(Distributed 05/29/06) You need to take some precautions during hurricane season if you have a boat moored, docked or stored in a recreational harbor along the Gulf Coast, an LSU AgCenter expert says.

(TV News 05/29/06) Areas of Greater New Orleans are fire ant free, and LSU AgCenter entomologists want to keep it that way. They have launched FAST or Fire Ant Surge Threat Prevention to keep fire ant populations down. (Runtime: 1 minute, 41 seconds)

(Radio News 05/29/06) While the city of New Orleans is working hard to get residents back, LSU AgCenter entomologists are working to keep fire ants out. Flood waters destroyed fire ants in many areas. The researchers launched a campaign to stop fire ants from re-infesting flood-damaged areas. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 05/29/06) Fire ants are moving now. Fire ant mating season – which is late in New Orleans because of flooding from hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the droughts that followed – has begun. LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Linda Hooper-Bui is working to get bait spread throughout the city to disrupt fire ants from starting new colonies. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 05/29/06) To learn more about West Nile virus LSU AgCenter mosquito researcher Dr. Wayne Kramer must learn more about the birds and mosquitoes that carry and transmit the virus. Kramer’s work involves catching wild birds to determine when the virus is active in their blood. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 05/29/06) As mosquitoes become more abundant and active each year, attention turns to mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus. LSU AgCenter mosquito researcher Dr. Wayne Kramer is studying the cycle of West Nile virus. Beyond helping him understand the virus, Kramer says ultimately his research could lead to protecting the public from this potentially dangerous disease. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 05/29/06) New methods of controlling mosquito populations could lie in breaking the reproductive cycle. LSU AgCenter mosquito researcher Dr. Wayne Kramer explains they are looking at egg-laying females and that he is interested in testing new products, especially those active in the larval stage where it is most cost-effective and mosquitoes are easiest to manage. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 05/26/06) Regularly checking the trees in your yard for damage, disease and other indications of danger is important, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter, who say the beginning of hurricane season is a good reminder to do it now.

(Distributed 05/26/06) Agricultural producers, farm managers and other crop production professionals will have an opportunity to learn about the latest in row crop research during the LSU AgCenter’s Northeast Research Station Field Day scheduled for June 14.

(Distributed 05/26/06) Hurricanes can cause flooding even in areas where it never occurred before. That means everyone should be prepared before storms approach and should know what to watch for during a storm, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter.