(Distributed 01/24/08) Farmers and agribusiness personnel discussed an expected shortage of soybean seed for the crop to be planted in the 2008 growing season during recent soybean meetings in Central Louisiana.

(Distributed 1/4/08) Soybean producers and agribusiness personnel will gather on Jan. 17 near Alexandria to discuss the latest developments in technology for growing soybeans profitably.

(Distributed 01/15/08) Southwest Louisiana farmers are hopeful that rice prices will remain strong, but their optimism is tempered by increased production costs. In a series of rice forums across South Louisiana, LSU AgCenter experts advised farmers on techniques of managing their 2008 crop.

(Distributed 01/14/08) The LSU AgCenter’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program is looking for new participants in Caddo and Bossier parishes. This federally funded program, which got its start in 1969 with the national War on Poverty, is designed to enhance the quality of a family’s health. “We are looking to increase our caseload,” said Cathryn Robinson, extension agent and coordinator of the program in the two parishes.

(Distributed 1/4/08) On January 7, the two top college football teams in the nation will battle to see who will win, but for many people devastated by Hurricane Katrina, both are already winners.

(Distributed 1/4/08) Home gardeners will have the opportunity to attend monthly horticulture programs offered by LSU AgCenter horticulture faculty starting Jan. 25 at the Louisiana House Home and Landscape Resource Center (LaHouse) in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 01/07/08) Renewable energy will be a major focus of the AgOutlook 2008 conference Feb. 25-27 in Monroe. The conference will focus on opportunities a variety of renewable energy sources such as ethanol, biodiesel and other products can provide to increase agriculture’s contribution to the Louisiana economy.

(Distributed 01/17/08) Youth from across Louisiana are preparing to compete in the 73rd annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show next month at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. LSU AgCenter officials say they expect more than 3,000 youngsters to bring nearly 6,000 animals to the Feb. 9-16 competition.

(Distributed 01/17/08) Twenty-five men and women from across Louisiana began a two-year venture in the LSU AgCenter’s Agricultural Leadership Development Program when they attended their first class last week (Jan. 8-10) in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 01/18/08) A risk management workshop for green industry professionals will be held on Monday, Feb. 11 at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station in Hammond.

(Distributed 01/25/08) The South remains the wood basket of the world, said William Hubbard, southern regional extension forester from Athens, Ga., at the Forest Landowner Forum held in West Monroe Jan. 19.

(Distributed 01/25/08) More than 2,200 first and fourth graders along with 200 teachers and school personnel from eight northeast Louisiana parishes participated in the fourth annual Ag Alley as part of the Ag Expo at the Ike Hamilton Exposition Center in West Monroe Jan. 17-19.

(Distributed 01/25/08) DELHI – Some 130 Louisiana corn and soybean producers attended the 2008 Louisiana Corn and Soybean Forum Jan. 15 to learn the latest in research for growing profitable crops.

(Distributed 01/24/08) Near-perfect growing conditions in the fall have allowed the state’s strawberry growers to produce a good early crop, despite recent freezing temperatures. Regina Bracy, professor and research coordinator of the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station, said low temperatures may increase producer cost but have little effect on quality.

(Distributed 01/22/08) Although only about 140 miles long, the Atchafalaya River is the fifth-largest ocean-discharging river in North America, said Dr. Andy Nyman, associate professor of wetland wildlife management in the LSU AgCenter’s School of Renewable Natural Resources.

(Distributed 01/25/08) Testing soil and properly managing weeds and insects can help cotton farmers grow a successful 2008 crop, experts told approximately 60 cotton producers and other industry representatives at the Louisiana Cotton Forum held Jan. 23 at the Delhi Civic Center.

(Distributed 01/25/08) ABBEVILLE – The Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau has honored Howard Cormier, LSU AgCenter county agent in Vermilion Parish, with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

(Distributed 01/31/08) February is American Heart Month. Women will again “Go Red for Women” by wearing something red or special pin to raise awareness of heart disease, women’s no. 1 killer.

(Distributed 01/31/08) Photographs are being accepted through the end of February for the LSU AgCenter’s 2009 Get It Growing Lawn and Garden Calendar.

(Distributed 01/29/08) Thirteen people from Northeast Louisiana were the first group to be inducted into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame. The 4-H Hall of Fame has been established as part of the celebration of 100 years of 4-H in Louisiana, according to Dwight Landreneau, LSU AgCenter associate vice chancellor.

(Distributed 02/01/08) Commercial tomato growers will learn the latest about the greenhouse tomato industry at the 12th annual Tomato Field Day at the Red River Research Station in Bossier City on Feb. 29.

(Distributed 02/01/08) Hannah Montana gave a breathtaking performance at the Regional Livestock Show in Lafayette recently (Jan. 25). That’s the Santa Gertrudis cow owned by LSU AgCenter 4-H student Brett Broussard of Kaplan – and not the pop-star performer.