(Distributed 09/29/08) Louisiana 4-H’ers will join others across the country in the celebration of National 4-H Week Oct. 5-11. The main focus of the week is to celebrate the accomplishments of the young people, volunteer leaders and parents involved in 4-H Clubs – as well as to encourage others to become involved in the unique youth development program.

(Distributed 09/26/08) The totals related to hurricanes Gustav and Ike include up to $763 million in lost revenue to Louisiana farmers, ranchers, foresters and fishers and as much as $175 million to $200 million in additional damage to the equipment and facilities that form the industries’ infrastructure.

(Distributed 09/25/08) Louisiana waterfowl hunters should make sure they are following the law when hunting in crop-damaged areas of the state this year, according to a wildlife specialist with the LSU AgCenter.

Following are pages of photos shot by AgCenter Communications photographers of the effects of hurricanes Gustav and Ike on agriculture and communities in Louisiana. They include photos from three of the AgCenter research stations in the Baton Rouge area – Sugar Station, Central Station and Burden Center. The photos include the photographer’s name and the date the photo was taken.

(Distributed 09/23/08) The 2008 Fall Garden Show in New Orleans will be held at the City Park Botanical Garden from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Oct. 18-19.

(Distributed 09/19/08) LSU AgCenter Chancellor Bill Richardson was part of a group of agricultural representatives that met with Louisiana’s Congressional delegation earlier this week to provide an accurate picture of the severe damage caused to Louisiana agriculture as a result of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

(Distributed 09/19/08) Healthy trees can make for safer neighborhoods and healthier relationships between neighbors, according to an urban forester with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 09/19/08) Hurricane Gustav dumped 18 inches of rain on Ken Thornhill’s sweet potato fields in Franklin Parish. Hurricane Ike didn’t hit his fields as hard, but sweet potato growers across the state are reeling from the two storms. “It’s really a sad period of time for Louisiana’s sweet potato industry,” Thornhill said.

(Distributed 09/18/08) Residents of Cameron and Calcasieu parishes are still coping with the ordeal of putting their lives back together after Hurricane Ike. People began trickling back to their homes in Cameron and Grand Chenier to see if anything remains to be cleaned up, although they are not being allowed to stay. Cattle owners were struggling to deal with herds still in the marsh.

(Distributed 09/17/08) The deadline has been extended to Sept. 30 for farmers who need waivers from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to qualify for federal disaster insurance to help cover their losses from hurricanes Gustav and Ike. “The deadline had been Sept. 16, but because some of the FSA offices were without power because of the hurricanes, the deadline was extended a couple of weeks,” said Dr. Kurt Guidry, LSU AgCenter agricultural economist.