A quarterly newsletter from the Horticulture Division of the LSU AgCenter's School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences.

These publications are designed to help Louisiana residents recover from floods, storms, extended power outages and other stressful, dangerous events.

Information on stress and parenting, feeling good about yourself, taking control and taking care of yourself.

(Radio News 11/19/08) East Baton Rouge Parish 4-H is sponsoring Bike Quest – a bike rally for all youth. LSU AgCenter 4-H agent Beverly Bailey says the event will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 29 at Nelson Memorial on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(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.

A Southern IPM Center publication. When choosing a broadcast bait to control imported fire ants, consumers and professional pesticide applicators face a confusing array of brand names and active ingredients with varying product performances. This guide addresses common concerns about broadcast baits to help consumers and professionals choose products that best fit their needs and situations.

(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.

Audio segments featuring gardening advice and tips from LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill.

(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.

2009 recommendations. Decisions about rice varieties are some of the earliest and most critical you will make. This information will help you decide which rice varieties are best suited to your particular growing conditions.

This presentation outlines the AgCenter's response to Hurricane Katrina. The strategic plan illustrates how the AgCenter will address the needs of the Louisiana storm victims through volunteers, education and outreach.

(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 11/19/08) 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.

An LSU AgCenter and Southern University Ag Center Community Nutrition Programs newsletter.

A monthly fisheries newsletter from the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant.

(Audio 11/17/08) The best time to plant fruit and nut trees is from November until February. Most of these trees need full sun and plenty of room to grow. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/17/08) Broccoli is a great cool-season vegetable for your garden. It's a little late to plant broccoli now, but if you planted it earlier, you may be wondering when you should harvest this vegetable. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/17/08) You will begin to notice amarylis bulbs in nurseries and garden centers around this time of year. The process that growers use to ship amarylis makes them grow and bloom during winter, so you must plant them in a container the first year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/17/08) Summer-flowering bulbs grow and bloom during the summer months. Often these plants go dormant during this time of year and become unattractive, so it's the time to trim their foliage. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/17/08) Cool weather has arrived, and now is the perfect time to add cool-season bedding plants to the flower beds in your landscape. These plants will continue to bloom for you into spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(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 11/17/08) 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.

The purpose of this publication is to document what is deemed as accepted and approved planting, management and harvest procedures for a variety of species planted in Louisiana for wildlife management purposes by LSU AgCenter personnel. In all cases, the greatest possible window of opportunity has been provided as to planting dates, planting practices and other management activities as they relate to overall management.

(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.

(Video 11/10/08) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill visited the massive Windmill Nursery in Franklinton, La. Windmill is a wholesale plant supplier to the entire southeastern United States. In this edition of Get It Growing, Windmill’s general manager recommends some quality plants for the fall growing season. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

(Radio News 11/17/08) Small insects can invade our pantries -- particularly this time of the year when many people buy and store extra items such as cake mixes, flour and other foods for holiday parties. LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet says to be careful of what you buy. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 11/17/08) Diabetes is a serious problem in Louisiana -- although in many cases it can be prevented or delayed. LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames says complications from the disease can lead to heart disease, kidney disease and amputations. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 11/17/08) The turkey usually is the healthiest part of most Thanksgiving meals. According to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames, even a fried turkey can be a healthy option. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 11/17/08) No matter if you brine or baste, roast or fry, LSU AgCenter nutritionist and food safety expert Dr. Beth Reames says the one important point when cooking a turkey is to use a meat thermometer to make sure it is cooked thoroughly. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 11/17/08) The turkey is the star on Thanksgiving tables. Most people buy their birds frozen, so to get it ready for the big day, it must be thawed properly. LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames provides those details and more. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/03/08) Louisiana's mild winter allows us to grow a wide variety of delicious vegetables in our home vegetable gardens. Vegetable gardeners who typically plant only in spring and summer should try growing winter vegetables, as well. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Video 11/17/08) LSU AgCenter horticulturist Dan Gill recently visited Bracy’s Nursery in Amite, La. Bracy’s is a wholesale plant supplier to the entire southeastern United States. In this edition of Get It Growing, Dan talks with employees at Bracy’s about how they produce quality plants in large volume. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

(TV News 11/17/08) Most of today’s 4-H’ers were born in the 1990s, and may know very little about the 4-H’ers who preceded them. LSU AgCenter correspondent Tobie Blanchard visited the 4-H Express, an interactive exhibit designed to educate youngsters about 4-H’s past, present and future. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

(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) 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.

