more... > Louisiana Agriculture Magazine > Past Issues > 2004 > Winter 2004   Summer 2004 Spring 2004   Fall 2004  more articles... First field day dove hunters at Idlewild [Image: Dove hunting field day] More than 120 hunters and other interested participants learned the do’s and don’ts of attracting doves at the LSUAgCenter’s first Dove Field Day on Aug.28, 2004, at the Idlewild Research Stationnear Clinton. What's New? These articles appeared in the spring 2004 issue of Louisiana Agriculture Technology center to emerge from barn site [Image: Old livestock barn] Groundbreaking for the Louisiana Emerging Technologies Center will be sometime in June, with completion expected the following spring, said Paula Jacobi, CEO of the LSU System Research and Technology Foundation, which will oversee the center. Rice farmers get more weapons to fight pests Rice farmers soon will have two more weapons in their arsenals for fighting stink bugs and rice water weevils. First sweet potato patents awarded Two sweet potato varieties developed by the LSU AgCenter recently were awarded U.S. patents – the first ones given to sweet potatoes. LSU AgCenter establishes natural resource policy center The Board of Regents and the LSU Board of Supervisors recently approved the establishment of the Center for Natural Resource Economics and Policy at the LSU AgCenter. Boethel named new research director [Image: Photo of David J. Boethel] David J. Boethel, former associate vice chancellor at the LSU AgCenter, became vice chancellor for research and director of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station effective April 19. Saving Water in Louisiana Rice Production [Image: figure 1] When drought hit Louisiana in 2000 and 2001, along with the construction of a power plant in the heart of the rice-growing area, interest in water consumption reached a peak among farmers and other water consumers. To find out how much water was used and needed for rice production, a team of LSU AgCenter scientists and extension agents began a study. Louisiana's Green Indusry: Evaluation of Its Economic Contribution [Image: Woody Ornamental] Our society has a strong interest in the green industry, defined as the production, sale and maintenance of ornamental plants and their allied goods and services. During the 1990s, consumers’ incomes increased significantly for most demographic groups. They used some of this income to improve their homes, including lawns and gardens. Borers Galore: Emerging Pest in Louisiana Corn, Grain Sorghum and Rice [Image: Figure 1] Stalk borers are becoming more of a problem in corn, grain sorghum and rice fields in Louisiana. The most common insect borer species found in these crops include the southwestern corn borer, the sugarcane borer and the European corn borer. Click for more information...