Agriculture

Farm life.

Farm life.

Tri-Parish winners at 87th LSU AgCenter Livestock Show listed

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, March 11, 2022
Young people with 4-H and FFA livestock projects came together from across Louisiana to participate in the 87th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show held Feb. 12 to 19 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.
Stock is a fragrant cottage flower commonly used in flower arrangements for their gorgeous blooms and clove-like scent. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Stock is a fragrant cottage flower commonly used in flower arrangements for their gorgeous blooms and clove-like scent. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

‘Scentsational’ flowers for spring

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, March 11, 2022
The garden can rouse each of the senses. We can enjoy the beautiful colors, the sounds of wildlife, the texture of the plants, the taste of fruits, herbs and vegetables, and of course, the delightful fragrance of many flowers and plants’ foliage.
Summer-blooming shrubs such as panicle hydrangeas and those that bloom on new wood growth can be cut back this time of year to tidy up the lawn before they put on new growth. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Summer-blooming shrubs such as panicle hydrangeas and those that bloom on new wood growth can be cut back this time of year to tidy up the lawn before they put on new growth. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

It’s time for spring cleanup in the landscape

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, March 4, 2022
As winter draws to a close and we eagerly anticipate warmer weather and the longer days of spring, it’s time to get to work in our lawns and gardens. Cleanup in the landscape should include the removal of weeds, trimming limbs and mulching.
By Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter horticulturist Both nature and gardening are full of surprises. Have you ever seen a flowering shrub that has two completely different flower colors on the same plant? Or have you noticed that a portion of your plants’ variegated leaves are now solid green or a different shape all together? Strange changes in plants can be rationally explained if we dig a little deeper. Some of these surprises stem from the way plants were bred and produced. Plant breeding has been pr

By Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter horticulturist Both nature and gardening are full of surprises. Have you ever seen a flowering shrub that has two completely different flower colors on the same plant? Or have you noticed that a portion of your plants’ variegated leaves are now solid green or a different shape all together? Strange changes in plants can be rationally explained if we dig a little deeper. Some of these surprises stem from the way plants were bred and produced. Plant breeding has been pr

Nature and gardening are full of surprises

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, February 25, 2022
Both nature and gardening are full of surprises. Have you ever seen a flowering shrub that has two completely different flower colors on the same plant? Or have you noticed that a portion of your plants’ variegated leaves are now solid green or a different shape all together?
By Chris Rosa The Abbeville Meridional The crawfish season started with a bang in January with large crawfish and a decent supply of mud bugs. Now, two weeks before the busiest part (Lent Season) of crawfish season gets underway, crawfishermen have a couple of hiccups to deal with. For the last week, the size and amount of crawfish have dropped off. That hiccup comes with the territory. A new challenge the fishermen are dealing with is the lack of live bait to catch crawfish. In the cool winter months, mos

By Chris Rosa The Abbeville Meridional The crawfish season started with a bang in January with large crawfish and a decent supply of mud bugs. Now, two weeks before the busiest part (Lent Season) of crawfish season gets underway, crawfishermen have a couple of hiccups to deal with. For the last week, the size and amount of crawfish have dropped off. That hiccup comes with the territory. A new challenge the fishermen are dealing with is the lack of live bait to catch crawfish. In the cool winter months, mos

Pogie in short supply for crawfish traps

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, February 18, 2022
The crawfish season started with a bang in January with large crawfish and a decent supply of mud bugs. Now, two weeks before the busiest part (Lent Season) of crawfish season gets underway, crawfishermen have a couple of hiccups to deal with.
Frontiére, a low-glycemic rice developed by the LSU AgCenter is being sold across the state under the Parish Rice brand. This rice is a healthy alternative for diabetics and those who are pre-diabetic.

Frontiére, a low-glycemic rice developed by the LSU AgCenter is being sold across the state under the Parish Rice brand. This rice is a healthy alternative for diabetics and those who are pre-diabetic.

LSU AgCenter low-glycemic rice shows promise for diabetics

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, February 11, 2022
For people interested in keeping their blood sugar levels in check, they now have a new tool thanks to rice developed at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station in Crowley.
Louisiana iris makes a great plant selection for wet areas. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Louisiana iris makes a great plant selection for wet areas. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Shoring up your shoreline

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, February 4, 2022
Water is Louisiana’s most abundant resource, with more than 40,000 linear miles of rivers, streams and bayous and 400 miles of coastline, according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. In addition to our many water bodies, Louisiana is no stranger to the rain.
Gorgeous satsuma fruit ready to be eaten. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Gorgeous satsuma fruit ready to be eaten. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Citrus holds year-round interest

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, January 21, 2022
Citrus holds year-round interest in the garden and landscape. For starters, citrus are evergreen trees and shrubs native to subtropical and tropical regions of Asia. They originated at the foothills of the Himalayan mountains from trifoliate citrus (Citrus trifoliate).
Find stress relief and relaxation by visiting botanical gardens found across the United States. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Find stress relief and relaxation by visiting botanical gardens found across the United States. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Gardening resolutions for the new year

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, January 14, 2022
With the arrival of 2022, it’s time to reflect on the past year and decide on goals for the new year. Research has shown that new beginnings and dates like New Year’s, your birthday and even Mondays are motivational when trying to tackle new goals. Consider your gardening goals this year.
When pruning trees, work with their natural form. Do not butcher trees as has been done to these crape myrtles. (LSU AgCenter file photo by Dan Gill)

When pruning trees, work with their natural form. Do not butcher trees as has been done to these crape myrtles. (LSU AgCenter file photo by Dan Gill)

The great crape myrtle controversies

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, January 7, 2022
Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) are one of the most controversial and often-discussed ornamental plants among gardeners, landscapers, conservationists, naturalists, growers, researchers and educators. How did the crape myrtle become such a hot topic for discussion?