(Distributed 04/12/07) The unusually cool weather this past Easter weekend slowed the growth of most of the corn and grain sorghum in Louisiana, but experts say farmers are lucky because the crops are expected to easily recover.

(For Release On Or After 04/27/07) As May approaches, we move from the warm days and cool nights of spring and early summer to the hot days and warm nights that will be with us until sometime around September. With the increasing heat, you also will notice the inevitable decline of your cool-season bedding plants.

(For Release On Or After 04/20/07) Who knows what Spanish moss and pineapples have in common? Believe it or not, they actually are related and belong to the same family of plants – the Bromeliad family.

(For Release On Or After 04/13/07) I don’t know about you, but as the hot weather of summer arrives I’d much rather work in shady gardens than sunny ones. I’ve heard gardening in the shade called challenging, but when the proper plants are selected for shady areas the results can be beautiful and durable. Lots of great plants for shady areas can be found among the ferns.

(For Release On Or After 04/06/07) Average minimum temperatures are an important issue when choosing plants that are well-adapted to our climate. But so are the summer temperatures, since our landscape plants must be able to survive both extremes.

(Video 04/30/07) The word bolting is a horticulture term used to describe when a plant we don’t intend to grow for its blooms goes into flower. This oftentimes occurs in leafy vegetables like turnip greens and radishes that we grow for their roots. (Runtime: 1 minute, 27 seconds)

(Audio 04/30/07) Houseplants brighten our decor and help to freshen the air, but they prefer to be outdoors. If you plan to move houseplants outdoors for the summer, make the transition to higher light conditions gradual. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/30/07) Freshly grown herbs are perfect for seasoning home-cooked meals. Herbs are not difficult to grow either. Many of the herbs we love to grow are more productive in the spring and early summer, so harvest your herbs generously this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/30/07) Gardeners can plant many vegetables into their gardens this time of the year. But they need to start focusing on heat-tolerant vegetables such as eggplant, peppers and okra. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/30/07) Caladiums are great plants that provide summer color in shady areas, and you can plant caladium tubers this time of the year. An added bonus to these plants is that they are very heat-tolerant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/30/07) The color of the pepper depends on the stage at which it is harvested. Some traditionally are harvested green, like green bell peppers and jalapeno peppers. But we generally wait to harvest cayenne peppers and red bell peppers when they turn red. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 04/23/07) The Japanese maple is an outstanding small-growing tree for Louisiana landscapes. We grow them for their brilliantly colored foliage. They peak at about 15 feet and work well in a small area such as around a patio or close to your home. (Runtime: 1 minute, 28 seconds)

(Audio 04/23/07) It's time to move container plants that were inside during the winter back outside. But you need to make the move to higher light conditions gradual. Move these plants to a shady location outside first before introducing them to more sunlight. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/23/07) Spring-flowering bulbs beautify Louisiana landscapes, but you need to take care of these plants after they finish blooming. It is important not to remove the foliage until it begins turning yellow. This will help to ensure your bulbs will bloom again next year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/23/07) Cool-season bedding plants are in full bloom this time of the year. Keep a close eye on these plants because they will start to languish as the weather warms. When they began fading, pull them out and replace them with warm-season plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/23/07) The warmer weather is encouraging container plants to grow vigorously. These plants need more fertilization than plants grown in the ground, because the frequent watering they need leeches nutrients out of their soil. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/23/07) Most of the fungus diseases that attack plants in our landscapes like rainy weather. One common disease that actually prefers drier conditions is powdery mildew. Symptoms appear like a fine white powder over the foliage of the plant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/16/07) Louisiana gardeners use a wide variety of summer bedding plants that tolerate the heat and provide lots of color for us during the warm season. This is a great time to start planting them if you want to add something new to your landscape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 04/16/07) April is a transitional month in Louisiana flower gardens. Many of the cool-season bedding plants we planted last fall are blooming beautifully right now, but it's too late to plant those flowers. If you want some color in your landscape that will last through the summer, consider putting in warm-season plants now. (Runtime: 1 minute, 39 seconds)