The information in this booklet will help you have safe food products that are attractive and of high quality. It includes information about canning jars and lids, how to fill your jars and what to look for in general appearance. It includes what we call "standards" for rating home-canned foods. These standards, or guides, tell you what your products should look like if they are of the highest quality. (PDF FORMAT ONLY)

(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.

Having a lawn under shade trees is not always a compatible mix. Even so, you may be able to choose shade-tolerant grasses and manage them to get the best turf cover for that level of shade. Use this publication to choose the best variety and cultural practices for your lawn.

(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.

This publication includes keys to identification of water paspalum, brook paspalum, knotgrass and perennial barnyardgrass.

Pick up Louisiana citrus at roadside stands and in local markets and groceries from now through the holidays.

(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.

2009 recommendations. This information will help producers choose grain sorghum hybrids which have displayed good yield potential and agronomic performance. The LSU AgCenter conducts yearly grain sorghum hybrid yield tests at several locations in Louisiana to provide producers with unbiased information on hybrid performance under different soil types and climatic conditions.

Agriculture and tourism together present unique opportunities for farmers to diversify and expand their operations. This brochure provides the steps in developing an agritourism business venture.

Louisiana Wildlife News is a bi-monthly publication intended to serve as an outlet for wildlife issues relevant to Louisiana and the Southeast. In addition to current news events, profiles on specific plant, wildlife and nuisance wildlife species are included in each issue.

(Radio News 11/10/08) The number of obese children ages 6 to 11 has tripled over the past decade. The LSU AgCenter’s Smart Bodies program offers a fun and interactive way to keep youngsters healthy. Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden said the program fits into his healthy-living initiatives. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 11/10/08) Students around the state are taking an unusual journey without leaving their schools. The youngsters are traveling through the human body by going through a gymnasium-sized exhibit called the Body Walk, according to LSU AgCenter nutrition educator Denise Holston. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 11/10/08) Students from across Northwest Louisiana got a taste of the 100 years of Louisiana 4-H at the State Fair of Louisiana’s 4-H Express. Tour guides such as 4-H’er Julie Barrios took students back through the decades to learn about the origins of this popular youth organization. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 11/10/08) Louisiana 4-H’s centennial year is coming to a close, but clubs across the state are still celebrating. The State Fair of Louisiana in Shreveport was dedicated to 4-H. Julie Barrios, a 4-H executive committee member, was there. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 11/10/08) At its inception 100 years ago Louisiana 4-H centered on farming and cooking. Today it is hard to put a label on this popular youth organization. LSU AgCenter 4-H regional coordinator Karen Martin says youngsters can take the diverse programs the club offers and tailor them to fit their interests. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and western equine encephalitis (WEE) virus infections occur in horses and other equids. Where does EEE come from? What's the best way to protect a horse? Find these answers and more.

(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 11/10/08) 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.

(Audio 11/10/08) Most of the perennial plants that we use in our landscapes bloom in the summer. Many of these perennials are winding down right now. This is a good time to cut back any unattractive growth or flowers from them. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/10/08) Just about everyone enjoys a fresh salad, but the best lettuce is freshly harvested from your own vegetable garden. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/10/08) November is an outstanding month to plant spring-flowering bulbs in your landscape. These bulbs grow over the winter very slowly and then grow rapidly and bloom in the spring. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/10/08) Camellias are amazingly beautiful shrubs. One of the greatest things about camellias is they produce flowers in late fall and winter when few other plants are blooming. Camellias are prone to infestations of tea scale. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/10/080) During the winter our warm-season grasses go dormant making your lawn brown. If this bothers you, then one option is to overseed your permanent lawn with ryegrass. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(TV News 11/10/08) The number of obese children age six to 11 has tripled over the past decade. An LSU AgCenter program is using a fun and interactive program to keep those numbers down. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

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

You can fry it or roast it. Just don’t let that turkey or other foods served at the holidays spoil, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Beth Reames. Learn ways to keep food safe and how to avoid overindulging.

