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(Distributed 09/24/10) Shrimpers are benefiting from a direct-sales method using the Internet to announce when they will be coming ashore with a fresh catch. The Twin Parish Port Commission – along with the LSU AgCenter and Sea Grant – has created a marketplace, Delcambre Direct Seafood, where consumers are able to contact seafood producers (fishers) directly to purchase fresh shrimp and other seafood when they arrive at the dock.
(Distributed 09/24/10) September and early October are ideal times for repotting tropical container plants that have summered outdoors. Plants placed outside on porches, patios, decks and balconies grow vigorously through the summer.
(Distributed 09/07/10) Seed companies around the country report an uptick in the sales of vegetable seeds this year. An increased interest in home vegetable gardening generally occurs whenever we experience economic downturns. If you planted a spring/summer vegetable garden, don’t forget to keep your garden productive with fall/winter plants.
(Distributed 09/17/10) By late summer, it’s not at all uncommon to see landscape beds that have grown decidedly untidy. Without the guiding hand of the gardener, the resulting chaos can lead to one big mess.
(Distributed 09/14/10)Scam artists are at work even in a recession, says LSU family economist Gloria Nye. Many scams and frauds count on people being more vulnerable when they are desperate because of hard times.
(Distributed 09/10/10) Louisiana wildflowers bloom through the year, except, perhaps, in the dead of winter. The spring and fall seasons, however, are when the most outstanding displays occur. The fall season of wildflowers is just getting under way and will continue through the end of November.
(TV News 09/13/10) Oil is no longer leaking into the Gulf, but the problems facing Louisiana’s seafood industry continue. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited a crab meat processor in Slidell who says seafood availability and public perception are hurting his business. (Runtime: 1:51)
(Radio News 09/13/10) Crates of crabs sit on the bustling dock of Pontchartrain Blues, a crab processing facility on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. Last month, crabs were just trickling in, but owner Gary Bauer was determined to stay open to keep his customers supplied and his labor working. (Runtime: 1:30)
(Radio News 09/13/10) The LSU AgCenter’s sweet potato specialist is expecting good things from this year’s crop. Harvest is near, and after two disastrous years, growers need relief. Tara Smith says if conditions stay the same, growers could get it. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Radio News 09/20/10) The LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy are hosting the Louisiana Youth Financial Educators Summit Sept. 27-28 at the Baton Rouge Crown Plaza. LSU AgCenter family economist Jeanette Tucker helped organize the event and says it is aimed at teachers and other professionals who work with youth. (Runtime: 1:10)
(TV News 09/06/10) Anyone with an agricultural product to sell has a new way to market it. The LSU AgCenter has launched the new website MarketMaker to help sellers reach potential buyers. (Runtime: 1:43)
(Radio News 09/06/10) LSU AgCenter cattle researchers are trying to determine what breeds and combinations of breeds work best in the South. Sid DeRouen is working on cattle performance tests, and the LSU AgCenter is part of a multistate project that includes other southern region land-grant universities to develop a cattle DNA repository. (Runtime: 1:10)
(Radio News 09/06/10) The names Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike can cause anxieties in adults, and while children may not remember the names of storms, they may remember living through them. LSU AgCenter child development specialist Dr. Becky White says parents should talk to their children during storm season. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Radio News 09/20/10) Eating while watching television can become a habit and lead to unhealthful eating habits, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. Lifelong eating habits often are learned early. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Radio News 09/13/10) Researchers have developed a model validation sensor system that can be used to help sweet potato farmers grow a high-quality crop. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Arthur Villordon says the system can transmit real-time data to farmers. (Runtime: 1:15)
(Radio News 09/13/10) One variety dominates Louisiana’s sweet potato industry, but that doesn’t mean researchers like Don LaBonte aren’t trying to find improved varieties. Since the mid-1990s, LaBonte has bee trying to develop a sweet potato with resistance to the disease Rhizopus soft rot, which can cause the potatoes to break down in storage. (Runtime: 1:05)
(TV News 09/20/10) One variety dominates Louisiana’s sweet potato industry, but that doesn’t mean researchers aren’t trying to find improved varieties. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard reports on the AgCenter’s sweet potato breeding efforts. (Runtime: 1:37)
