Home > News Archive > 2009 > April > Headline News > Ag Awareness program set for May 6-7 in New Iberia (Distributed 04/30/09) NEW IBERIA, La. – Ag Awareness in Iberia Parish will give third-graders the chance to learn about farming and the source of their food May 6-7 at the SugArena. Oil City students participate in Youth Wetlands Week [Image: ricky kilpatrick at youth wetlands week event] (Distributed 04/29/09) OIL CITY, La. – Wearing nametags featuring their “personalitree,” 135 Oil City Elementary Magnet School fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders learned about forestry at Jeems Bayou Hunting and Fishing Club on Caddo Lake on Earth Day, April 22. 600 4-H’ers learn safety lessons [Image: police at extravaganza] (Distributed 04/29/09) SHREVEPORT, La. – About 600 4-H’ers from 18 elementary schools learned how to stay safe at the 2009 Caddo 4-H Extravaganza April 24 at the Bill Cockrell Community Center. Louisiana agriculture means billions to state’s economy (Distributed 04/27/09) Unfavorable weather and increased costs didn’t stop Louisiana agriculture from contributing billions to the state’s economy in 2008. Commodities in the animal, forestry, fisheries, plant and wildlife industries racked up more than $5.3 billion at the farm gate and “value added” in excess of $4.1 billion – for a total economic contribution of nearly $9.5 billion in 2008.  more articles... You can’t get swine flu eating pork (Distributed 04/27/09) You can’t get swine flu from eating pork or pork products, says an LSU AgCenter extension nutritionist. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no evidence that a person can get swine flu from touching raw pork or from eating pork that has been properly prepared, says Beth Reames. Vinca, periwinkle has roller-coaster history [Image: periwinkle] (Distributed 04/27/09) One of the most popular warm-season annual bedding plants is vinca or periwinkle. It is well-known for its prolific and long blooming season. Military kids have fun down on the farm [Image: fistulated cow] (Distributed 04/24/09) BATON ROUGE – The LSU AgCenter’s dairy farm was the site of a special day camp for military kids and their families on April 17. LSU AgCenter names new head for Agricultural Chemistry (Distributed 04/24/09) The LSU AgCenter announced the appointment of Dr. Mark LeBlanc as head of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry effective April 1, 2009. Louisiana soybean acres expected to increase (Distributed 04/22/09) Louisiana will likely have a large soybean crop this year, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter. 4-H’ers learn budget, care are important in choosing clothing [Image: Sandra Russell] (Distributed 04/22/09) MONROE, La. – 4-H’ers learned that staying within a budget, reading the label and comfort are the most important considerations of deciding what clothes to purchase. Court decision could affect pesticide application rules (Distributed 04/21/09) Agricultural organizations across the United States are intently watching developments in a federal court case that could add more regulation to pesticide applications. LSU AgCenter leadership program starting application process for 2010 (Distributed 04/21/09) What does it take to become a more effective leader for agriculture? Many of the answers to that question are part of the LSU AgCenter’s Agricultural Leadership Development Program. Applications for potential participants in the program are available for its 12th class, which will begin the two-year program of study in January 2010. La. wheat acreage down, but weed control, disease management can help producers (Distributed 04/21/09) WINNSBORO, La. – Louisiana farmers planted less wheat than last year, but early herbicide applications and disease control can aid producers, LSU AgCenter experts said at the annual wheat and oat field day at the Macon Ridge Research Station April 15. Choose crape myrtles that ‘fit’ home landscape [Image: Acoma] (Distributed 04/20/09) Crape myrtles are one of the most widely used summer-flowering trees in Louisiana landscapes. Many of us are not familiar with the tremendous array of varieties and sizes available. One group of crape myrtles being used more because of its smaller size and excellent flowering performance is the semi-dwarf. Click for more information...