(Distributed 10/08/08) People in Louisiana love their gardens, and it shows in the new 2009 Get It Growing Lawn and Garden Calendar from the LSU AgCenter. Inspiring photos of flowers, plants and lawns are just a few of the reasons Louisiana gardeners and calendar lovers alike have made the calendar a perennial favorite.

(Distributed 10/8/08) Dozens of agricultural leaders from throughout Louisiana met recently to discuss ways to help make the state’s agricultural industry competitive in the 21st century, organizers said.

(Distributed 10/06/08) Ray Schexnayder farms 1,800 acres of soybeans in Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge parishes. Hurricanes Gustav and Ike left his fields scattered with tree limbs, and some covered with water. “We had 200 acres that flooded. There’s nothing to them, just a little dry stem now.”

(Distributed 10/03/08) The aftereffects of two hurricanes last month are still being felt in north and south Louisiana rice fields.

(Distributed 09/30/08) Ten LSU AgCenter faculty members were part of a multi-state team that received the 1st Place National and Southern Region Program Excellence through Research Award at the Galaxy III National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) conference held Sept. 15-19 in Indianapolis, Ind.

(Distributed 9/29/08) ABBEVILLE – The LSU AgCenter is working closely with the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, state Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Louisiana Farm Bureau to get affected cattle producers back on their feet along coastal Louisiana following hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

(Distributed 09/29/08) Louisiana 4-H’ers will join others across the country in the celebration of National 4-H Week Oct. 5-11. The main focus of the week is to celebrate the accomplishments of the young people, volunteer leaders and parents involved in 4-H Clubs – as well as to encourage others to become involved in the unique youth development program.

(Distributed 09/26/08) The totals related to hurricanes Gustav and Ike include up to $763 million in lost revenue to Louisiana farmers, ranchers, foresters and fishers and as much as $175 million to $200 million in additional damage to the equipment and facilities that form the industries’ infrastructure.

(Distributed 09/25/08) Louisiana waterfowl hunters should make sure they are following the law when hunting in crop-damaged areas of the state this year, according to a wildlife specialist with the LSU AgCenter.

Following are pages of photos shot by AgCenter Communications photographers of the effects of hurricanes Gustav and Ike on agriculture and communities in Louisiana. They include photos from three of the AgCenter research stations in the Baton Rouge area – Sugar Station, Central Station and Burden Center. The photos include the photographer’s name and the date the photo was taken.