(Radio News 09/20/10) ConAgra Lamb Weston’s sweet potato processing facility in Delhi is gearing up for its opening, says Helene Clark, marketing director of the company’s health and wellness platforms. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Radio News 09/06/10) Louisiana’s mosquito population is down this year, but in another southern state, mosquito-borne virus activity has raised concerns. Locally acquired cases of dengue virus, common in many tropical areas of the world, have been confirmed in the Key West area of Florida, says LSU AgCenter mosquito expert Dr. Wayne Kramer. (Runtime: 1:20)
(Radio News 09/13/10) The LSU AgCenter is working with food scientists and seafood safety experts from other universities to help train seafood processors on sensory testing of seafood. LSU AgCenter food scientist Jon Bell says the experts are providing processors with the scientific background of how sensory evaluation of seafood works while letting them test samples of seafood spiked with petroleum. (1:25)
(Radio News 09/06/10) Marguerite Constantine raises Nubian dairy goats in central Louisiana. She owns WesMar Farms with her husband, West, and the two sell goat milk, cheeses and soap. Looking for new ways to sell her product, Constantine turned to the online marketing tool MarketMaker. (Runtime 1:10)
(Radio News 09/20/10) Beauregard is the predominant sweet potato variety grown in Louisiana and in some other parts of the country. But growers are trying the new variety Evangeline. LSU AgCenter sweet potato breeder Don LaBonte says this variety has some advantages over Beauregard. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(TV News 09/27/10) Louisiana farmers are harvesting this year's cotton crop with cautious optimism. After several years of dismal harvests, farmers are finally taking in a good crop. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard has the story. (Runtime: 1:39)
(Radio News 09/27/10) Peter DeKeyzer has been growing cotton for 20 years, but the past five years have been some of the worst he has seen. This year, however, DeKeyzer’s outlook is better. He is halfway through his harvest, his yields are above average, and the quality of his cotton is high. (Runtime: 1:05)
(Radio News 09/27/10) Cotton prices have risen dramatically in recent months. Last fall cotton was in the 50 to 60 cents a pound range. This year prices have climbed above 90 cents. Peter DeKeyzer grows cotton near Alexandria and says farmers needed to see higher prices. (Runtime: 1:10 seconds)
(Radio News 09/27/10) High temperatures throughout the summer helped the state’s cotton crop mature early, and these high temperatures are helping with defoliation, but LSU AgCenter cotton specialist John Kruse says the heat has been a problem for some plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Radio News 09/27/10) Not all gardeners have a green thumb, and some consumers may want beautiful landscaping but aren’t sure which plants will work well in their yards. That's where the LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana Super Plants program comes to the rescue. Super Plants are ornamental plants selected for superior performance under Louisiana growing conditions. (Runtime: 1:10 seconds)
(Radio News 09/20/10) Guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy don't just focus on how much weight to gain during pregnancy, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. The guidelines also focus on the importance of being a healthy weight when you become pregnant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Radio 09/06/10) Allowing children to play a role in preparing for a storm could help alleviate some of their fears. LSU AgCenter child development specialist Dr. Becky White says one thing children could do is help gather their evacuation kits. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Radio News 09/27/10) LSU AgCenter weed scientists recently confirmed glyphosate resistance in the pigweed, palmer amaranth. Weed scientists have long been concerned about weeds in Louisiana developing resistance to the herbicide. (Runtime: 1:15)
(Audio 09/13/10) Mulching beds in your landscape is one of the most important tasks you can do to keep weeds under control. Mulch also helps moderate soil temperature and conserves soil moisture. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 09/20/10) Well-placed shade trees can help reduce energy costs. This is a good time to evaluate shade needs around your home and prepare for fall tree planting. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 09/06/10) Now is a good time to select and plant basil, a popular herb native to Asia. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill discusses different types of herbs for different needs –and how to care for them. (Runtime: 1:50)
(For Release On Or After 09/17/10) Late October through March is the prime season for planting hardy trees, shrubs and ground covers in Louisiana, so now is an excellent time to assess your landscape situation and begin to make plans.
