(Radio News 07/2911) LSU AgCenter researcher Brenda Tubana is working to deliver the most effective fertilizer guidelines for sugarcane farmers. Sugarcane requires a large number of nutrients, but she is looking at the nutrients needed in the largest amounts. (Runtime: 1:05)
(Video News 07/14/11) Rice farmers learned about new varieties at the LSU AgCenter’s Rice Research Station Field Day. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard also reports about issues facing this year's crop. (Runtime: 2:00)
(Audio 07/21/11) The LSU AgCenter, working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Sugar Cane League, recently released a new sugarcane variety, HoCP 04-838. LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois says the variety has good disease and insect resistance, as well as cold tolerance. (Runtime: 1:20)
(Radio News 07/14/11) The disease Cercospora can reduce yields and quality of rice. LSU AgCenter plant pathologist Clayton Hollier is studying the environmental conditions that affect Cercospora and if the rice plant’s canopy encourages the disease to develop. Hollier has set up a test on 33 varieties to learn more about the disease. (Runtime: 1:15)
(Radio News 07/19/11) Rice farmers have been using lower seeding rates when planting their crops, and LSU AgCenter entomologist Mike Stout says this could affect how seed treatments work. He’s conducted research on seeding rates with insecticide treatments Dermacor, CrusierMaxx and NipsitInside. (Runtime: 1:10)
(Radio News 07/15/11) Louisiana rice growers have seen unusual early season pests in their rice fields this year. LSU AgCenter rice entomologist Natalie Hummel says a combination of dry weather and more farmers drill-seeding their rice could have caused this insect activity. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Radio News 07/07/11) Much of Louisiana’s cotton crop hasn’t received adequate rainfall, but LSU AgCenter cotton specialist John Kruse says the state could still produce a good crop. (Runtime: 1:10)
(Radio News 07/07/11) Johnny Saichuk called this year’s rice crop a "confused" crop. The LSU AgCenter rice specialist said warm weather in March helped farmers get an early start on planting, but unusually cool weather returned and stayed into May. (Runtime: 1:15)
(Video News 07/29/11) A cold winter and dry spring haven’t hurt Louisiana’s sugarcane crop. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports on the current condition of the crop and work AgCenter researchers are doing to help the sugarcane industry. (Runtime: 1:58)
(Radio News 07/12/11) Rice farmers will have a few more options when deciding what varieties to plant next year. Breeders released a second aromatic variety, Jazzman-2, which has a few differences from the original Jazzman. Steve Linscombe is the director of the LSU AgCenter rice research station and a rice breeder, and he talks about it. (Runtime: 1:30)
(Radio News 07/05/11) Dry weather has affected most of Louisiana’s crops, especially corn. LSU AgCenter corn specialist John Kruse said irrigated corn looks good, but yields of corn grown in fields that haven't been irrigated likely will vary. (Runtime: 1:15)
(Radio News 07/19/11) Seed treatments can help rice farmers control the rice water weevil. Natalie Hummel conducted demonstrations in six parishes across Louisiana to evaluate treatments. (Runtime: 1:10)
(Radio News 07/27/11) The sugarcane borer is the major pest in cane, but a new pest that arrived in Louisiana two to three years ago also threatens the crop. The Mexican rice borer is harder to manage than the sugarcane borer, because insecticides can’t kill the rice borer once it makes its way into the cane stalk. LSU AgCenter entomologist Gene Reagan says the Mexican rice borer is a plant-stress pest. (Runtime: 1:25)
(Radio News 07/13/11) Freshwater streams that provide surface water for farmers in southwest Louisiana are drying up. Rice farmers rely on this water for irrigation. Instead, water from the coast is making its way upstream. LSU AgCenter rice specialist Johnny Saichuk explains. (Runtime: 1:05)
(Radio News 07/04/11) Farmers gathered at the LSU AgCenter's Northeast Research Station Field Day to hear from scientists about the various projects conductedin the area. Studies include variety evaluation trials; pest, weed and disease management research; and a cotton defoliation project. The station’s resident coordinator Donnie Miller explains. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/01/11) More than 20,000 species of insects are housed at the Louisiana State Arthropod Museum on LSU’s campus. The collection helps with insect identification and tells the history of insects in this region. Christopher Carlton is the museum director. (Runtime: 1:53)
(Radio News 07/25/11) Louisiana’s dry spring stressed many crops, but extreme weather conditions haven’t had a negative effect on the state’s sugarcane. A colder-than-normal winter helped to keep disease problems down, which allowed the crop to thrive. LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois explains. (Runtime: 1:15 seconds)
(Audio 07/01/11) Herbicide-resistant weeds are complicating the way farmers grow crops. LSU AgCenter weed scientist Donnie Miller says recent flooding in northeast Louisiana could make the problem worse. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Radio News 07/29/11) Managing nitrogen in sugarcane can be challenging for farmers. It is a large crop that is not replanted every year and has to survive through all weather conditions. LSU AgCenter graduate student Josh Lofton is studying nitrogen management. Lofton says the wide array of field conditions also complicates nitrogen control. (Runtime: 1:10)