Research Station on March 16.

(Distributed 03/18/13) BATON ROUGE, La. – Sometimes calories aren’t the same. They’re a measure of energy in foods, but calories in some foods are more easily transferred into the body than calories in other foods, said Richard Mattes, professor of foods and nutrition at Purdue University.