Agriculture

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

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.

Signup deadline for LSU College of Agriculture Stakeholder Summit is Friday

The LSU College of Agriculture Stakeholder Summit will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 7 at LSU. Summit events include a welcome breakfast, department breakout session and lunch with closing discussion.

Perennial salvias are a summertime sensation

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.

Louisiana Farm Bureau elects leadership

The voting delegates of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation elected Jim Harper, a rice, crawfish, sugarcane and soybean farmer in Rapides Parish, to a second term as president of the state’s largest general farm organization.

Take advantage of trial garden evaluations

I recently visited a few trial gardens across the South to see what’s new in the ornamental plant world. I saw some wonderful plants and got excited about some of the up-and-coming cultivars being tested for use in the landscape.

Protect, promote pollinators

June 21 to 27 is National Pollinator Week, and the focus is “Pollinators, Plants, People, Planet,” according to www.pollinator.org. Protecting pollinators should be popular year-round, but in June, we aim our focus on how these beneficial creatures help our ecosystems and bring food to our tables.

Pearls of wisdom: Unhinging oysters facts

“He was a bold man that first ate an oyster,” said 18th-century Irish satirist Jonathan Swift. Whether enjoyed fried, grilled, in a seafood gumbo or, perhaps most opinion dividing, raw, there is no denying the oyster’s impact on both Louisiana’s culture and seafood industry.

Southern bacterial wilt causing problem in Louisiana vegetables

Weeks of wet weather in Louisiana has led to damage from one of the most serious diseases of crops such as tomatoes, eggplant and bell peppers. LSU AgCenter plant doctor Raj Singh said the disease is called southern bacterial wilt and is caused by the soil-borne bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum.

Daylilies are carefree

Daylilies are delightful, carefree plants By Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter horticulturist Daylilies are impressive this time of year. Why aren’t they in every landscape? These herbaceous perennials are one of the most carefree flowering plants you can plant in your garden.

Grow your own cut flower garden

Nothing brightens a room like a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Many gardeners incorporate flowers into their landscapes to bring color to their outdoor areas, but have you ever considered dedicating a spot in your garden just for cut flowers?