(Audio 09/27/10) Louisiana gardeners use a wide variety of summer-blooming bulbs. This time in the year, some may be fading out, while some may still be in full bloom. Groom these plants to keep them looking neat. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 09/06/10) Lawns still need care in early fall. Keep an eye out for problems in your lawn. Chinch bugs can be a problem this time of the year. Fall lawn maintenance also can include laying sod or putting out weed control. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 09/20/10) Gardeners work long, hard hours to keep their flowers colorful and beautiful. But what if you could keep your plants full of color all year long – with practically no effort? On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains how you can have both scenarios come true. (Runtime: 1:39)
(Audio 09/27/10) Transplants in the garden need to get off to a good start. Starter solution helps plants take in the right amount of fertilizer and lets them settle in to their new spots in the garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 09/27/10) Mulches make the landscape more attractive, but their main function is to suppress weeds. Mulches put out during the spring probably decayed over the summer, so gardeners should apply fresh mulch to keep weeds down. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 09/13/10) You can maintain a tropical look in your landscape well into fall with the beautiful Pride of Barbados plant. But LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill advises you’d better plant them now. (Runtime: 1:35)
(Audio 09/06/10) Gardeners put a lot of effort into preparing the soil of a bed to help the plants grow in it. Often, plants in a bed get changed out several times a year. Each time you pull a plant from a bed, put something new in it to keep it productive and healthy. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 09/20/10) Louisiana iris are wonderful perennials. This is a good time of the year to plant Louisiana iris. They are dormant this month, so this also is a good time to divide them and transplant them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 09/06/10) September is late in the growing season for most of our trees, shrubs, ground covers and lawns. Using fertilizer this month needs to be done judiciously. Learn what to fertilizer this time of the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 09/27/10) Although it’s not yet time to plant spring-flowering bulbs, now is the ideal time for selecting them. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill explains what to look for and what to keep in mind when selecting and planting flowering bulbs. (Runtime: 1:43)
(Audio 09/06/10) Gardeners need to be cautious when pruning this time of the year. Remember that spring-flowering trees and shrubs have already set their blooms. Pruning will reduce their floral display. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 09/13/10) Azaleas are a relatively carefree shrub. They don't have a lot of insect and disease problems. The azalea lace bug is an exception, however, These pests live on the underside of azalea leaves and cause white spots on the plant. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 09/27/10) The weather typically becomes cooler in Louisiana during October. This means gardeners can start planting cool-season vegetables into their gardens. Listen for what to plant this month. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 09/10/10) Anyone cleaning out overgrown areas or even just pulling weeds should beware. Poison ivy may be growing among the plants you’re handling. By late summer, poison ivy has had months to grow in your landscape, and you may find you have areas where the vine is present.
(Audio 09/13/10) Our landscapes generate plenty of organic waste. Material such as grass clippings and fallen leaves are perfect for a compost pile. Learn more about composting in this segment. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 09/13/10) Most gardeners grow some plants in containers. A plant will not be healthy in a container if it does not have enough room to grow. Repot plants before they become "pot bound." (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Video 09/06/10) Now is a good time to select and plant basil, a popular herb native to Asia. On this edition of Get It Growing, LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill discusses different types of herbs for different needs –and how to care for them. (Runtime: 1:50 seconds)
(Audio 09/27/10) Caladiums are outstanding bedding plants for shady areas. They grow from tubers. In early fall, when the plants start to fade, gardeners can dig up the tubers and save them for next year's planting. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 09/06/10) It looks like this could be a good year for pecans in Louisiana. Someimes, though, the weight of pecans can cause problems for the trees. Pecan trees have brittle wood, and limbs can snap and break from the heavy nuts. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(For Release On Or After 09/03/10) Although September weather is often still hot, vegetable gardeners begin to anticipate the cooler weather to come. It is now that we begin to focus on planting cool-season vegetables that will grow and produce during fall, winter and spring.
(For Release On Or After 09/24/10) It still surprises me that many Louisiana gardeners are not familiar with our native Louisiana irises. Some of the most beautiful irises we can grow in our gardens are the hybrids of several species that grow right here in Louisiana.
(Audio 09/20/10) Garlic is a great vegetable to grow in Louisiana, and now is a good time to plant it. Just remember that it takes a long time for garlic to produce, so you'll have to be patient. What you plant now won't be ready to harvest until late May or early June. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 09/20/10) Caladiums are winding down in early fall. The plants are going dormant, so gardeners can dig up caladium tubers when the foliage starts turning tan and papery. Save them to replant next year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 09/20/10) Only the most reliable bedding plants can survive a Louisiana summer. This is a great time of year to evaluate your bedding plants and deternune which ones performed well and which ones you may or may not want to plant again. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Audio 09/13/10) Azaleas have brightened Louisiana springs for generations. Now they can do the same for fall with fall-blooming azaleas. Hear more about these plants. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
(Distributed 09/07/10) September is National Preparedness Month and the peak of the Atlantic/Gulf hurricane season. This month, the Louisiana House Resource Center, called LaHouse features exhibits and information on many topics to help make your home and landscape more resistant to hurricanes.
(Distributed 09/27/10) The LSU AgCenter will host a natural resource enterprises workshop Tuesday, Nov. 9, at Curry Farms in Rayville.
(Distributed 09/09/10) New Louisiana laws may help stop feral hogs from impeding other wildlife populations such as deer and turkey. The elusive hogs also cause property damage and devalue land leased for hunting.
(Distributed 09/01/10) The LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station has announced an open house on Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. to noon.
(Distributed 09/17/10) Bedbugs are more of a nuisance than a health hazard, but they should be correctly identified and dealt with, according to several LSU AgCenter entomologists.
