Home > Communications > News > Headline News > Agribusiness leaders hear latest about state conditions (Distributed 11/20/09)Lafayette, La. – Current trends affecting Louisiana food and agriculture highlighted a recent meeting of state leaders in agriculture and agribusiness. Vow to move more, eat less over holidays (Distributed 11/20/09) Try a different tack as you head into this holiday season. Vow to move more and eat less, says Heli Roy, LSU AgCenter nutritionist. “Most people invariably gain weight over the holidays – anywhere from a half pound to five pounds,” Roy said. “But you don’t have to, and most people can’t afford to.” Pecan harvest delayed by weather, but crop should be plentiful (Distributed 11/20/09) SHREVEPORT, La. – Rain has delayed the pecan harvest across the state by two to three weeks, but plenty of the crop should be available for the holiday season. LSU AgCenter awarded $2.84 million federal grant (Distributed 11/20/09) LSU AgCenter has been awarded a $2.84 million research and extension grant for improving sweet potato production efficiency, quality and food safety.  more articles... Take care of aquatic gardens in fall and winter (Distributed 11/20/09) Including a water feature in the landscape provides an oasis for a wide variety of wildlife. Providing habitat for wildlife is a principle of sustainable landscaping, and as a result aquatic gardens have become quite popular with Louisiana gardeners. Louisiana dairy industry struggles to survive, continues to shrink [Image: Mike McCormick] (Distributed 11/19/09) Louisiana’s dairy industry continues to struggle. The high costs for feed, fuel and fertilizer have cut into potential profits. And while these costs have gone down somewhat this year, so have the prices farmers get for their milk, said LSU AgCenter extension dairy specialist Charlie Hutchison at a field day on Nov. 12 at the Southeast Research Station in Franklinton. Be careful with late fall and winter lawn care (Distributed 11/17/09) November and December begin the bleak time of the year for warm-season turfgrasses in Louisiana. Most turfgrasses should be dormant or at least close to this stage. Be careful frying your holiday turkey (Distributed 11/16/09) Don't have room in your oven for the turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, casseroles and pies? LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames suggests you can free-up oven space by frying the turkey outside. 3 students use technology to map fire districts in West Carroll Parish [Image: Barnes and 3 students] (Distributed 11/13/09) OAK GROVE, La. – Three West Carroll Parish high school students were able to create digital fire district maps using Global Information System (GIS) technology, which they learned in a special training offered through the LSU AgCenter’s Delta Rural Development Center here. The result is a safer parish. Cook your turkey properly to avoid illness (Distributed 11/12/09) Turkey is the traditional choice for most Thanksgiving celebrations. There is no quality difference between a fresh or frozen turkey although fresh turkeys have shorter shelf lives, according to LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. Bossier Parish 4-H’er wins Special Olympics Entrepreneur Award (Distributed 11/10/09) A Bossier Parish 4-H’er was recognized as a Louisiana Leader of Tomorrow by the Special Olympics of Louisiana. Amanda Pittmon, 19, of Benton, was named Entrepreneur of the Year. Pies, other foods could be dangerous at room temperature (Distributed 11/10/09) Pies are traditionally served at most Thanksgiving feasts. To prevent food-borne illness, refrigerate pies such as pumpkin, custard and other cream pies containing eggs and milk, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames. LSU AgCenter conducting photo contest for 2011 Get It Growing calendar [Image: Get It Growing Calendar 2010 cover photo] (Distributed 11/09/09) The LSU AgCenter is seeking photos for its 2011 Get It Growing Lawn and Garden Calendar. Louisiana photographers can submit their photos of flowers, plants and gardens for an opportunity to have their work selected for the calendar. Conference features evaluations of new landscape, garden plants [Image: Participants in garden at Hammond Research Station] (News Distributed 11/06/2009) HAMMOND, La. – Landscape and nursery professionals heard about the latest plant varieties and LSU AgCenter plant evaluations at a plant materials conference here Oct. 29. Click for more information...