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LSU AgCenter Communications produces news releases for print, radio and television media. All are published on our Web site and listed chronologically. To view past releases, go to the news archive.

The radio news releases are produced for daily use, Monday through Friday, and distributed to a select list via CD every other week. A video news release is produced for every week of the year – 52 all together – and distributed to a select list via DVD or tape also every other week. To be added to the list, please contact Craig Gautreaux or call (225) 578-2263.

Print press releases are produced three ways – as headline news for stories with more immediacy, as news you can use for stories with a helpful angle, and as seasonal stories. We produce four seasonal packets: spring gardening, hurricane preparedness (storm and flood), back-to-school and holidays.

In addition, we produce a special service called “Get It Growing” aimed at people who want to improve their landscapes, grow flowers and ornamentals or grow vegetables and fruit. This service includes a weekly newspaper column written by horticulturist Dan Gill, a daily (Monday through Friday) 60-second radio spot voiced by Gill, and a weekly 90-second television spot featuring Gill. The newspaper columns are sent via e-mail once a month to everybody on our print news distribution list. The radio and television spots are distributed with the audio and video new releases mentioned above.

For more information on our news services, please contact Linda Benedict or call (225) 578-2263.                    

Headline News Radio & TV  Get It Growing
News You Can Use Gardening News  Holidays

Back-to-School

Storm & Flood News  News Archive

Conference features evaluations of new landscape, garden plants
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.

Enrich holiday meals with Louisiana yams
(Distributed 11/06/09) Thanksgiving is a perfect time to enjoy Louisiana yams. The Louisiana yam is an exceptional type of sweet potato – sweet and flavorful, with a soft, moist flesh, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames .

AgMagic amazes students at State Fair of Louisiana
looking at insects

(Distributed 11/06/09) SHREVEPORT, La. – AgMagic, a new exhibit at the State Fair of Louisiana, can be likened to opening a fun encyclopedia. Only all of the five senses are involved while learning takes place.

Communities can help stop truancy
(Distributed 11/06/09) Truancy problems go beyond the school grounds, and an LSU AgCenter family life specialist says it is a problem for the community.

Bull testing prevents disasters in cattle business
crowd at field day
(Distributed 11/04/09) CARENCRO, La. – Having bulls tested for reproductive soundness is a simple precautionary measure that could prevent a disastrous year for a cattle producer, said Stan Dutile, LSU AgCenter extension agent in Lafayette Parish, who was among the speakers at a cattle field day here on Oct. 31.
Protect your children from lead poisoning
(Distributed 11/04/09) Lead poisoning is a disease caused by swallowing or breathing anything that has lead in it. Even tiny amounts of lead can harm a child in many ways.
LSU AgCenter researchers named to professorships
group photo
(Distributed 11/03/09) CROWLEY, La. – Three LSU AgCenter scientists have been named to F. Avalon Daggett Professorships in Rice Research. Dr. Chuck Rush, Dr. Don Groth and Dr. Eric Webster were recognized at a reception at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station Oct. 27.
Fallen leaves can be useful in landscapes
(Audio 11/02/09) Although most gardeners consider raking a chore, the leaves that fall during the autumn months can serve a purpose. They make wonderful organic matter when used as mulch or in compost. Learn how these materials can be used for improving gardening efforts. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
LSU AgCenter researchers showcase improved plants for coastal restoration
Cordgrass at field day
(Distributed 11/02/09) CROWLEY, La. – Saving Louisiana’s coast with vegetation was the focus of a coastal plants field day at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station Oct. 28.
Irrigate landscapes as needed during fall
(Audio 11/02/09) Irrigating landscapes may still be necessary during the fall, especially for newly established plants. Even though the weather is becoming cooler, it can still be fairly dry. (Runtime: 60 seconds)
Here are some tips for growing spring bulbs in containers
(For Release On Or After 11/27/09) A variety of spring-flowering bulbs can be grown in containers for indoor display. Two bulbs, paperwhites and amaryllis, do not need much special treatment and are very easy to grow in pots. Most of the other spring-flowering bulbs need a cold treatment first, but otherwise it’s pretty straightforward.
Gardens can provide holiday decorations
(For Release On Or After 11/20/09) Gardens are full of plant materials that can add unique beauty to your holiday decorations. Be on the lookout for attractive foliage, bright berries, decorative cones or pods, and consider other landscape materials that can be dried and brought in for the holidays.
Cool-season bedding plants come in 4 categories
(For Release On Or After 11/13/09) This is the time of year to plant cool-season bedding plants in your flowerbeds. These plants will thrive in the cool to cold weather of fall to spring and keep your flowerbeds looking attractive.
You can plant hedges for privacy now
(For Release On Or After 11/06/09) Hedges can create privacy, block unwanted views, screen out noise and serve other important roles in our landscape. If you’re considering planting a new hedge or replacing a lost one, now is a great time to get it done.