(Distributed 09/08/10) The LSU AgCenter will present a feral hog seminar Sept. 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the police jury meeting room in the Bossier Parish Courthouse in Benton.
(Distributed 09/20/10) An LSU AgCenter research team is evaluating the effectiveness of biodispersants to replace chemical dispersants used in the Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
(Distributed 09/14/10) Sensory tests of a mayonnaise-like product made from rice bran oil and soy protein got high marks from a consumer study in which people were asked to taste and evaluate the product developed by researchers at the LSU AgCenter.
(Distributed 09/27/10) The Louisiana Crawfish Research and Promotion Board is holding a referendum on Nov. 10 to reauthorize two assessments for crawfish producers. Voting is to take place at LSU AgCenter parish extension offices.
(Distributed 09/08/10) Crates of crabs sit on the bustling dock of Pontchartrain Blues, a crab processing facility in Slidell, La., on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. Last month crabs were just trickling in. But owner Gary Bauer was determined to stay open to keep his customers supplied and his labor force working.
(Distributed 09/14/10) TALLULAH, La. – Longtime 4-H volunteer Ann Keene, of Tallulah, La., will be inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame Oct. 8 in Washington, D.C.
(Distributed 09/14/10) New Orleans, La – After years of moving and being separated into several groups, the LSU AgCenter’s Orleans Parish office has found a home in New Orleans City Hall.
(Distributed 09/28/10) FRANKLIN, La. – Twenty youngsters gathered at the St. Mary Parish courthouse to cook, learn and play. These nine- to 12-year-olds will meet monthly as part of the LSU AgCenter’s Operation Cook program.
(Distributed 09/13/10) Take-all root rot, a disease caused by a soil-borne fungus, has become a major concern in St. Augustine grass lawns across Louisiana, according to LSU AgCenter experts.
(Distributed 09/15/10) BOSSIER CITY, La. – Planning your weekly food menu not only saves money, it also gives you control over such ingredients as salt, sugar and fat.
(Distributed 09/23/10) The Burden Horticulture Society, in conjunction with the LSU Rural Life Museum, will sponsor extra events at Harvest Days on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 16-17, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(Distributed 09/03/10)The LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy will host the Louisiana Youth Financial Educators’ Summit at the Baton Rouge Crown Plaza hotel Sept. 27-28.
(Distributed 09/27/10) SHREVEPORT, La. – Vélo Dendro S Deux, a leisurely bicycle tour of Shreveport’s most significant trees, is set for Saturday, Oct. 23, led by Shreveport native Hallie Dozier, an urban forester with the LSU AgCenter in Baton Rouge.
(Distributed 09/23/10) Almost any time of year is a good time to “Get it Growing” in Louisiana, and the LSU AgCenter’s latest edition of its lawn and garden calendar can help you do just that. The recently published 2011 Get It Growing Lawn and Garden Calendar is designed to help gardeners and others learn about and enjoy gardening in Louisiana.
(Distributed 09/29/10) Visitors can enter the world of agriculture and follow a path that leads to knowledge in wildlife, crops, livestock, nutrition and 4-H at AgMagic at the State Fair of Louisiana.
(Distributed 09/23/10) The Burden Horticulture Society announces a call for entries to its first juried art exhibition. The theme for the show is “A Brush with Burden,” according to Judy Weaver, with the Burden Horticulture Society.
(Distributed 09/01/10) A weed is just a plant that’s out of place. Weed control is possible with the right herbicide applied at the right time, said Chuck Griffin, LSU AgCenter agent, while presenting “Weed Control for Lawns” at the LSU AgCenter’s Lunch and Ag Discovery session Aug. 31 at the Red River Research Station in Bossier City.
(Distributed 09/29/10) As demand for blueberries keeps increasing so does the need for more people to grow them. To promote both the production of blueberries and their nutritional value, the LSU AgCenter has developed a new website, www.eXtension.org/blueberries.
(Distributed 09/24/10) The LSU AgCenter is offering classes for home renovators to become Lead Certified Renovators.
(Distributed 09/22/10) LITTLE FLORIDA BEACH, La. – Students from two Lake Charles schools drew a line in the sand against coastal erosion. The students hit the beach on Sept. 19-20 to place 5,000 plants of bitter panicum to act as a defense against the attacks of wave action and high tides.
(Distributed 09/23/10) A workshop on year-round commercial vegetable and cut-flower production using high tunnels has been set for Nov. 10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the LSU AgCenter’s Burden Center in Baton Rouge.
(Distributed 09/17/10) FENTON, La. – Louisiana soybean farmers are on the brink of a successful year with good prices as harvesting starts on more than 1 million acres of the commodity.
