State

Use sharp loppers to prune branches. Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter

Use sharp loppers to prune branches. Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter

It’s time to prune and fertilize trees and shrubs

From The LSU AgCenter
Friday, February 21, 2025
Before plants leaf out for the spring, it’s a good idea to take some time for maintenance tasks in the garden. Here are two important items to put on your to-do list: pruning and fertilizing your trees and shrubs. Let’s talk about pruning first.
Gov. Jeff Landry makes private school funding a priority for public funds in his latest budget proposal. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

Gov. Jeff Landry makes private school funding a priority for public funds in his latest budget proposal. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

Landry’s budget funds private education

Julie O’Donoghue / Louisiana Illuminator
Friday, February 21, 2025
Gov. Jeff Landry wants to spend nearly $100 million in state funding on private education for K-12 students in the 2025-26 school year, while public school teachers could see a pay cut unless voters approve a constitutional amendment next month, according to a budget presentation his staff gave to...
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill speaks at a Nov. 29, 2023, news conference at the Superdome in New Orleans. (Photo by Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill speaks at a Nov. 29, 2023, news conference at the Superdome in New Orleans. (Photo by Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

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Murrill takes on New Orleans ‘sanctuary city’ policy, murder sentences

Greg LaRose / Louisiana Illuminator
Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Attorney General Liz Murrill has gone to federal court to end what she and other Republican state leaders consider “sanctuary city” policies in New Orleans. She is also lobbing criticism for what she considers are reduced criminal sentences in murder cases.
Michael Polozola, LSU AgCenter fruit and nut specialist, stands with his large collection of pecans. He is holding a jar containing nuts from an Elliot pecan tree. Elliot is one of the most popular varieties grown in Louisiana and one Polozola recommends for its disease-resistant qualities.

Michael Polozola, LSU AgCenter fruit and nut specialist, stands with his large collection of pecans. He is holding a jar containing nuts from an Elliot pecan tree. Elliot is one of the most popular varieties grown in Louisiana and one Polozola recommends for its disease-resistant qualities.

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From tree to table: A guide to growing pecans in La.

From The LSU AgCenter
Friday, February 14, 2025
From the LSU AgCenter There’s nothing quite like pecans. With their rich, buttery flavor, these nuts are a staple of Louisiana culture and cuisine. If you’d like to produce your own pecans, November through March is an ideal time to plant these trees.
Seed packets list important information such as planting depth and how many days it will take until germination. (Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter)

Seed packets list important information such as planting depth and how many days it will take until germination. (Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter)

To enjoy flowers, veggies and herbs this spring, start your seeds now

From The LSU AgCenter
Friday, February 7, 2025
Tired of the cold, gray doldrums of winter? Here’s something to look forward to: Spring isn’t all that far away, and now is the time to get your seeds started for many warm-season annuals, vegetables and herbs.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries map showing three locations of chronic wasting disease (CWD) positive captive deer in pens permitted by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries map showing three locations of chronic wasting disease (CWD) positive captive deer in pens permitted by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

Deer in St. Landry Parish pen test positive for CWD

Trey Iles/ riles@wlf.la.gov
Friday, February 7, 2025
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is alerting the public of three additional chronic wasting disease (CWD) positive captive deer in pens permitted by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF).
An illustration shows how runoff from river basins leads to hypoxic “dead zones” in the Gulf of Mexico. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration video capture)

An illustration shows how runoff from river basins leads to hypoxic “dead zones” in the Gulf of Mexico. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration video capture)

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Reaching Gulf dead zone reduction goals will cost $7B, study finds

Elise Plunk / Louisiana Illuminator
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
New research on the cost of reducing the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone places a $7 billion dollar annual price tag on reaching the Environmental Protection Agency’s goals.
Garden shows will be held around the state during the next few months to prepare gardeners for the spring. (LSU AgCenter File Photo.)

Garden shows will be held around the state during the next few months to prepare gardeners for the spring. (LSU AgCenter File Photo.)

AgCenter announces spring garden show schedule

Friday, January 31, 2025
By Anthony Bailey anthonybailey@agcenter.lsu.edu BATON ROUGE — As spring approaches in Louisiana, local gardeners are starting to prepare to plant their gardens. To get ready for the season, the AgCenter has announced garden shows happening throughout Louisiana, starting in February.
LSU AgCenter fruit and nut specialist Michael Polozola prepares to take a cutting from a fig tree. (Photos by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter)

LSU AgCenter fruit and nut specialist Michael Polozola prepares to take a cutting from a fig tree. (Photos by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter)

With easy propagation process, figs can be passed down like family heirlooms

From The LSU AgCenter
Friday, January 31, 2025
Figs are one of the most common fruit trees you’ll find growing in Louisiana backyards. And for many of these fig trees, there’s a name and face and a personal backstory behind them. That’s because figs are a popular passalong plant.