Agriculture

Compact Cinnamon Girl distylium is a versatile and attractive evergreen shrub prized for its gorgeous foliage, unique growth habit and year-round appeal. (Photos by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Compact Cinnamon Girl distylium is a versatile and attractive evergreen shrub prized for its gorgeous foliage, unique growth habit and year-round appeal. (Photos by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

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Cinnamon Girl distylium selected as Louisiana Super Plant for fall 2023

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, September 8, 2023
The LSU AgCenter is pleased to announce its 2023 fall Louisiana Super Plant selection: Cinnamon Girl distylium (Distylium ‘PIIDIST-V’). Distylium hybrids are relatively new to the plant nursery trade, making their debut in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

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Rice hulls: A hidden gem for thriving gardens

From the Eunice Bulb And Blossom Garden Club
Friday, September 1, 2023
Whether tending to a backyard oasis or cultivating a collection of indoor plants, there is an insider tip that could revolutionize the gardening game. Enter rice hulls, the unsung heroes of the gardening world, quietly offering a host of benefits that can elevate home green space.
Wilted plants show signs of lacking the water necessary for healthy growth. (Photos by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Wilted plants show signs of lacking the water necessary for healthy growth. (Photos by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

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Dos and don’ts in the garden during droughts

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, September 1, 2023
It’s beginning to look like fall all around us as plants go into survival mode during this heat wave. Temperatures continue to soar, and the rain is nowhere to be found.
A field used for crawfish production is flooded. Some south Louisiana producers are concerned about salinity levels in their water, which have risen due to the drought this summer. This could pose problems when they flood fields in the coming weeks. (LSU AgCenter file photo)

A field used for crawfish production is flooded. Some south Louisiana producers are concerned about salinity levels in their water, which have risen due to the drought this summer. This could pose problems when they flood fields in the coming weeks. (LSU AgCenter file photo)

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Drought stress affecting Louisiana crawfish production

Olivia McClure / omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
It’s a few months early for most people in Louisiana to have crawfish on their minds. But the cycle of producing crawfish for those eagerly anticipated springtime boils is already underway — and this summer’s drought conditions could have an impact.
Water plants early in the morning or late in the evening at the base of the plant to prevent water evaporation. (LSU AgCenter file photos)

Water plants early in the morning or late in the evening at the base of the plant to prevent water evaporation. (LSU AgCenter file photos)

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Nurturing your garden in late summer

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, August 25, 2023
As we ride out this last stretch of summer, it’s time to start looking forward to fall gardening weather. There are some tasks to be handled this month. Here is a list of what to do in the garden and landscape this month and into September.
Soybeans in a field in Evangeline Parish north of Eunice weather another day of 100-degree heat on Tuesday. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)

Soybeans in a field in Evangeline Parish north of Eunice weather another day of 100-degree heat on Tuesday. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)

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Excessive heat, drought may lead to Ag economic losses

Harlan Kirgan
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Extreme heat and periods of drought this summer will likely lead to losses in several of Louisiana’s agricultural sectors.
By Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter horticulturist When the going gets tough, the tough get going indoors, especially during heat waves. If you are like me, the heat is really taking a toll on my gardening activities this summer. I garden because I love it, and I do it for my health and wellbeing too. However, these excessive heat warnings and danger of heat stroke or illness are keeping me from doing what I love. I’ve decided to focus my efforts indoors. One way to beat the heat but still get your

By Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter horticulturist When the going gets tough, the tough get going indoors, especially during heat waves. If you are like me, the heat is really taking a toll on my gardening activities this summer. I garden because I love it, and I do it for my health and wellbeing too. However, these excessive heat warnings and danger of heat stroke or illness are keeping me from doing what I love. I’ve decided to focus my efforts indoors. One way to beat the heat but still get your

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Beat the heat with indoor gardening

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, August 18, 2023
When the going gets tough, the tough get going indoors, especially during heat waves. If you are like me, the heat is really taking a toll on my gardening activities this summer. I garden because I love it, and I do it for my health and wellbeing too.
Select plants with heat and drought tolerance for summer landscapes. Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter

Select plants with heat and drought tolerance for summer landscapes. Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter

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Hot, dry weather is tough on plants

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, August 11, 2023
By Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter horticulturist The high temperatures and heat stress we’ve experienced this summer is not only difficult for us. Our plants feel that heat, too.
By Olivia McClure omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu BATON ROUGE — After years of research aimed at finding an effective way to control exploding populations of feral hogs, a patent has been issued for a bait developed by scientists with the LSU AgCenter and LSU Department of Chemistry. The bait uses sodium nitrite, which is lethal to feral swine, the culprits behind millions of dollars in damage to agricultural fields and forestlands in Louisiana and across the country. But the bait has minimal impact on the en

By Olivia McClure omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu BATON ROUGE — After years of research aimed at finding an effective way to control exploding populations of feral hogs, a patent has been issued for a bait developed by scientists with the LSU AgCenter and LSU Department of Chemistry. The bait uses sodium nitrite, which is lethal to feral swine, the culprits behind millions of dollars in damage to agricultural fields and forestlands in Louisiana and across the country. But the bait has minimal impact on the en

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Patent issued for feral hog bait developed by LSU scientists

Olivia McClure / omcclure@agcenter.lsu.edu
Friday, August 11, 2023
After years of research aimed at finding an effective way to control exploding populations of feral hogs, a patent has been issued for a bait developed by scientists with the LSU AgCenter and LSU Department of Chemistry.