(Audio 04/16/07) Caladiums are easy to grow and reliable in shady areas. There are some varieties that can tolerate sun, but most caladiums prefer shady locations. You can plant caladium tubers this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/16/07) Warmer weather means it's time for lawn chores. We have to mow more often, spend more time watching for weeds and just generally put more work into our yards. This is a good time to make sure your mower is in good condition and the blades are sharp. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/16/07) Permanent lawn grasses grow best during the warm season. This is the prime planting time for warm-season grasses. With the exception of common Bermuda, solid sodding is the best way to plant a lawn. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/16/07) Louisiana has its share of pest problems as the weather warms up. If you notice you are having a weed, insect or disease problem in your lawn or garden, it is important to correctly identify the culprit and to get the right recommendation to try to eliminate it. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/09/07) A variety of the herbs we grow in our herb gardens grow better during the cool season. It is best to harvest herbs generously in April, May and early June. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/09/07) In Louisiana we generally apply the first fertilizer to our lawns in early April. It is important to allow the lawn to green up and establish a good root system before applying fertilizer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/09/07) Tomato plants tend to sprawl on the ground when they are not supported. If the fruit is left touching the ground, it can rot. Stake your tomato plants to keep them growing tall. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/09/07) Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable grown in the home garden. When you go to the nursery to buy tomato transplants, choose those that are dark green and stocky. The better quality transplants you start with the better the plants are going to do. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 04/09/07) The Louisiana cross vine is an outstanding native vine that blooms in the spring. It provides wonderful flowers to our landscapes this time of the year. The cross vine is native to many wooded areas of the state. (Runtime: 1 minute, 15 seconds)

(Audio 04/09/07) Perennials are wonderful herbaceous plants that are grown for their beautiful flowers or attractive foliage. These plants brighten the landscape and live for many years, giving them an advantage over annuals that have to be replaced every year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/02/07) April is a transitional time in the flower garden. Cool-season bedding plants are at their peak right now, but it really is too late to plant them. Instead, it's better to start planting warm-season bedding plants that will bloom for you throughout the summer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/02/07) Now is a good time to evaluate spring-flowering shrubs and decide if they need to be pruned. It is best to prune them soon after they flower, and always prune with a specific purpose in mind, says LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/02/07) April is a busy month for the home vegetable gardeners. Some of the most popular vegetables we grow can be planted at this time. Remember, earlier planted vegetables escape problems with insects and diseases (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 04/02/07) Dry, warm weather in the spring encourages the development of spider mites. They can damage a variety of vegetables and ornamentals in our landscapes. If you see damage, you can inspect under the leaves of the plants for signs of infestation. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 04/02/07) Louisiana gardeners use a wide variety of spring-flowering trees and shrubs to bring lots of color to our landscapes this time of the year. Azaleas are blooming all over the state right now in lots of wonderful colors. A shrub that’s commonly planted along azaleas is this bridal wreath spirea. (Runtime: 1 minute, 21 seconds)

(Audio 04/02/07) Leading up to the Easter holidays there are plenty of Easter lilies for sale, but after Easter many people dispose of them. Easter lilies actually can be planted into the landscape and will bloom for you in the spring year after year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Distributed 04/02/07) Hunting season is more than seven months away, but deer hunters can improve their chances of success now by starting work on food plots, according to the experts.

(Distributed 04/05/07) Landowners, government officials and the forest industry members attended the LSU AgCenter’s Florida Parishes Forestry Forum late last month in Hammond and heard about some of the latest developments in the industry.

(Distributed 04/05/07) Test plots at Baton Rouge last year showed that Asian soybean rust can defoliate plants within seven to 10 days after the disease is detected. But all is not lost once it is found, according to an LSU AgCenter expert.

(Distributed 04/09/07) Educational materials and training are available for current and potential child care operators in eight of the parishes most severely affected by the 2005 hurricanes.

(Distributed 04/13/07) The LSU AgCenter’s Rosepine Research Station will host its annual Beef Cattle and Forage Field Day May 3. The event will feature tours of research plots at the station and will include the 20th annual Beauregard Cattlemen’s Trade Show.

(Distributed 04/13/07) The LSU AgCenter’s annual Wheat and Oat Field Day will be April 20 at the Macon Ridge Research Station in Winnsboro. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

(Distributed 04/13/07) More than 85 4-H Club members spent a day of their spring break at the beach – but, unlike the usual day in the sun, they were busy planting marsh grass to help fight coastal erosion. The students from Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis and Vermilion parishes planted the grass along a two-mile stretch between Holly Beach and Constance Beach.

