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(Distributed 07/28/14) AVERY ISLAND, La. – The Marsh Maneuvers 4-H summer camp is in its 25th year of teaching students about the ecology, anthropology, geology and hydrology of coastal Louisiana. For four weeks, 4-H students from different parishes attend a five-day camp at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge to learn about the coastal environment and its precarious future.
(Audio News 07/28/14) Despite a late start to Louisiana’s corn crop, harvest could begin in a couple of weeks. LSU AgCenter corn and cotton specialist Dan Fromme said he is anticipating excellent yields. The state has approximately 450,000 acres of corn – 250,000 fewer acres than last year. (Runtime: 1:20)
(Video: 08/04/14) Zinnias (pronounced Zen-Yuhs) are beautiful flowers for Louisiana landscapes. But some of the typical varieties are prone to disease. On this edition of Get It Growing, horticulturist Dan Gill explains how hybrid zinnias are both disease resistant and beautiful. (Runtime: 1:48)
(Video: 07/28/14) Many people have peppers in their garden, and they’re now producing, but high moisture can lead to disease problems. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how to take care of these pepper problems. (Runtime: 1:53 seconds)
(Audio 07/28/14) Don’t forget about those herbs that were planted at the beginning of the summer. Now is the time to harvest them and either use them in your cooking or freeze them for later use. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/28/14) Gardeners can fill their flower beds with heat-tolerant plants that will last throughout the summer. Listen to learn more about which plants will beat the heat and bring color to their landscape. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/28/14) Crape myrtles make two to three flushes of flowers every summer. This makes them popular in the landscape. For the crape myrtle to produce properly, pruning has to be done. Listen to learn more. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video: 07/23/14) Louisiana's corn and cotton crops have benefited from good weather and few disease or insect problems during their growing season. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has an update. (Runtime: 1:28 seconds)
(Video: 07/23/14) A new grain sorghum variety coupled with a new herbicide will help farmers control grassy weeds in their fields, but an insect could damage this year's sorghum crop. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has this report. (Runtime: 1:26 seconds)
(Video 07/23/14) Tall stalks of sugarcane are a common sight around south Louisiana in midsummer, but this year stalks are shorter than normal. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports that cool weather we enjoy doesn't have much benefit to sugarcane. (Runtime: 1:43 seconds)
(Video: 07/21/14) One of the most popular plants for beautiful, rich pastel colors and full flowers is the hydrangea. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to a new type of hydrangea – one with cone-shaped flowers. (Runtime: 1:52)
(Video: 07/10/14) Louisiana’s rice crop is midway through its growing season, but weather has caused delays. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has an update on the crop and a look at new technology that can improve the way farmers grow rice. (Runtime: 1:30 seconds)
(Video: 07/14/14) The summer heat is difficult on plants, so when you find one that’s tough and beautiful and that can last through the entire summer, you’ve found a real winner. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill introduces you to a plant with unique foliage, beautiful flowers, and the ability to survive the heat. (Runtime: 1:40)
(Audio: 07/21/14) The mushrooms that grow on you lawns and in your gardens are not to eat. If the mushrooms in your landscape bother you, just gather them up and throw them away. There isn’t much else you can do. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio: 07/21/14) Basil is one of the few plants that you can plant now and have it survive through the summer heat. Go to your local nursery and get a basil transplant to plant in your garden or in a little pot to use in your cooking. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio: 07/21/14) During summer flowers in your flower beds are ready to pick. Go out one evening and bring some into your home and enjoy the color and fragrance of flowers from your garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/14/14) Blackberry harvest is over, but in order to have good berries next year, some pruning has to be done. Remove the fruiting vines that produced this year because they will not produce again. Leave the new canes; they will be the ones that produce next year's fruit. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 07/14/14) Bark lice are common during midsummer. They create a fine, silvery webbing on the trunks of trees. This webbing is not harmful to the tree and is common in Louisiana. The lice are just eating organic bits off of the tree and cleaning them as they go. The webbing is simply a form of protection. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio: 07/07/14) If the plants in your flower beds are heat-tolerant, they should be looking pretty good. Watering, however, requires special attention. They'll need water if they begin to wilt between rains. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio: 07/07/14) Because we plant tomato plants so early to give them time to grow and bloom in our gardens, by late June most have finished producing for the year. If you have tomato plants that are looking brown and not producing anymore, it’s probably time to pull the and plant something else that will grow throughout the rest of the summer. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video: 07/07/14) Begonias are perennial plants that come in dramatically different sizes and shapes. On this edition of Get It Growing, horticulturist Dan Gill explains the ever-expanding selections of begonias and which ones to be wary of in our hot, humid summer climate. (Runtime: 1:45 seconds)
(Distributed 07/11/14) CROWLEY, La. – Farmers voiced concerns about a proposed revision to the Clean Water Act in a meeting on July 9 with representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More than 130 people turned out for the session with some traveling from north Louisiana and Texas.
(Distributed 07/28/14) CROWLEY, La. – Dustin Harrell, LSU AgCenter agronomist, has been selected to become the next Louisiana rice extension specialist. He will start the new job in January with the retirement of the existing rice specialist, Johnny Saichuk.
