(Video News 02/13/12) In southwest Louisiana, salt water is contaminating surface water, which is making rice farming difficult. Winter rainfall is helping alleviate the problem, but as LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports, regular rains must continue if the problem is going to be solved. (Runtime: 1:48)

(Video News 02/07/12) Safer, fresher, more healthful food is the focus of much of the research of LSU AgCenter food scientists. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that researchers are working on ways to up the nutritional content of popular foods while improving quality. (Runtime: 1:48)

(Video News 01/30/12) Strawberries are a springtime staple, but these berries already are plentiful this year. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports warm weather is making strawberries abundant now. (Runtime: 1:23)

(Video News 01/23/12) As farmers reduced the amount of tillage they did in their fields to conserve soil, they began relying on herbicides to remove winter weeds from their fields. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that removing these weeds now will give crops a healthy start. (Runtime: 1:48)

(Video News 01/16/12) Soybean growers from three states met in north Louisiana for a soybean forum. Market outlooks and priority issues for growers were discussion topics. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard was there. (Runtime: 1:44)

(Video News 01/09/12) Burning a sugarcane field is a long-standing practice among farmers. But how they burn has evolved over the years to make it cleaner and safer. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that researchers are looking at reducing emissions from this and other agriculture practices.

(Video News 12/26/11) 2011 was a challenging year for agriculture. Weather extremes affected many major crops. As the year comes to a close, LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard looks back on how farmers fared. (Runtime: 1:39)

(Video News 12/21/11) Changing the way farmers feed their dairy cows can lower their costs without reducing milk production. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard says researchers with the LSU AgCenter are working on methods to help farmers produce milk more efficiently. (Runtime: 1:22)

(Video News 12/15/11) Pies, candies and even side dishes and salads are laced with pecans during the holiday season. This nut figures large in Louisiana cuisine. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited a pecan processing facility to see how the season is going. (Runtime: 1:27)

(Video News 12/12/11) Louisiana’s sugarcane harvest is ahead of schedule. Dry weather is helping farmers move quickly through their fields and harvest clean cane. An early harvest reduces the risk of a freeze damaging the cane. (Runtime: 1:24)

(Video News 12/05/11) Bright orange and yellow citrus fruits can evoke feelings of sunny, summer days, but satsumas, navels and grapefruit are at their peak during the winter season. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited groves in the heart of Louisiana’s citrus-growing region. (Runtime: 1:45)

(Video News 11/28/11) Many Louisiana wheat farmers had to wait to plant their crop. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that dry weather kept farmers out of their fields. (Runtime: 1:14)

(Video News 11/16/11) A tour titled From Cow to Cone took dairy industry professionals through the research at the LSU AgCenter’s on-campus dairy facilities. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard toured the dairy farm and creamery and has this report. (Runtime: 1:48)

(Video 11/08/11) Sweet potatoes are more than just a Thanksgiving dish. They have become a year-round staple. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports Louisiana growers have a good crop of sweet potatoes this year. (Runtime: 1:31)

(Video 11/02/11) The sun was perched behind a cloud as participants of the Hammond Research Station’s landscape horticulture field day toured the station’s shade garden and learned about high-performing varieties of caladiums, hostas and impatiens. A focus of the station is to evaluate how well bedding plants, perennials and roses in do in landscapes. (Runtime: 1:48)

(Video News 10/26/11) Switchgrass could be another source of energy from Louisiana and another source of income for landowners. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard spoke with a researcher growing switchgrass with pine trees. (Runtime: 1:54)

(Video News 10/18/11) Trail riders, horse trainers and wanna-be cowgirls gathered with their horses at Parker Coliseum on LSU’s campus to learn to become Master Horsemen. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has the story. (Runtime: 1:36)

(Video News 10/10/11) Drought conditions throughout most of the summer affected yields of Louisiana’s soybean and cotton crops. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that despite challenges, yields are fair. (Runtime: 1:35)

(Video News 10/03/11) A grant will help Louisiana and other southeastern states develop biofuels. LSU AgCenter researchers working on the energy crops of sugarcane and sweet sorghum will benefit from the grant. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has the story. (Runtime: 2:02)

(Video News 09/23/11) Poultry and beef producers depend on LSU AgCenter research to help them grow their livestock efficiently. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited the Hill Farm Research Station in Homer where these two animal crops figure prominently in the station’s research. (Runtime: 1:36)

(Video News 09/16/11) Tropical weather is always a threat to the state’s sugarcane crop. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that the recent tropical storm did affect this year’s and next year’s crops. (runtime: 1:26)

(Video News 09/13/11) Plants have withered under hot, dry conditions that have dominated much of the summer. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that these plants have become a less-attractive food source for wildlife in Louisiana. (Runtime: 1:38)

(Video News 09/07/11) One way to get students excited about learning is to get them away from their desks and actively involved with experiments. The LSU AgCenter’s 4-H program is showing teachers how to conduct more science experiments in their classrooms. (Runtime: 1:54)

(Video News 08/25/11) Louisiana rice farmers are more than halfway through their harvest. Weather created challenges for growers throughout the season, but LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that rice plants seem to have rebounded. (Runtime: 1:53)

