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December 2011 Articles

Plant trees now through midwinter
USDA and Feld Entertainment, Inc., Reach Settlement Agreement
Statement by Bob stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Regarding
Winter, early spring are good times to prune most trees, shrubs
Cattle on Feed Report Trends are a Key
Effect of Supplemental Trace Minerals From Injection on Health and Performance o
EPA's Crushing Regulatory Burdens Threaten Family Farms
Tight Stocks, Strong Demand continue for Corn Market
2011 Food and Health Survey - Consumer Attitudes Towards Food Safety, Nutrition
GIPSA Rules
Compare Cost of Raising Replacements Versus Purchasing
Corn research pays dividends for La. Farmers
Vow not to gain weight over the holiday season
LSU AgCenter nutritionist gives advice about diabetes
American Tree Farm System
Statement by Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Regarding
Agricultural Secretary Vilsack Highlights the 150th Anniversary of USDA
AFBF: Farm Youth Labor Rule Overreaches DOL Authority
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces $50 Million for Gulf Coast Restoration
Notes from Germany
Cutting Corners
Just Rambling
Inaugural WTC agricultural committee meets in New Orleans
Just Rambling
Scholarship Donkey
Horse owners advised to be on the lookout for infectious disease
Early wheat harvest helps farmers avoid floods
FORAGE UPDATE: HAY STOCKS AND PASTURES:
Blueberries offer health benefits
Arkansas Agriculture Newsletters Livestock Market News - Situation and Outlook
La. farmers face huge losses from flood, drought damage
Bring butterflies with buddleias
AFBF Estimates 3.6M Ag Acres Hit by Floods
AFBF: 3% Withholding Tax Needs Repeal
Replacement Heifers - A Strategy for Success
Statement by Boy Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Regarding
Ninth annual Water Fest draws 300 students
New rules facing catfish industry
USDA changes safe pork cooking temperatures
Corn Supply Tight Despite Projected Record Crop
Stay Away from high-calorie, caffeine-containing drinks in hot weather
Air Quality and the Broiler Industry
Turkey gnats pose nuisance to people, but threat to chickens
Coping with Drought
DROUGHT AID AVAILABLE FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS
Cutting Corners: Summer Smoothies
Just Rambling
Horse Expert Lists Benefits of Horse Ownership
Micellaneous Horse Trivia
La. cattle producers vote to continue checkoff
TAHC to Discontinue Brucellosis Testing at Markets
Drought bigger concern than flood for agriculture 2011
Saddle Pad Tips
2011 Food and Farm Facts Now Available
Insect, disease control critical to successful pecan production
Lantanas offer summer flowers, attract butterflies
Azalea problems answered
Verses by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Gulf seafood remains safe, expert says
Great Orators
Keep hydrated, keep safe during hot weather
Weater Challenges Reflected in Latest USDA Crop Report
Proper watering is important during dry weather
Armadillos don't have to ruin your landscape
Tracking Milk and Egg Trends
Energy Cost Run-up Drives Retail Food Prices in Second Quarter
Common Diseases Affecting Small Poultry Flocks
Drought Likely to Impact Cattle Markets for Years
Horse Pasture, Seeds Help Your Pasture Management
Why some people are mosquito magnets
Cutting Corners: Squash Fritters
Just Rambling
Just Rambling
Trichomoniasis in Cattle
Tractor Safety
10 Tips for Preventing Clinical Exacerbation of heaves in Horses
AFBF Outlines Steps to Ease Regulatory Nightmare
Heat Stress in Livestock
Avoiding Heat Stress in Youth Livestock Projects
Biodiesel workshop shows how it's done
Hay bale load restrictions waived to help Texas ranchers
Why We Say the Things We Say
Year-to-Date U.S. Cattle Slaughter Rate
Approval of Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act Urged
America's Heartland Launches Seventh Season on Public TV
Feeding the Herd through a Drought
Higher Energy Prices Hitting Farmers' Bottom Line
Tight Supply Situation Still Driving Corn Market
Horse Facts:
• Fig trees can enhance landscapes
Horse Trivia:
Another Look at Production Records
National Poultry Inprovement Plan (NPIP)
Don't let poison ivy get you
Trivia:
Love him or loathe him, he nailed this one right on the head.......
Cutting Corners: Santa Fe Rice Salad
Just Rambling
Students participate in summer institute
Cook meats carefully to avoid illnesses
"Signs of Planting"
Take care of your crape myrtle trees
Drought may affect deer
3 LSU AgCenter administrators to receive honorary FFA degree
Trees need special care during drought
August USDA Report Confirms Tight Corn Crop
AFBF Pleased by DOT Guidance on Ag Transportation
Blackleg May be a Concern in Drought Conditions
Cull Cow Strategy for the Fall
The Things I Know
Sweet potato growers learn latest at LSU AgCenter field day
Arkansas Agriculture Newsletters Livestock Market News - Situation and Outlook
Valuation Measures for Forage
OUTLOOK IS FOR FEEDSTUFFS TO REMAIN VERY EXPENSIVE
Livestock Market News - Week Ending August 26, 2011
Did You Know?
The First Year - LSU AgCenter Hill Farm Research Station Broiler Demonstration H
Strain: LDAF is more efficient
Drift roses offer new landscape options
Cutting Corners: Banana Pudding Cupcakes