(Distributed 07/23/14) ALEXANDRIA, La. – Testing soybean varieties or studying cotton fertility in the heat of the Louisiana summer might not appeal to some LSU students. But three visiting scholars from Honduras have been doing just that at the LSU AgCenter Dean Lee Research and Extension Center in Alexandria, and they say it has been the experience of a lifetime.
(Distributed 07/31/14) WINNSBORO, La. – Farmers are worried their operations may come under increased federal scrutiny as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers seek to clarify which waters are subject to Clean Water Act regulations.
(Distributed 07/18/14) ALEXANDRIA, La. – Louisiana farmers got an update on a variety of research projects at the LSU AgCenter Dean Lee Research and Extension Center's 13th annual row crop field day. The event, held on July 17, attracted about 200 attendees.
(Distributed 07/17/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Although signup is months away, agricultural landowners and producers need to begin planning for decisions they will have to make because of the new farm bill, according to LSU AgCenter economist Mike Salassi.
(Distributed 07/29/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Summer abounds with horse shows, competitions, sales and trail rides. However, hauling horses in Louisiana’s hot, humid summers can put them at risk for dehydration, heatstroke and exhaustion.
(Distributed 07/07/14) BATON ROUGE, La. — The LSU AgCenter LaHouse Resource Center will offer two Lead Certified Renovator Training courses in July. The course will first be held on July 22 at LaHouse in Baton Rouge and then on July 28 at the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training in Natchitoches.
(Distributed 07/25/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – When a group of LSU and LSU AgCenter professors visited Brazil universities last spring, it was more of a fact-finding mission. But recent developments have proven the trip was well worth the effort, according to Lawrence Datnoff, head of the AgCenter Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology.
(Distributed 07/29/14) BATON ROUGE, LA. – With more than 60 species of mosquitoes in Louisiana and mild temperatures most of the year anytime is a good time to be bitten, said LSU AgCenter entomologist Kristen Healey. But right now is an especially important time to be on the lookout for these pesky predators.
(Distributed 07/24/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Satellites in space may be far away, but two Japanese engineers are developing ways to use them to improve their country's rice crop.
(Distributed 07/03/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter will host an e-commerce seminar in Mansura from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 24. The event, which is sponsored by the Connect My Louisiana initiative, will feature information on 3D printing, building online businesses and social media.
(Distributed 07/17/14) RAYVILLE, La. – Rice farmers heard from LSU AgCenter experts on July 17 talking about their research and the 2014 rice crop. Johnny Saichuk, LSU AgCenter rice specialist, said the crop is doing well, but he doubts it will be as good as last year’s.
(Distributed 07/21/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – The path to a healthier lifestyle sometimes begins with small steps. But for low-income people whose budgets and food options are often limited, taking those first steps can be difficult.
(Distributed 07/30/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter will host a dedication ceremony for its new Animal and Food Sciences Laboratories Building at 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 6. Gov. Bobby Jindal and East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden will attend the dedication, along with LSU and AgCenter officials.
(Distributed 07/24/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Members of the Louisiana 4-H Food and Fitness Board from throughout the state held their summer meeting in Baton Rouge July 15-17, where they were able to get some hands-on experience and career information from food industry representatives, said LSU AgCenter 4-H regional coordinator Lanette Hebert.
(Distributed 07/17/14) LAKE CHARLES, La. – Results from the 45th annual Louisiana 4-H and FFA State Horse Show held July 8-12, 2014, have been released.
(Distributed 07/11/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – When people get sick, they usually call their doctor. Louisiana residents and extension personnel can do the same thing when their plants get sick, thanks to the LSU AgCenter's Plant Diagnostic Center. There, director of the center and "plant doctor" Raj Singh can examine samples and help with just about any plant health problem.
(Distributed 07/29/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Kathy Conerly has been named executive secretary of Louisiana FFA. In her new position, she hopes to expand programs and use FFA to promote agriculture to Louisiana's next generation. Conerly succeeds Ronald Mayeux, who passed away in April and was the executive secretary for seven years. FFA is affiliated with both the LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture.
(Distributed 07/14/14) WINNSBORO, La. – Corn farmers should be looking for a damaging fungal disease, Southern rust, which has been found recently in Louisiana. “Some years we see it. Some years we don’t,” said Trey Price, plant pathologist at the LSU AgCenter Macon Ridge Research Station.
(Distributed 07/03/14) The industry standard in rudbeckia is the Goldsturm variety, which is widely available in Louisiana. Normally, this variety flowers twice during the year. A good bloom occurs in late spring through midsummer, and you can get some fall flowers, too.
(Distributed 07/11/14) The Bandana series of lantanas from Syngenta Flowers have been out for a few years now. These are attractive plants and offer new options in lantana selection for commercial and residential landscapes.
(Distributed 07/22/14) COLLINSTON, La. – Members of the Morehouse Parish Black Farmers Association and the National Black Growers’ Council, along with others interested in agriculture, braved torrential rains to learn new information at the 13th annual Black Farmers Field Day at Harper Armstrong’s farm on July 18.
(Distributed 07/08/14) BATON ROUGE, La. – Citrus harvest is still months away, but this year’s crop in Louisiana faces two growing threats – citrus canker and citrus greening.
(For Release On Or After 07/18/14) If you haven’t paid a lot of attention to sunflowers for your garden lately, you may think only of the gigantic sunflowers that reach for their namesake in the sky – towering to heights of 8 feet or more. And you may think that they only come in yellow.