(Video News 08/12/11) Louisiana farmers are more than halfway through the corn harvest. A dry spring and early summer were hard on the crop. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has the story. (Runtime: 1:37)

(Video News 08/05/11) The latest cotton and soybean research was showcased at a recent LSU AgCenter field day. AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports on the research aimed at helping farmers make better planting and management decisions. (Runtime: 1:47)

(Video News 08/02/11) Weather delayed planting of this year’s Louisiana sweet potato crop, but farmers managed to get it in the ground. The demand for sweet potatoes has been on the rise in recent years. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that Louisiana growers and a new processing facility are working to meet that demand. (Runtime: 1:25)

(Video News 07/29/11) A cold winter and dry spring haven’t hurt Louisiana’s sugarcane crop. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports on the current condition of the crop and work AgCenter researchers are doing to help the sugarcane industry. (Runtime: 1:58)

(Video News 07/14/11) Rice farmers learned about new varieties at the LSU AgCenter’s Rice Research Station Field Day. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard also reports about issues facing this year's crop. (Runtime: 2:00)

(Video News 07/07/11) : Farmers gathered at the LSU AgCenter Northeast field day to hear from agriculture scientists about their research. Studies include variety evaluation; pest, weed and disease management research; and cotton defoliation projects. (Runtime 1:35)

(Audio 07/01/11) More than 20,000 species of insects are housed at the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum on LSU’s campus. The collection helps with insect identification and tells the history of insects in this region. Christopher Carlton is the museum director. (Runtime: 1:53)

(Video News 06/08/11) Disease, insects and weeds can plague plants, making them unhealthy. But it can be difficult for gardeners to determine what is ailing a plant. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited the AgCenter's Plant Diagnostic Center -- where the “plant doctor” is in. (Runtime: 1:48)

(Video News 06/01/11) Captive reproduction can be a tricky business for some species of fish. Aquaculture researchers are studying alligator gar in hopes of maintaining its population and freshwater drum, which could help the catfish industry. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has the story. (Runtime: 1:55)

(Video News 05/19/11) Water from the swollen Mississippi River has made its way to Louisiana cropland. Damages could run into the hundreds of millions. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports how flooding will affect some crops and how too little water could affect others. (Runtime: 2:03)

(Video News 05/19/11) Ideal weather conditions have led to an excellent wheat crop. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that farmers were able to harvest early this year before floods inundated fields. (Runtime: 1:47)

(Video News 05/16/11) Louisiana’s cotton crop is going in the ground. Good weather has helped growers get it planted early this year. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has the details. (Runtime: 1:45)

(Video News 05/09/11) LSU AgCenter researchers are working on cheaper and easier ways to restore vegetation and rehabilitate Louisiana’s coastal marshlands. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited a barrier island where marsh grass was being planted in an unconventional way. (Runtime: 2:04)

(Video News 05/02/11) Balancing a checkbook can be a daunting task for some individuals. In difficult economic times, however, taking control of finances is important for survival. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard talks about financial programs LSU AgCenter agents are offering in their communities. (Runtime: 1:45)

(Video News 04/25/11) Caterpillars are descending from trees looking for an ideal spot to undergo their metamorphosis. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard says most caterpillars are only a minor nuisance. Others can deliver a painful sting. (Runtime: 1:25)

(Video News 04/18/11) Rice planting has started in Louisiana, and much of the crop in the southern part of the state is in the ground. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard says the state's rice farmers will plant fewer total acres this year despite an earlier start. (Runtime: 1:50)

(Video News 04/11/11) Corn prices are up this year, but this will not lead to a large increase in corn acres in Louisiana. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has an outlook on the 2011 corn crop. (Runtime: 1:12)

(Video News 04/04/11) Weed scientists across the South are battling herbicide-resistant weeds. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard talked with two in Louisiana who are trying to keep the problem from spreading. (Runtime: 1:50)

(Video News 03/28/11) Golf is a sport you can play for a lifetime. You also have to be respectful and honest on the course. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited military families who were learning the game and core values at a course in Baton Rouge through 4-H’s Operation: Military Kids Program. (Runtime: 1:53)

(Video News 03/21/12) On the outskirts of Baton Rouge, an LSU AgCenter Research facility is conducting work on cloning, embryo transfer and epigenetics. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited the facility to learn more about assisted reproductive research in Louisiana. (Runtime: 1:59)

(Video News 03/14/11) Lent and crawfish generally coincide, and both are later than normal this year. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that weather has affected the crawfish catch, but warmer temperatures should bring a better harvest. (Runtime: 1:41)

(Video News 03/07/11) Prices for beef cattle are up, but so are the costs to produce them. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard talks with a producer and an economist about how rising feed and fertilizer costs are affecting the industry. (Runtime: 1:29)

(Video News 02/28/11) Thousands of youth with their cows, sheep, pigs and chickens in tow attended the LSU AgCenter’s 76th Livestock Show. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard was there. (Runtime: 1:25)

(Video News 02/21/11) Seniors are living longer and in their own homes. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports on ways they can do so safely. (Runtime: 1:38)

(Video News 02/14/11) Louisiana’s strawberries started coming in as early as November, but cold weather is creating a break in the crop. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has this report. (Runtime: 1:32)