(TV News 08/27/07) The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the new farm bill in late July. Farmers were hoping for an extension of the 2002 farm bill. That is not quite what they have so far in the 2007 bill, but an LSU AgCenter economist says Louisiana producers could find some satisfaction with the current draft. (Runtime: 1 minute, 46 seconds)

(Distributed 09/07/07) A tiny pest called the “panicle rice mite” has been found in the southern United States, including the LSU AgCenter’s Rice Research Station at Crowley. The mite has recently been detected in rice plants this summer at research facilities in Texas and Puerto Rico. Before 2007, it was found in a greenhouse in Ohio and has been a major problem in rice fields in Central and South America, the Caribbean and Asia.

(Distributed 12/01/08) The Louisiana 4-H Educational Awards Trip is one that 4-H members across the state look forward to. In addition to receiving awards, winners are treated to meals and tours in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

This is the Northwest Region newsletter for November.

(For Release On Or After 12/26/08) I recently received a copy of a book called The Garden in Winter. Imagining what I would see inside, I opened the book and the pictures were just what I had expected. The pages were filled with snowy scenes.

(For Release On Or After 12/19/08) Among my favorite dishes for breakfast is a stack of hot, buttered pancakes drowning in maple syrup. Although we can’t grow the sugar maples that produce that delicious syrup here in Louisiana, a wonderful selection of maples can be used as shade trees and ornamentals in our landscapes

(For Release On Or After 12/12/08) Now is an excellent time to evaluate your landscape for any pruning that needs to be done, since many plants can be pruned now through February.

(For Release On Or After 12/5/08) Of the many kinds of plants we use to decorate our homes for the holidays, the holiday cactuses possess a special beauty. And yes, despite the fact that these plants don’t possess spines, they are true cactuses.

(Distributed 11/26/08) Donations from across the state are beginning to make their way to the St. Helena Parish High School where students are in makeshift classrooms following a Nov. 3 fire that destroyed their school.

(Distributed 11/26/08) Nov. 15 to Dec. 31 each year is the open enrollment period for Medicare’s Part D prescription drug plans. Because these drug plans can change from one year to the next, it is important for seniors to comparison-shop annually for the best deal and the best coverage for their own personal prescription needs, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Gloria Nye.

(Distributed 11/26/08) Physical activity is important year-round but can be especially helpful during the holidays when you may be eating more than usual. It is a good way to burn calories and help you feel less guilty about enjoying holiday favorites, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 11/26/08) Many of us think about planting shrubs in the spring, but fall is the best time to plant shrubs in Louisiana. There are advantages to planting woody ornamentals, such as trees and shrubs, at this time.

(Distributed 11/26/08) LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Brandon Guillory, Calcasieu Parish 4-H’er, took first place in the National 4-H Chicken Barbecue Demonstration contest held here Nov. 19-20.

(Distributed 11/25/08) Although Christmas trees were among the thousands of trees damaged during the hurricanes that hit Louisiana this year, this shouldn’t affect the current holiday season, according to Don Reed, LSU AgCenter wildlife and forestry specialist.

(Distributed 11/24/08) Carol Lammi-Keefe, professor in the LSU AgCenter’s School of Human Ecology, is the lead editor of a new book published in 2008 – Handbook of Nutrition and Pregnancy.

(Distributed 09/10/07) A continuation of current strong soybean prices depends on next year’s production, farmers were told at a soybean and energy crop tour held Sept. 6 in Jefferson Davis Parish. Dr. Kurt Guidry, LSU AgCenter economist, said a decrease in soybean acreage and increased demand this year helped boost prices.

(Distributed 09/13/07) Construction techniques used by Cameron Parish residents rebuilding their homes will be featured during a tour of homes on Sept. 23 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The tour’s theme is “Rita Recovery: Rebuilding Safer, Stronger and Smarter,” according to Cynthia Richard, an LSU AgCenter housing agent who organized the event.

(Distributed 11/21/08) The LSU AgCenter’s Get It Growing Lawn and Garden Calendar can be a great holiday gift for gardeners and others. The 2009 edition of the calendar is on sale now and provides a variety of helpful information tailored to Louisiana gardeners, as well as those who simply enjoy photos of beautiful gardens and plants.

(Distributed 11/21/08) The holidays abound with tasty treats such as eggnog, cream pies and other dishes containing eggs. Eating raw or undercooked eggs is a risk for foodborne illness, warns LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 11/21/08) Pets are an important part of many American families. During a recession or downturn in the economy, however, when millions have lost their jobs, businesses are failing or cutting back, record numbers of homes are in foreclosure and credit card debt is at an all time high, families are desperate to cut expenses.

