Home > News Archive > 2009 > March > Headline News > Proper soil sampling important for useful test results (Distributed 03/30/09) Many home gardeners are aware that a soil test is a good practice to determine the soil’s nutrient status, pH and other characteristics. Most of us, however, do not know the proper procedures for taking soil samples, which can make the test results inconclusive. Louisiana Delta Initiative sets public presentation for April 2 in Rayville (Distributed 03/27/09) The Louisiana Delta Initiative is inviting community and governmental leaders to “One Voice: Communities Moving from Poverty to Prosperity” from 1 to 3:30 p.m. April 2 at the Rayville Civic Center in Rayville. Learn to make biodiesel at April 28-29 workshop in Baton Rouge (Distributed 03/27/09) BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter is hosting a two-day comprehensive workshop on how to make your own biodiesel fuel from used vegetable oil on April 28-29 at the Callegari Environmental Center. “This is an advanced workshop and different from the workshops we offered last summer,” said Dr. Bill Carney, LSU AgCenter environmental educator and director of the Callegari Center. The AgCenter offered several workshops in 2008 on how to make biodiesel. Wheat field day set for April 6 at LSU AgCenter’s Iberia Research Station (Distributed 03/27/09) NEW IBERIA, La. – Farmers will get the chance to see an LSU AgCenter demonstration plot of wheat varieties at an April 6 field day.  more articles... LSU AgCenter offers ‘Afternoon of Roses’ April 19 at Burden Center (Distributed 03/26/09) The LSU AgCenter invites you to learn more about roses, and it’s offering an event in April that’s designed to help. "An Afternoon of Roses" will be held from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. April 19 at the LSU AgCenter’s Burden Center in Baton Rouge. Acadiana group passes resolution for restoring funds to LSU AgCenter, LDAF (Distributed 03/26/09) JEANERETTE, La. – The Acadiana Legislative Delegation, concerned about the effects of potential state budget cuts, unanimously passed a resolution supporting the restoration of sufficient funds to the LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry at a meeting with farmers here March 25. Researchers evaluate new cattle breeds for Louisiana climate [Image: Wayne Wyatt] (Distributed 03/25/09) JEANERETTE, La. – A crowd of approximately 100 beef and forage producers turned out for the March 21 Acadiana Cattle Producers 2009 Spring Field Day held at the LSU AgCenter’s Iberia Research Station here. Athens Select plants thrive in heat, humidity (Distributed 03/25/09) Athens Select is a plant evaluation program that measures a variety’s heat and humidity tolerance. Founded in 1999 at the University of Georgia, the program includes trials at the LSU AgCenter’s Burden Center in Baton Rouge and the Hammond Research Station in Hammond. LSU AgCenter family economist offers job-hunting tips (Distributed 03/24/09) People facing unemployment should not relax because finding a job can often take a lot of work. LSU AgCenter nutrition educator receives national USDA award [Image: EFNEP award] (Distributed 03/24/09) JoAnn Smith, an LSU AgCenter nutrition educator in Richland Parish, has been awarded a certificate of recognition from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service for her contributions to the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). Chesapeake Energy sponsors scholarships for 4-H summer camp (Distributed 03/23/09) Chesapeake Energy is sponsoring 60 4-H camp scholarships in six northwest Louisiana parishes. Legislators oppose budget cuts to LSU AgCenter at Farm Bureau meeting (Distributed 03/20/09) LAFAYETTE, La. – State Rep. Jack Montoucet of Duson, speaking at a Louisiana Farm Bureau dinner March 18, defended the LSU AgCenter as it faces a possible $13.3 million budget cut for the upcoming fiscal year. “They provide such an important service to the farming community. It scares me to hear the cuts,” Montoucet said. Centipede grass ideal for sustainable landscapes (Distributed 03/20/09) The major grass produced on Louisiana sod farms and most widely planted in residential lawns is centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides). It thrives with less care and usually requires less mowing than many other grasses. Preventing obesity requires coordinated efforts; LSU AgCenter hosts nutrition summit (Distributed 03/19/09) Obesity is a growing problem for the state of Louisiana, and coordinated efforts in the fight against it are important to potential success in stemming the obesity epidemic. That was the message echoed by experts at a gathering this week hosted by the LSU AgCenter. Click for more information...