(Distributed 04/18/07) Family and friends of the late Bob R. Jones recently celebrated the renaming of the LSU AgCenter’s Idlewild Research Station to honor his legacy.

(Distributed 04/18/07) More than 200 4-H members, junior leaders and adult leaders from Bienville, Claiborne, Lincoln, Union and Webster parishes will learn about electric energy, safety and conservation at the annual 4-H Energy Day on Saturday, May 12, at 9:30 a.m. at Claiborne Electric.

(Distributed 04/19/07) What once were pastures now are wetlands – with water where cattle used to graze. "I’ve seen this change in my lifetime," said Herdis Neil as he served as a chaperone for a group of seventh-graders planting smooth cordgrass near Point Aux Chenes as part of a project intended to reduce losses of coastal lands to the waters of the Gulf.

(Distributed 04/20/07) The LSU AgCenter will launch a financial education program for K-12 school system employees as part of Jump$tart Your Money Week April 23-27.

(Distributed 04/23/07) LSU AgCenter wheat experts predicted outstanding yields across the state this year during the Wheat and Oat Field Day held at the Macon Ridge Research Station here on April 20.

(Distributed 04/23/07) Because of the success of the Louisiana Master Farmer Program, the LSU AgCenter has scheduled a variety of model farm field tours this spring and summer for producers needing to complete the second phase of the program.

(Distributed 04/24/07) What does it take to become a more effective leader for agriculture? Many of the answers to that question are part of the LSU AgCenter’s Agricultural Leadership Development Program, and applications are now available for its 11th class, which will begin in January 2008.

(Distributed 04/24/07) 4-H leader Sharon Nabours took her wetlands program on the road recently – teaching students at several schools in Southwest Louisiana the valuable role marshes and swamplands play in protecting the fragile coast.

(Distributed 04/25/07) Young people and adults are seeing the "magic" of agriculture this week at the LSU AgCenter’s AgMagic events in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 04/25/07) In the 70-something years since a Louisiana man first gathered turtle eggs along the railroad track and sold the hatchlings as pets, the turtle industry in Louisiana has experienced a roller coaster ride that may be at its lowest point.

(Distributed 04/27/07) As corn acres rise, cotton acres are plummeting. Many farmers who typically plant cotton are planting corn this year because of high prices for corn. Last year, Louisiana farmers planted 620,000 acres of cotton. This year, they may plant only half that amount, said LSU AgCenter cotton specialist Dr. Sandy Stewart.

(Distributed 04/12/07) Springtime losses in fish ponds are common throughout the Southeast – especially in Louisiana, according to LSU AgCenter expert Dr. Greg Lutz, who says these losses can be the result of oxygen problems, common diseases or a combination of causes.

(Radio News 04/01/07) A natural termite repellent could have several benefits for southern Louisiana. Vetiver grass also could be used in erosion control, and it is salt tolerant, says LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Gregg Henderson. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/02/07) Little wooden structures are part of a new termite study at the LSU AgCenter's Coastal Area Research Station in Plaquemines Parish. The structures house crates of termites, and LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Gregg Henderson is using this system to evaluate different wood treatments. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/09/07) A large number of crane flies are active this time of the year. These giant flies and their larva can be a nuisance, explains LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/09/07) Wide-scale treatment of fire ants is a proven way to keep yards fire-ant free longer. April is a good month treat your yard with a growth hormone regulator, says LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/09/07) With summer approaching there are few things horse owners can do to ensure their horses stay healthy during the summer. Heat stress usually isn’t a problem for most horses in Louisiana except for those that don’t sweat. LSU AgCenter veterinarian Dr. Dennis French explains.

(Radio News 04/09/07) Horses contract diseases such as eastern and western equine encephalitis and West Nile virus from mosquitoes. But horse owners shouldn’t wait until mosquitoes become active to vaccinate. LSU AgCenter veterinarian Dr. Dennis French says by then it could be too late. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/09/07) This time of the year horse owners are probably vaccinating their horses for encephalitic diseases. LSU AgCenter veterinarian Dr. Dennis French says owners also should make sure their horses are vaccinated once a year for tetanus. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/16/07) AgMagic, an interactive exhibit that takes youngsters through Louisiana agriculture, is growing. The LSU AgCenter will present AgMagic for the fourth year the week of April 23-29. LSU AgCenter poultry specialist and AgMagic exhibitor Dr. Theresia Lavergne talks about some old favorites that return to the expanding educational event. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/16/07) The Louisiana JumpStart Coalition wants citizens to jump start their money the last week in April. The coalition is sponsoring "Jump Start Your Money" week to raise awareness about the importance of financial literacy and education in Louisiana.