(Distributed 11/21/08) Families can keep holiday traditions without tipping the scale by following a few tips from Vicky Chesser, LSU AgCenter registered dietitian.

(Distributed 11/20/08) A workshop demonstrating safe lead and mold control in household renovations will be held Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the LaHouse resource center on the LSU AgCenter campus in Baton Rouge.

(Distributed 11/21/08) Southern live oaks, known by the scientific name Quercus virginiana, are one of the most popular trees found in Louisiana landscapes. They certainly are considered to be a signature tree in many public places across the state and are widely used in home landscapes.

(Distributed 11/20/08) LaHouse, the LSU AgCenter’s showcase demonstration home, is now open for visitors interested in seeing the latest innovations in home design specifically for Louisiana’s sub-tropical climate. Hours of operation for LaHouse are Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(Distributed 11/19/08) More than 70 researchers and others involved in addressing Louisiana’s coastal wetland disappearance met recently for an update on wetland plant research and restoration efforts.

(Distributed 11/19/08) Farmers are planting the 2009 wheat crop, which will be on significantly fewer acres than the 2008 wheat crop, according to LSU AgCenter wheat specialist Dr. Ed Twidwell. In 2008, because of record high prices, farmers planted around 400,000 acres.

(Distributed 11/18/08)The LSU AgCenter’s 2008 Poinsettia Open House is set for Dec. 5 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Burden Center in Baton Rouge. This event, which is being held for the 14th time, provides poinsettia growers and the public with an opportunity to view some of the latest poinsettia varieties.

(Distributed 11/17/08) Donald T. Floyd Jr., president and CEO of the National 4-H Council, the private-sector, nonprofit partner of America's largest youth organization, visited Louisiana Nov. 13-14.

(Distributed 11/17/08) Despite a year of hurricanes and insect problems, Louisiana citrus growers are having a very good crop year, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 11/12/08) The Louisiana 4-H Meat Judging Team won seventh place overall at the 2008 American Royal Livestock Show National 4-H Meat Evaluation and Identification Contest held Oct. 28 at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan.

(Distributed 11/17/08) The LSU AgCenter’s Rice Research Station hosted a joint meeting of the Louisiana House and Senate agriculture committees Nov. 12 for legislators to learn the basics of the rice industry.

(Distributed 11/17/08) Despite pouring rain, more than 100 dairy producers and other industry representatives turned out for a dairy field day at the LSU AgCenter’s Southeast Research Station at Franklinton Nov. 12.

(Distributed 11/07/08) The LSU AgCenter has named Dr. Tara Smith research coordinator at its Sweet Potato Research Station in Chase.

(Distributed 11/13/08) When Louisiana cooks shop for their Thanksgiving meal, they’ll find the cost of the basic dinner items cost more this year but remain affordable, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker.

(Distributed 11/13/08) Not so long ago, nursery and landscape professionals, along with the vast majority of home gardeners, were not fully aware of the multiseason blooming potential of many azalea varieties.

(Distributed 11/13/08) The holidays are time to enjoy special desserts that you might make only once a year. Some of these foods require special care to prevent foodborne illnesses, warns LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 11/13/08) The color of cooked poultry is not always a sure sign of its safety. Turkey can remain pink even after cooking to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. The meat of smoked turkey is always pink.

(Distributed 06/19/08) A new bug has joined the population of pests in Louisiana that can potentially destroy an agricultural crop. It’s the Asian citrus psyllid and its target is any kind of citrus tree. Smaller than the capital A on this page and mottled brown in color, the psyllid sucks the sap out of the leaves, resulting in curling. Sooty mold will develop on the leaves from the honeydew produced by the psyllid.

(Distributed 11/11/08) Drinking tea to lose weight may not be a farfetched idea if a group of Louisiana researchers can pinpoint and quantify the functional components of Chinese sweet tea and blackberry leaves.

(Distributed 11/10/08) Students around the state are taking an unusual journey without leaving their school. The students are traveling through the human body with the LSU AgCenter’s and Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s gymnasium-sized exhibit called Body Walk.

(Distributed 11/10/08) A good leader knows how to resolve conflict, build collaboration, run meetings and identify assets in the community. Those are just some of the modules taught in the LSU AgCenter’s Leadership Plenty class in Lake Providence.

(Distributed 11/10/08) With an ever-changing “Main Street” in America, the LSU AgCenter is offering e-business classes in North Louisiana to help businesses grow through the Internet.

