Agriculture

LSU President William F. Tate IV attended the sugarcane field day.

LSU President William F. Tate IV attended the sugarcane field day.

In-person sugarcane field day returns with new varieties, more

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, July 30, 2021
By V. Todd Miller vtmiller@agcenter.lsu.edu ST. GABRIEL — Two newly released sugarcane varieties took center stage at the LSU AgCenter Sugar Research Station’s first live field day since 2019 after the coronavirus pandemic forced a virtual version last year.
Exfoliating bark on crape myrtles is one of the great focal points of this plant. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter)

Exfoliating bark on crape myrtles is one of the great focal points of this plant. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter)

Your crape myrtle questions answered

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, July 30, 2021
There’s a lot going on with crape myrtles this summer. I’ve gotten quite a few calls about these highly prized ornamental trees of the South. With all of the rain that we have had over the past month, we have already surpassed our annual average rainfall and we are only halfway through the year.
Donna Gentry, Master Farmer program coordinator

Donna Gentry, Master Farmer program coordinator

Master Farmer program celebrating 20 years

Harlan Kirgan
Monday, July 26, 2021
The Louisiana Master Farmer Program is celebrating 20 years of existence, and the program is getting a new “toolbox” that will help spread the message of conservation and environmental stewardship.
LSU Gold fig

LSU Gold fig

Getting figgy with it

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, July 23, 2021
It’s fig season in Louisiana! This year turned out an excellent crop here on LSU’s main campus. Figs (Ficus carica) are native to the Middle East and Western Asia but have become naturalized here in North America.
Containers

Containers

Beat the excess rain with container-grown vegetables

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, July 16, 2021
With the historic rains this spring and summer, we’ve doubled — and in some cases tripled — the average for several places in Louisiana. It is no wonder some of our plants, yards and gardens are suffering. We’ve already reached 78% of the annual amount of rain, with another half a year to go.
Aphrodite althea

Aphrodite althea

Live each day like the hibiscus

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, July 9, 2021
With several hundred types of hibiscus, one could write a book on this plant alone — and many have done so. The name hibiscus gets its origins from the ancient Greek word “hibiskos,” which means marsh mallow or white mallow.
2021 Youth Expo

2021 Youth Expo

SU Ag Center set to host its 2021 Youth Expo on July 30

Harlan Kirgan
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
The Southern University Ag Center will host its 2021 Youth Expo themed, “Nurturing the Minds of Young Leaders,” on July 30. The free youth event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Felton G. Clark Activity Center on the campus of Southern University.
Salvias

Salvias

Perennial salvias are a summertime sensation

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, July 2, 2021
There are quite a few perennials out there that perform well in the summertime here in Louisiana, but none more so than salvias. There are so many great salvias available today for sensational, consistent color all summer — and fall — long.