(120 articles found)

Archives by Months

Fig trees can enhance landscapes

Fig trees can enhance landscapes By LSU AgCenter Horticulturists Dan Gill, Kyle Huffstickler and Allen Owings
Home gardeners around Louisiana frequently have fruit trees in their landscapes, and the fig is certainly one of the most popular. Ficus carica is a native of Asia and was imported into the United States in the 16th century. The fruit is tasty and can be eaten fresh, made into preserves and jams, or used in baking. Figs make nice additions to landscape plantings.
Figs are commonly grown in all of Louisiana and have the potential to produce an early crop, called the breba crop, on last year’s wood in the spring, a main crop on the current-season wood during the summer and a third crop in the fall. These different crop productions vary from one variety to another.
Proper variety selection is important. Frequent rainfall and high humidity in Louisiana make many varieties unsuitable because of fruit splitting and souring. Varieties with “closed eyes” have fewer problems with fruit souring. The eye is the opening at the end of the fig opposite the stem. Figs are either open-eyed, less-open-eyed or closed-eyed. We prefer a closed eye because bacteria, fungi and moisture are less prone to enter the fig.
Winter injury has killed plants of the cold-sensitive varieties in some years. Selecting varieties with cold tolerance is critical in north and central Louisiana.
Figs are one of the easiest fruit trees to care for in the home orchard or home landscape. With little care, they will produce crops of juicy, sweet figs every year.
Popular fig varieties in Louisiana include Celeste, LSU Purple, LSU Gold and Brown Turkey. Celeste produces small- to medium-size fruit that is resistant to splitting and souring. The fruit is violet to brown with a light strawberry-colored pulp. LSU Purple has been out for a few years and has medium-size, dark purple fruit and good resistance to foliage diseases. Its tendency to produce three distinct crops – a light crop in early spring, a heavy main crop in early July and a later crop sometimes lasting into December – makes it popular.
LSU Gold is a new yellow-fruited variety that may still be hard to find, but it is well worth growing. The LSU Purple and LSU Gold cultivars were developed from crosses made by Ed O’Rourke in the 1950s. New figs released by the LSU AgCenter recently include Tiger, O’Rourke and Champagne.
Fig trees need room. They can reach heights of 10-15 feet with an equal spread. Plant them in a sunny location away from large trees with overhanging branches. Figs will not produce well unless they receive at least six hours of direct sun daily.
Pruning established figs is best done by late February. Yearly pruning helps to maintain vigor, create the desired shape of the tree and control its size (which makes harvesting easier).
It is better to cut a fig tree back a moderate amount every year or two than to let it get to the point where severe pruning is required. Most of the branches cut back should be no larger than 1 inch to 2 inches in diameter.
Newly planted figs definitely will need to be watered their first summer as they become established. During dry spells in summer, water young trees weekly. Also, mature, fruit-bearing-age trees need irrigation regularly during dry spells. Fig trees may drop fruit if they are drought-stressed. And once the crop is damaged, supplemental watering will not correct the problem. Mulch with pine straw or leaves to conserve soil moisture.

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