(Distributed 11/3/08) Increased input costs, tight profit margins and two major hurricanes created a difficult year for many of Louisiana’s agricultural producers. To help the state’s farmers, the LSU AgCenter has established a farm financial hotline to help them make financial decisions, according to Dr. Kurt Guidry, an economist in the AgCenter’s Department of Agricultural Economics & Agribusiness.

(Distributed 11/07/08) The Louisiana sugarcane harvest is in full swing and with some of the best weather conditions to get the job done.

(Distributed 11/07/08) The LSU AgCenter has named Dr. Bill Williams as state weed specialist for agricultural crops.

(Distributed 11/6/08) Although gasoline is the fuel of choice for the American automobile, diesel is the fuel of choice for moving freight – whether by truck, train or ship. And while the primary source for diesel is from petroleum, the fuel can be made from both plant and animal sources, according to experts in the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 11/06/08) The late fall and winter months in Louisiana are great for planting fruit trees and shrubs. Ones that work well in our landscapes include fig, citrus, blueberry, pawpaw, pomegranate and persimmon. Most can be easily grown, are low maintenance, have appealing forms, good texture, attractive colors and provide wildlife benefits. These characteristics “fit the bill” for a sustainable landscape.

(Distributed 11/06/08) Anyone interested in fruit and vegetable production is invited to attend the Deep South Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference and Trade Show at the Riverview Plaza Hotel in Mobile, Ala. Dec. 3-4. The early registration discount deadline is Nov. 21.

(Distributed 11/04/08) LAKEVIEW – Homeowners will learn how to secure their homes against floodwaters, as well as how to rebuild and restore their homes to be energy efficient and resist damage from storms, termites and moisture at the Community Rebuilding and Flood Protection Expo Nov. 16 in the New Orleans community of Lakeview.

(Distributed 11/05/08) “First, don’t panic.” That’s the advice of LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Gloria Nye regarding the current turmoil on Wall Street.

(Distributed 11/04/08) Diabetes is growing to epidemic proportions and is the biggest public health crisis of the 21st century, according to the American Diabetes Association. This answers, “Why should you care about diabetes?” the theme of this year’s diabetes awareness campaign through November.

(For Release On Or After 11/28/08I wish more gardeners understood that fall is a primary planting season in Louisiana. For years horticulturists have tried to get the word out that November through February is the ideal time to plant hardy trees and shrubs in the landscape. Planting in late November and early December is especially good since trees and shrubs planted now benefit in several ways.)

(For Release On Or After 11/21/08) Fall is an outstanding time to plant many of the hardy culinary herbs, and one of the most popular is parsley.

(For Release On Or After 11/14/08) Now is the perfect time to plant cool-season bedding plants that will brighten our landscapes over the next five or six months. Gardeners often overlook the fact that some cool-season bedding plants are wonderfully fragrant.

(For Release On Or After 11/07/08) So you’ve finally decided to get that hobby greenhouse you always wanted. Even though winter weather in Louisiana is relatively mild, gardeners still may find that a greenhouse offers a variety of advantages.

(Distributed 11/3/08) A compound in the fats in Louisiana oysters could be a key ingredient in treating and preventing cancer, according to scientists at the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 10/31/08) They celebrated and educated at the 2008 State Fair of Louisiana 4-H Fun Day Oct. 29. Featured activities included the 4-H Express, the Ark-La-Tex Ag Council Junior Livestock Sale, the launch of a new children’s Web site, a Platoon Patrol skit for pre-schoolers and a Louisiana 4-H Foundation drawing for $10,000.

(Distributed 10/31/08) Feeding cows for optimum performance is the theme of this year’s field day at the LSU AgCenter’s Southeast Research Station near Franklinton, La., on Nov. 12.

(Distributed 10/31/08) Pansies continue to be the most popular cool-season bedding plant in Louisiana. They have long been relied on for their consistent outstanding landscape performance.

(Distributed 10/30/08) READHIMER – Zachary Page, a 15-year-old Natchitoches Parish 4-H’er, has won the Triumph Award through Special Olympics Louisiana.

(Distributed 10/29/08) A former 4-H’er found out the lessons he learned in his Bossier Parish 4-H club 50 years ago came in handy halfway around the world in helping a war-torn nation. Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Lane Killen, who now resides at Fort Polk in Vernon Parish, used his knowledge of raising sheep and leadership in his job as an agricultural adviser on the Diyala Provincial Reconstruction Team in Iraq from May 10, 2007, to March 16, 2008.

(Distributed 10/24/08) To recognize the outstanding contributions made to Louisiana through agriculture, the Louisiana Agri-News Network, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will honor the 2009 Louisiana Farmer of the Year. Nominations for the award are being accepted now through Dec. 15, 2008.

