The Southwest Louisiana Rice and Soybean Forum will be held Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, at the Welsh Community Center in Welsh, La. The program will begin at 8:00 a.m.

This will be the first agronomy educational meeting of the new year and we have tried to plan an interesting and informative event. LSU AgCenter researchers, extension specialists, agents and industry leaders will make presentations on a variety of topics relative to both crops. Speakers and topics include:

• Rice Production Practices for 2011 Practices by Dr. Johnny Saichuck, Rice Specialist.
• Rice Fertility Research by Dr. Dustin Harrell, Rice Station Researcher.
• Rice Insect Pest Management by Dr. Natalie Hummel, LSU Department of Entomology.
• Rice Variety Update by Dr. Steve Linscombe, LSU AgCenter Rice Breeder.
• Rice Weed Pest Management by Dr. Eric Webster, LSU AgCenter Weed Science Researcher.
• Rice Disease Management by Dr. Don Groth, Rice Pathology Researcher.
• Soybean and Rice Market Outlook by Dr. Kurt Guidry, LSU Department of Agricultural Economics.
• Soybean Varieties and Management Practices by Dr. Ronald Levy, Soybean Specialist.
• Soybean and Wheat Disease Management by Dr. Boyd Padgett, LSU AgCenter Plant Pathologist.
• 2010 Southwest LA Soybean Demonstrations (Varieties, Fungicides and Broadleaf Weed Management) by Allen Hogan, County Agent.
• Weed Control and Use of Harvest Aids in Soybean by Dr. James Griffin, LSU Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences.

A lunch will be served at noon. The lunch and refreshments are courtesy of sponsors. The Southwest Louisiana Rice and Soybean Forum will conclude at 1:30 pm.

All interested persons are invited to attend and participate in the 2011 Southwest LA Rice and Soybean Forum.

Holiday Plant Care
People tend to give plants for Christmas gifts. Usually these are what we have come to know as “seasonal plants”. Poinsettias, holiday cactus and even Amaryllis fall into this category. None of these were originally “seasonal plants”. Over the years they have been hybridized or culturally manipulated to fit into the Christmas season.

All three of these can be grown outdoors. Poinsettias and Amaryllis can be transplanted into the garden in a protected area. With mild winters, they may grow for multiple years. Holiday cactus will live indoors, but will prosper and bloom much better if moved to a location with morning sun after spring arrives. Be sure to bring the cactus inside next fall when the temperatures fall into the 40’s.

After Christmas, keep all three plants in an area that is warm and draft free. Allow the soil in their container to dry; then water thoroughly. Give each the light from a bright window.

Next spring transplant the Poinsettia and Amaryllis into a protected area of the garden. Be sure to not plant the Amaryllis deeper that the sprouted leaflets. Move the holiday cactus to the porch or patio where it has access to morning sun.

Sticker Weeds in the Yard
There are a lot of little plants that grow in our lawns. Some have a tendency to stick our bare feet in the spring. The problem with most is that by the time they develop the stickers, it is too late to control them. The number one culprit is a plant known as “lawn bur weed”. Others include bur clover and a stinging nettle known locally as “fire grass” or “burning grass”.

One or more applications of post emergence herbicide during the winter months will often kill these plants while they are immature. Killed at this stage, they never develop the stickers or thorns. December through February most summer lawns are completely dormant. An application of a labeled herbicide at this time will not harm the lawn grass. It will also be more effective on the young sticker weeds. Continue to check your lawn regularly throughout the late winter. Control the weed before it becomes a problem.

Atrazine herbicide is very effective against sticker weeds, but should have been applied in late October through November. It is only effective if the sticker weeds have not emerged. Atrazine can also be harmful to trees and ornamental plants growing in the lawn. Don’t use atrazine within the root zone of these plants.

Post emergence herbicides containing 2,4-D and other broadleaf weed killers work best on sticker weeds that have emerged. Apply to young weeds from now through early March. Best activity occurs if the temperature is over 60 degrees F. Always use only herbicides that are labeled for use on your species of grass. Always read the label and follow all directions and restrictions when using any pesticide.

I wish all of you a happy and prosperous 2011.