Agriculture

Tips to overcome your pruning fears

Pruning intimidates some gardeners. When to prune and when not to prune? It can be scary. For trees and shrubs that are grown for their flowers, you must consider when they bloom before you decide when to prune them.

Reality trims seed catalogue dreams

One hot day summer day some years ago I was pulling weeds along a row of tomato plants, when the realization came to me that I was crawling down garden rows to cultivate vegetables that we would mostly give to friends and neighbors who also grew more veggies than they would eat and were planning on...

Strawberry crop early, looking good

Despite the recent cold snap, Louisiana strawberries are coming in at a steady clip. LSU AgCenter agent Mary Helen Ferguson said the producers are off to a good start this season, with no extreme temperatures so far.

Acadia Parish sheriff says focus is on patrol deputies

Sheriff K.P. Gibson has made a number of changes in the way things are run at the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office since he first took office in 2016 — and more are on the way.

Louisiana Master Farmer Program graduates 2020 class

The Louisiana Master Farmer Program, an LSU AgCenter-led initiative that teaches about conservation, recently graduated its 2020 class. Five new Master Farmer certifications as well as 14 recertifications were awarded Jan.

Lichens are harmless

Now that the majority of our deciduous plants have dropped their leaves, you may have noticed the gray coloring on the trunks of some trees and shrubs in your landscape. When trunks and branches become bare, these gray areas become evident and may worry even the most avid gardeners.

Arbor Day celebration planned Saturday at Chicot State Park

Louisiana’s Arbor Day will be celebrated with a tree seedling giveaway at Chicot State Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The tree seedling giveaway will take place at Pavilion 1 near the splashpad in Chicot State Park.

AgCenter agents give tree-planting tips

Anyone who has ever visited the LSU AgCenter Dean Lee Research and Extension Center or the neighboring campus of LSU Alexandria has probably noticed — and maybe even stopped to snap a photo of — a pair of huge live oaks that stand in a field behind an office building.

The best time to plant a tree is now

Many of us get a generous amount of time off for the holidays at the end of each year. This time is best spent with family, reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the next. It is also a great time to get outside and get things done in the garden.

LDAF, AgCenter join to offer safety program to produce growers

The LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry are developing an information program on water testing and management to help specialty crop growers meet federal and market-driven requirements.