(Distributed 10/24/08) Fall through winter is the recommended tree-planting season in Louisiana. Often, poor tree performance in residential, commercial and municipal landscapes can be traced to improper planting techniques, but common mistakes in planting, establishment and follow-up care of trees can be avoided by following easy guidelines.

(Distributed 12/17/07) The LSU AgCenter kicked off its Little Bookshelf program in St. Helena Parish at the parish health unit in Greensburg on Dec. 12.

(Distributed 10/22/08) A new Web site, Louisiana 4-H Kids’ Clubhouse, will be officially launched at the State Fair of Louisiana on Oct. 29 during 4-H Fun Day, according to Mark Tassin, director of 4-H and youth programs at the LSU AgCenter. The site at www.4-Hclubhouse.com is tailored to fourth through sixth graders and features nearly a hundred games, quizzes, downloadable activities and videos.

(Distributed 10/21/08) More than 8 million identity thefts have occurred in recent years, according to the Federal Trade Commission. How does this crime happen? Thieves steal wallets, steal or open your mail, go through your trash, steal information from where you work or do business or complete a change of address form to divert your mail, says LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Gloria Nye.

(Distributed 10/21/08) New Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are designed “so people can easily fit physical activity into their daily plan and incorporate activities they enjoy,” said LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 10/20/08) When the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) said they were prepared with ice for this hurricane season, they meant it. And what was left afterward is benefiting the state’s economy.

(Distributed 10/17/08) Fall is a perfect time to enjoy sweet potatoes. The Louisiana yam is an exceptional type of sweet potato that is sweet and flavorful with a soft, moist flesh.

(Distributed 10/16/08) LSU AgCenter researchers think the salvinia weevil may be what they’ve been looking for as a way to control giant salvinia – an invasive aquatic species in the state.

(Distributed 10/16/08) When asked what Halloween means, kids usually put candy at the top of their list before goblins or costumes. Even so, nutrition can play a role on Halloween, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 10/16/08) The LSU AgCenter has been promoting research-based best management practices in the home landscape for several years to educate residents on how to manage their lawns, gardens and landscapes to minimize nonpoint pollution, insects, weeds and diseases.

(Distributed 05/26/06) Regularly checking the trees in your yard for damage, disease and other indications of danger is important, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter, who say the beginning of hurricane season is a good reminder to do it now.

(Distributed 05/26/06) Hurricanes can cause flooding even in areas where it never occurred before. That means everyone should be prepared before storms approach and should know what to watch for during a storm, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 05/26/06) The chaos that came in the wake of some of last year’s hurricanes demonstrated the need for families to have basic plans for what to do in case of a storm or any other emergency. LSU AgCenter experts say making the plans isn’t complicated, but making them now ensures everyone has a better chance of knowing what to do if disaster strikes.

(Distributed 05/26/06) Agricultural producers, farm managers and other crop production professionals will have an opportunity to learn about the latest in row crop research during the LSU AgCenter’s Northeast Research Station Field Day scheduled for June 14.

(Distributed 05/30/06) If you have pets or livestock, your family’s disaster plans need to include what you’ll do with them.

(Distributed 05/31/06) Most disaster checklists include recommendations to keep a three-day food supply on hand for each person, but just exactly what does that mean? LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames has some of the answers.

(Distributed 02/01/06) They can travel across a country or even traverse continents in a suitcase or shoe, and they’re infamous for infesting intimate locations – beds. Now the fabled bedbug is infesting beds around New York City, and some people are concerned if the bugs will spread.

(Distributed 02/01/06) The LSU AgCenter is hosting informational sessions Feb. 10 to assist Louisiana residents interested in applying for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Value-added Producer Grant program.

(Distributed 02/01/06) Farmers are facing uncertainty with expected changes in U.S. farm policy, high energy costs and World Trade Organization talks, a Washington agricultural analyst told rice producers last week (Jan. 26).

(Distributed 02/02/06) The LSU AgCenter has a variety of resources designed to help agricultural producers with farm management chores, and among those are publications to help them with record keeping on everything from money spent to fertilizer bought to pesticides used.

(Distiributed 02/03/06) Corn producers should think about early-season insect control to help establish healthy stands, says LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Jack Baldwin.

(Distributed 02/10/06) Two members of the LSU AgCenter’s 4-H program will show America they can be "Iron Chefs” when a show featuring the teens cooking alligator dishes airs on the Food Network Feb. 28. Claiborne Parish 4-H'ers Christopher Burch and Shelby Harper, students at Haynesville High School, were taped Saturday (Feb. 4) and said they enjoy everything about being in 4-H, including learning beneficial life skills.

