(Distributed 08/27/10) One of the most popular herbaceous perennials in Louisiana is the purple coneflower. The scientific name is Echinacea purpurea. It is native from the Midwest into the Southeastern United States.

(Distributed 08/26/10) Thomas E. “Gene” Reagan, LSU AgCenter professor of entomology, has been selected as the Entomological Society of America’s 2010 Subject Matter Expert. This new award is presented to a person who has gained national and international recognition as an authority on insect pest management. This person then serves as the society’s liaison to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Pesticide Programs.

(Distributed 08/26/10) MOREAUVILLE, La. – Besides saying cheese, visitors can taste it at WesMar Farms, a self-proclaimed agricultural respite owned by West and Marguerite Constantine.

(Distributed 08/26/10) With sweet potato consumption rising and a shift in the industry toward more processed products, the LSU AgCenter’s Sweet Potato Research Station showed growers how to optimize production at a field day held at the station Aug. 24. The latest research was presented to help growers learn how to produce a high-yielding, predictable, profitable crop.

(Distributed 08/26/10) HAMMOND, La. – The LSU AgCenter’s landscape horticulture research program at its Hammond Research Station is receiving regional attention, according to Regina Bracy, resident coordinator at the station.

(Distributed 08/25/10) Louisiana’s team in the 31st annual National 4-H Forestry Invitational had only a short time to prepare for the event in which it placed first among 15 state teams.

(Distributed 08/25/10) The Student Clubs in the LSU AgCenter’s School of Renewable Natural Resources have established a donation account to help defray the medical expenses of the LSU doctoral student who survived an alligator attack while conducting her research.

(Distributed 08/24/10) Sweet orange scab, a citrus disease recently discovered in Texas, has made its way to Louisiana, according to officials.

(Distributed 08/23/10) The recent salmonella outbreak associated with the two Iowa egg farms has raised concern about the safety of consuming eggs. However, consumers can be confident that U.S. eggs are safe, according to LSU AgCenter experts.

(Distributed 08/23/10) Occasional food recalls because of contamination may create concerns about food safety, but these worries are often overstated, say two LSU AgCenter researchers who focus on food safety.