(Radio News 04/16/07) Around 60 percent of American workers are suffering from financial distress. The LSU AgCenter and partners in the Louisiana Jumpstart Coalition are offering employers an opportunity to help their employees become more financially savvy. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/16/07) Youngsters can get a hands-on lesson about where their food and clothing originates at this year’s AgMagic. Exhibits include a butterfly garden, a bug display and a simulated forest. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio 04/16/07) There is no way to predict what the mosquito population will be like this year, so LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Wayne Kramer won’t even try. But the fact that mosquitoes will be present is a given. Eliminating standing water, however, is one way to cut down on mosquito breeding. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(TV News 04/16/07) Farmers across the country are jumping at the opportunity to grow corn, since prices are high. The amount of corn grown in Louisiana is expected to double this year compared to the 2006 level. While the situation is good news for corn producers it's bad news for cattle producers, because corn prices are driving up feed prices.(Runtime: 1 minute, 44 seconds)

(TV News 04/09/07) Large-animal veterinarians are stressing the importance of vaccinating horses against encephalitic diseases now. These diseases can cause neurological problems and death in horses. (Runtime: 1 minute, 33 seconds)

(TV News 04/23/07) Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance. They also are a health threat, because mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as West Nile virus. By studying the bird population in different habitats, LSU AgCenter researchers are learning more about mosquito-borne diseases. (Runtime: 1 minute, 43 seconds)

(Radio 04/23/07) Jessica Brauch’s Friday mornings often are spent capturing birds. The LSU entomology graduate student is studying mosquito-borne viruses in the bird population. After she captures them using mist nets, she collects blood samples. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/23/07) Even though West Nile virus peaks during the summer it is active throughout the year. The virus shows up in mosquitoes in the spring, and LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Wayne Kramer is trying to understand how the virus amplifies into the summer.

(Radio News 04/23/07) Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hurt the Louisiana cattle industry. Many cattle were lost in southern Louisiana, and the storms damaged fences that contained cattle and forage that fed them. But LSU AgCenter beef cattle specialist Dr. Jason Rowntree says cattle herds in the state have rebounded to about 500,000 head.

(Radio News 04/23/07) Rising production costs can cut into farmers’ profits. Like many farmers, cattle producers are facing several issues this year that will make raising cattle a little more difficult. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/30/07) The LSU AgCenter’s Agricultural Leadership Development program is helping individuals in all aspects of agriculture become effective advocates for the industry. Applications for the next class are being accepted. Participants in the program will take part in 10 seminars that deal with different themes such as environmental and economic issues. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/30/07) Several plant feeder insects are making their spring appearances. LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet says to watch for lace bugs on azaleas with the onset of warmer weather. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/30/07) Through the Coastal Roots program, students get hands-on experience in saving Louisiana’s coastline. The program is a combined effort of the LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/30/07) Youngsters across the state participated in Youth Wetlands Week activities during April. LSU AgCenter fisheries agent David Bourgeois said a group of students planting marsh grass in Terrebonne Parish learned a valuable lesson about the wetlands in their area. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 04/30/07) Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated Louisiana’s coastline. Healthy wetlands can serve to protect coastal communities from a hurricane. Montegut Middle School teacher Cally Chauvin is working with her class to revitalize areas that could protect their homes. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(TV News 04/30/07) A group of South Louisiana youngsters spent some time out of the classroom to help revitalize an ailing wetland that is practically in their backyard. Just because the youngsters weren’t in the classroom didn’t mean they weren’t learning. (Runtime: 1 minute, 37 seconds)

(TV News 04/02/07) Hurricane Katrina wiped out Gregg Henderson’s termite research projects in Plaquemines Parish, but today the LSU AgCenter entomologist has new projects up and running and is continuing the battle against these destructive pests. (Runtime: 1 minute, 40 seconds)