(Distributed 02/10/06) An LSU AgCenter program that tests the performance of bulls benefits cattle producers and the state’s beef industry, according to experts. Known as the Bull Performance Testing Program, the effort operates out of the LSU AgCenter’s Dean Lee Research Station south of Alexandria.

(Distributed 02/15/06) Owners of South Louisiana property affected by last year’s hurricanes may need to evaluate the termite protection for their homes and other buildings but won’t necessarily need to treat again, according to an entomologist with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 02/15/06) The LSU AgCenter is providing landowners and others with answers they need to face today’s conditions in the forest industry by offering forestry forums across the state this spring.

(Distributed 02/17/06) Hurricane Rita destroyed homes, schools and barns when it ripped through Cameron Parish last fall. It also bruised and battered the hopes of hundreds of 4-H’ers looking forward to showing livestock.

(Distributed 02/18/06) The LSU AgCenter honored a group of outstanding volunteer leaders and 4-H and FFA members Saturday (Feb. 18) for their work with youth livestock projects.

(Distributed 02/18/06) 4-H and FFA members from across Louisiana participated in the 71st annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show Feb. 11-18. The competitors qualified for the 2006 show by winning awards at parish and district livestock shows across Louisiana, and, in all, more than 3,000 young people came to Gonzales to compete with 5,300 animals.

(Distributed 02/18/06) Top exhibitors of market animals received scholastic premiums of more than $44,000 Saturday (Feb. 18) at the conclusion of the 71st Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show.The scholastic awards, which ranged from $1,500 to $5,500 for individual winners, went to 4-H and FFA youth who showed champion market animals during the Feb. 11-18 events that included competition for beef and dairy cattle, goats, hogs, poultry and sheep.

(Distributed 02/18/06) Six exceptional Louisiana teen-agers were recognized Saturday (Feb. 18) for their knowledge, skills and communication abilities when they were named winners of the Gerry Lane Premier Exhibitor Awards at the 71st annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show. Now in its ninth year, the premier exhibitor program recognizes 4-H and FFA members who may or may not have champion animals but who have a thorough understanding of animal science.

(Distributed 02/20/06) Hundreds of young people from across Louisiana were named state champions during a week of competition at the 71st Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show.

(Distributed 02/21/06) Will the South American rice leaf miner be affected by salt water pushed ashore by Hurricane Rita? LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Boris Castro said it’s possible the rice pest’s population could have been weakened by the high salinity, but there’s no way of knowing yet.

(Distributed 02/21/06) South Louisiana rice fields contaminated with salt from Hurricane Rita’s storm surge have shown some improvements, although not as much as expected, and salinity levels actually have increased in some sugarcane fields.

(Distributed 02/21/06) "I’ve never won anything in my life," cried Tasha Miller. But her day had come. Miller, a 4-H volunteer from New Orleans who lost her home in Hurricane Katrina, was one of 10 who won a 2006 Toyota Prius hybrid from NBA star Amare Stoudemire.

(Distributed 02/21/06) With most of the citrus groves in Plaquemines Parish destroyed by last fall’s hurricanes, growers in the Lafourche-Terrebonne area are preparing to fill part of that market niche.

(Distributed 02/22/06) The LSU AgCenter’s Baton Rouge Spring Garden Show will bloom again March 25-26 at the John M. Parker Agricultural Coliseum on Highland Road on the LSU campus.

(Distributed 02/22/06) A Vermilion Parish 4-H’er recently was recognized as the Louisiana winner of the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, which honors young people for outstanding volunteer service to their communities.

(Distributed 02/23/06) Azalea enthusiasts will have an opportunity to take a guided tour of the LSU AgCenter’s azalea collection at the Burden Center in Baton Rouge from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. March 5.

(Distributed 02/23/06) Where are the crawfish this year, especially after last year’s good crop? That’s the question a panel of LSU AgCenter experts attempted to answer recently (Feb. 22) in meetings held in LSU AgCenter extension offices in Avoyelles, Evangeline and St. Martin parishes. Their short answer is that a large percentage of crawfish died from last summer’s drought, particularly in August and September.

(Distributed 03/06/06) The LSU AgCenter will offer a Master Farmer Model Farm Field Day March 23 in Ville Platte. The field day is intended for rice and cattle producers from the Vermilion-Teche and Mermentau watersheds who are enrolled in the Louisiana Master Farmer Program and Louisiana Master Cattle Producer Program.

(Distributed 03/06/06) The images of children sitting idle moved Tennessee high school student Emily Hollingsworth to take action, and Hollingsworth inspired a whole community.

(Distributed 03/06/06