(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.

2007 Issue: Agriculture is a multibillion dollar industry for Louisiana -- creating jobs and generating income in rural and urban areas. This publication contains facts about Louisiana's agricultural commodities, agriculture's monetary value, what agriculture is and what agriculture means to you.

(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.

Smart Bodies is an educational program aimed at preventing childhood obesity. A joint initiative of the LSU AgCenter and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, Smart Bodies integrates classroom activities with hands-on learning to teach children how to build strong bodies and develop active minds.

(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.

(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.

(Audio 11/03/08) Louisiana gardeners can use a wide variety of evergreen trees and shrubs in their landscape because of the mild winters we experience. These plants keep our landscapes looking attractive all through the winter. Gardeners should not be concerned about the leaves of an evergreen plant turning yellow. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/03/08) Local nurseries have plenty of chrysanthemums in a wide variety of colors. Planting these perennials is a great way to add color to landscapes this time of year. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/03/08) Savvy Louisiana gardeners know that we can get a second tomato crop out of our tomato plants. As the weather cools, the plant production slows down, and gardeners must watch out for freezes. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Audio 11/03/08) From November and peaking into early December is when the deciduous trees in our landscape begin to drop all of their leaves. These fallen leaves can provide many good things for our landscapes. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 11/03/08) Hunting is a favorite pastime in Louisiana, and it can be enjoyed safely if hunters follow a few guidelines. LSU AgCenter hunting safety expert Dr. Don Reed has some safety tips. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 11/03/08) If you haven’t done it yet, now is the time to treat your yard for fire ants. Growth regulators are the best way to eliminate fire ants from your yard for the long term, says LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 11/03/08) Yellow jackets can be a nuisance to tailgaters, picnickers and hunters. These aggressive insects tend to be a bigger problem in the fall, says LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 11/03/08) A warm October is leading to prolonged insect problems. Florida wax scale is one insect still around on many evergreen plants, according to LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(Radio News 11/03/08) Head lice outbreaks can occur in schools and become a nuisance to families. LSU AgCenter entomologist Dr. Dale Pollet says some schools are dealing with lice problems. He recommends things to do to avoid a lice infestation. (Runtime: 60 seconds)

(TV News 10/03/08) LSU AgCenter researchers are looking for alternative sources of energy. High diesel prices are hurting farmers, but new sources of energy may be in the farmer’s field. (Runtime: 1 minute, 30 seconds)

(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) 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 11/3/08) 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.

Louisiana’s got milk because the LSU AgCenter supports a research program that helps keep the Louisiana dairy industry surviving and thriving. In 2007, Louisiana had 207 dairy operations that contributed nearly $200 million to the state’s economy. The concentration of dairy research is at the LSU AgCenter’s Southeast Research Station in Franklinton.

(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.

Efficient watering practices are important to all homeowners who want to conserve water, maintain a healthy turf and reduce maintenance costs. (PDF Format Only)

This publication provides an easy and simple-to-understand method to determine when and how much irrigation water is needed. (PDF Format Only)

(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.

During the past two decades, the reniform nematode has emerged as one of the most important nematode species of plant crops in Louisiana. It attacks a wide range of plant types and is particularly damaging to crops such as cotton, sweet potato, soybeans and many vegetables. Symptoms, management strategies and color images included. (PDF Format Only)

COOL mandates that the majority of livestock commodities be identified by country of origin. This document provides producers with the knowledge they need to be in compliance. (PDF Format Only)

(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.

Although the earth’s crust is about 5% iron (Fe), we still see iron deficiency in plants. This may be because of a problem with the plant roots, soil and/or environment. This publication includes tips on how to care for your turfgrass.

2009 recommendations. Each year the LSU AgCenter tests commercial corn hybrids that are entered in the state yield trials by private seed companies. From these, a grower should choose several that are adapted to an individual farm. Information in the tabl