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

(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 01/24/08) 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 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 01/17/08) 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.

Seminar to be held Satudray, February 23, 2008