In this issue: Pilgrim’s Pride agrees to sell, CSREES Competitive Funding, Cornerstone Report, President’s 2010 Budget, Ag Outlook Conference, Youth Wetlands Week, Census of Agriculture Shows Growing Diversity in U.S. Farming, IT Training Newsletter- Winter 2009Faculty Appointments, Lafayette 4-H Junior Leader Club Recognized, CECP Courses moving to eXtensionHurricane Relief Application, Governor's Gulf of Mexico Alliance Draft Action Plan, LaHouse wins Award, andLouisiana 4-H Foundation.

2008 Issue: Agriculture is a multibillion dollar industry for Louisiana -- creating jobs and generating income in rural and urban areas. This publication contains facts about Louisiana's agricultural commodities, agriculture's monetary value, what agriculture is and what agriculture means to you.

The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service offers educational outreach in all 64 parishes and plays an integral role in supporting agricultural industries, enhancing the environment, and improving the quality of life through its 4-H youth, family and community programs.

(Distributed 02/20/09) Louisianians can work in their yards almost every day of the year, but spring is prime time for gardening. The LSU AgCenter has announced a lineup of garden shows that kick off in March and continue into May in Hammond, Covington, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, New Orleans and Houma.

In this issue:Faculty AppointmentsLSU AgCenter International Programs Director Chosen for Leadership Program2009 4-H Hall of FameNew Parish ChairBiofuel Fact SheetVilsack Reverses Two Bush Administration USDA ActionsCongressman Cassidy on Critical CommitteeYouth Wetlands “Week Program of Distinction”CSREES Lists Open Requests for Grant ApplicationsGrowing the Small and Minority Farmer Industry in Louisiana

Topics include: Faculty Appointments, East Baton Rouge Parish Horticulture Program & LMG Program Relocating, New Financial Focus for eXtension, USDA Provides $77 Million to Repair Farmland Damaged by Flood and Drought, DTV Conversion, and CSREES Announces Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Funding Opportunity.

Faculty and Staff Appointments, CSREES Deputy Administrator Named, Team of 18 wins national award for child safety program, eXtension Award Presented, LSU AgCenter established hotline for farm producers, Smart Bodies on “You Tube”, LSU AgCenter launches new 4-H Web site aimed at 4th-6th graders, Felknor to Retire, Community Leadership & Economic Development (CLED), Buchanan Names REEO Division Chiefs and Provides Implementation Update, LSU AgCenter Hispanic Outreach Taskforce.

Topic include: Recovery From Gustav and Ike Continues, “After the Storm” Team recognized by CSREES, Reames leads food safety team that wins national award, LeBlanc named water resources professor, Election/Constitutional AmendmentsFaculty and Staff Appointments, Cornerstone Report from Washington -- F.Y. 2009 Appropriations Update4-H Statistics for 2007-08, and USDA Secretarial Designation: 52 parishes designated as primary disaster areas; 12 parishes designated contiguous parishes.

Topics Included: Response to hurricanes Gustav and Ike, AgCenter recovery efforts in the news, Annual Conference award nominations, LSU AgCenter names new administrator, LSU AgCenter faculty members honored, Becky White on governor’s Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board,USDA forecasts robust corn and soybean crops despite flooding, Op-Ed Article from Senator Tom Harkin, Louisiana Community Network.com announced at LMA annual conference, FCS news, and CMS recognized at Galaxy.

Topic include: HorseQuest eXtension CoP Wins Communication Award,Information Technology and Communications to Commence Training,Lavergne Elected to Poultry Science Association Board of Directors, Extension Economist Joins AgCenter, Louisiana Farmers Estimated to Plant 1 Million Acres of Soybeans , Biodiesel Fuel Education Program, CSREES Lists Open Requests for Grant Applications , USDA Announces $28.4 Million in Funding for Specialty Crop Research, and Senate Appropriations Committee