Home > News Archive > 2009 > May > Headline News > LSU AgCenter 4-H seeks schools with outstanding character education practices (Distributed 05/30/09) LSU AgCenter 4-H will seek for the first time this year a school in Louisiana with outstanding character education practices to submit for national recognition through the Character Education Partnership, a youth advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. Did a tree just fly by? Check yours long before storms come [Image: Photo of tree limbs touching house] (Distributed 05/29/09) Regularly checking the trees in your yard for damage, disease and other indications of danger is important, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter. They say the beginning of hurricane season can serve as a good reminder to do it now. Crape myrtles may have blooming problems [Image: crape myrtle] (Distributed 05/29/09) The most popular summer-blooming tree in Louisiana is the crape myrtle with its lovely, long-lasting flowers. Crape myrtles start blooming between mid-May and early June and continue flowering for 80 to100 days depending on the variety. Even less salt recommended (Distributed 05/29/09) Eating only 1 teaspoon of salt a day is a challenge for many Americans. This is the amount recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  more articles... Rice growers hear from LSU AgCenter experts at field day (Distributed 05/28/09) FENTON, La. – Rice growers heard advice from a range of LSU AgCenter experts Tuesday (May 26) during the southwest rice field day. What’s a 3-day emergency food supply? [Image: Photo of various foods] (Distributed 05/28/09) Food is a necessity for life, and as a result, a three-day emergency food supply is something you hear a lot about when hurricane season approaches. But just what is a three-day emergency food supply? LSU AgCenter nutritionist and food safety specialist Dr. Beth Reames says it involves more than just the food. Being prepared to ‘grab and go’ can protect you from financial disaster [Image: Example of grab and go box - big orange plastic box] (Distributed 05/27/09) Having an “evacuation box” packed and ready to go with important papers and other items can prevent financial disasters and hardships if a serious storm comes your way, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter. LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker says there often isn’t time to gather up such items when you’re rushing to evacuate, so she recommends packing them up now and refreshing them as needed. ‘Healthy Homes’ course offered at LSU AgCenter’s LaHouse June 2-3 (Distributed 05/27/09) The LSU AgCenter will offer a course on “Essentials for Healthy Homes Practitioners” June 2-3 at its Louisiana House Home and Landscape Resource Center. Get ready before a hurricane is coming! (Distributed 05/26/09) During a hurricane, you need some supplies just to survive. But many of those supplies are hard to find if you wait until a storm is approaching. So it’s better to make sure you’ve got some of the essentials now, according to experts with the LSU AgCenter. LSU AgCenter’s Red River Research Station field day set for June 18 (Distributed 05/26/09) The LSU AgCenter’s Red River Research Station will hold a field day June 18 at the station in Bossier City. Landscape field day slated for June 25 at LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station (Distributed 05/26/09) The LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station will hold its annual landscape horticulture field day for industry professionals on June 25. LSU AgCenter seeks to finalize Lamar Dixon Expo Center location for 2010 Livestock Show (Distributed 05/26/09) For the past five years, the LSU AgCenter has hosted the annual statewide Livestock Show at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. But because the status of this facility has been unknown, the location for 2010 show, to which nearly 3,000 4-H and FFA members bring their award-winning animals to compete for the best-of-the-best, has been up in the air. Are you ready for a hurricane? Ask these 20 questions to find out [Image: Question marks graphic] (Distributed 05/25/09) Are you ready for a hurricane? LSU AgCenter housing specialist Dr. Claudette Reichel offers a 20-question quiz to help you determine just how prepared you are. Louisiana Master Gardeners meet, learn at annual conference [Image: Dan Gill and Master Gardeners] (Distributed 05/25/09) KENNER, La. – Although he may be known to the culinary world as a leading New Orleans chef, John Besh also is a leading proponent of serving locally grown foods in his four restaurants. “Our restaurants spend $8 million to $9 million a year on groceries,” Besh told participants at the Louisiana Master Gardeners’ state conference here May 21. Click for more information...