Tuesday, September 6

SU Ag Center scientist publishes in academic journal

Baton Rouge, LA - Dr. Renita Marshall, DVM, assistant professor of animal science, SU Ag Center co-authored an article published in the International Journal of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering Vol. 3(6), pp. 117-125, July 2011.

The article is entitled “Rondon project: Addressing water issues in socio¬economically disadvantaged communities in Brazil.” Other authors of the article are Marcio de Cassio Juliano, Faculdade Zumbi dos Palmares -Av. Santos Dumont, 843, Armênia São Paulo 01101-000 Brasil; and Clifford Louime, Florida A&M University, College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture, Tallahassee, Florida.


The northeastern region of Brazil has embattled a severe drought for centuries making it almost impossible to supply the local communities with adequate drinking water. As part of their outreach program the university of Zumbi dos Palmares was contracted by the Ministry of Defense to provide the necessary technical expertise to build a water cistern in the town of Maranhao. One of the project requirements was that the cistern has to be built with minimal inputs to allow duplication in limited resource communities throughout the country.

The aim of this paper was to describe the socio-economic aspect of this construction project. The  project was conceived around the framework of sustainability, which includes not only the methods and procedures used, but also economic responsibilities and guidelines for the cistern’s long-term care and maintenance. The “projeto Rondon” has proven to be a viable alternative in sync with the built-in environment.

The article is available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/ijwree

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Friday, September 2

Tropical Storm Lee forms off Louisiana coast

Baton Rouge, LA - Voluntary evacuations for Grand Isle and lower Lafourche Parish are in place in anticipation of Tropical Storm Lee in the Gulf of Mexico and related rainfall across south Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Friday.

The Advocate: http://theadvocate.com/home/742121-79/tropical-storm-lee-forms-off.html

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SU Ag Center scientist in urban forestry receives grant

Baton Rouge, LA – Dr. Kamran Abdollahi received a congratulatory message from US Congressman Bill Cassidy on his receipt of grant funding through USDA in the amount of $490,128.00, for the period of September 2011-August 2014. He congratulated project director, Kamran Abdollahi on his work with biofuel development with non-food feedstock.



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Thursday, September 1

Flash Flood Watch

Baton Rouge, LA - The National Weather Service in New Orleans has issued a Flash Flood watch to include Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, Southern Tangipahoa St. Tammany and West Baton Rouge Parishes, through Sunday evening.


Efficient and torrential tropical rains will impact the Northshore and Baton Rouge metro areas through the labor day weekend. Rain rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour can result in flash flooding and general ponding of water in streets. Model estimates indicate an average of 6 to 8 inches of rainfall may occur this weekend across the watch area. Localized higher amounts 10 to 12 inches are possible, depending on future developments of the gulf system into early next week.

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Air Quality Alert Continues

Baton Rouge, LA - A marsh fire in the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Orleans Parish continues to release smoke to surrounding areas.


The Louisiana department of environmental quality is forecasting an air quality alert for southeast Louisiana in effect until midnight tonight. The air quality monitors show elevated levels of particulate matter due to the fire. Winds have strengthened and should help disperse the smoke more effectively. However, active children and adults, the elderly and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should avoid being outside for long periods. Others should avoid exertion and prolonged outdoor activities.

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SU Ag Center Researcher Recognized


Dr. Qi
Baton Rouge, LA - SU Ag Center scientist, Dr. Yadong Qi, professor of urban forestry recently received an award for her presentation entitled “Monitoring the Long-term Effect of Paclobutrazol Tree Growth Regulator on Three Urban Tree Species” at the 2011 International Society of Arboriculture Annual Conference and Trade Show held in Sydney, Australia, July 23-27. The organization selected Dr. Qi’s presentation as part of an educational program and provided one unit of continuing education credit to the certified arborists and ISA members.

Qi took along her advisee, Ms. Vanessa Ferchaud, Ph.D. candidate in Urban Forestry, who presented a talk entitled “Localization and Identification of UV-B Absorbing Compounds in Selected Southern Broadleaf Tree Species.”

Dr. Qi received a stipend/honorarium of $1000 from the conference, while Ms. Ferchaud received $500 in travel grant from ISA Arboriculture Research and Education Academy and $375 as a conference speaker. These monetary awards covered part of their travel cost to the conference.

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Wednesday, August 31

Air Quality Alert


Baton Rouge, LA - A marsh fire in the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Orleans Parish has Louisiana Army National Guard helicopters dumping water on the blaze.

State Department of Environmental Quality officials have issued an air quality alert for the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas because of tiny particles contained in the smoke. At least minor impacts will be possible across most of southeast Louisiana, with day particulate matter concentrations fluctuating between moderate and unhealthy. These particles are unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and people with heart trouble, asthma or other illnesses that make breathing difficult.

Time picayune

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Monday, August 29

SU Ag Center Scientist Elected to Board of International Society of Arboriculture


BATON ROUGE, LA - SU Ag Center scientist serves on international board. Dr. Zhu Hua Ning, Professor of Urban Forestry at the SU Ag Center was recently elected to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). The Board of Directors is responsible for strategic direction for ISA and makes decisions that are in the best interest of ISA. Through research, technology, and education, the ISA promotes the professional practices of arboriculture and fosters a greater worldwide awareness of the benefits of trees.

Dr. Ning has been a very productive member of the ISA for 16 years. She currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Arboriculture and Urban Forestry as an Associate Editor. Ning has served the ISA as Vice president, President-elect and President of the Arboriculture Research and Education Academy. She also served on the ISA Conference Program Committee, Student Activity Committee, and Science and Research Committee.

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Friday, August 19

SU Ag Center Summit Encourages Youth


BATON ROUGE, LA - SU Ag Center kicked off its four-parish Back-to-School Summit in Opelousas on August 18.
Eighth-grade students are entering a time in their lives that will be full of temptation and pressure to make poor decisions, which the Southern University Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives hoped to curtail with its annual Back-to-School Summit.

"They're at a very critical age," center area agent Edna LaStrapes said. "They're surrounded by negative peer pressure."
The four-parish Back-to-School Summit entered its 11th year in St. Landry Parish on Thursday and will continue for two days with every St. Landry Parish eighth-grade student participating in the program at the Opelousas Civic Center. 
(The Daily World Newspaper)

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Wednesday, August 17

SU Ag Center Agent Elected Vice President of Association


BATON ROUGE, LA - SU Ag Center’s agent serves as Vice President of Association. The Louisiana County Agricultural Agents Association elected Terrence Marshall, County Agent (1890) as Vice- President of the association at the annual meeting held in June.

Marshall is a 34-year employee of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, working for both the Southern University and LSU Agricultural Centers. He began his career in Ascension Parish in 1977, and transferred to East Baton Rouge Parish in 1979. He has been a member of the association since 1992. He has served three terms on the Board of Directors of the group.

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Monday, August 15

SU Ag Center Agent Receives Certificate of Appreciation


BATON ROUGE, LA - SU Ag Center’s Sharon Wilder received a Certificate of Appreciation from the United States Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion for her continuing support as a Community Partner within the Nutrition Communicators Networks. She received a package for her efforts in reaching the community and audiences with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines and MyPlate. MyPlate is the new version of the dietary guideline developed by the USDA.

Included in her package is the Communications Message Calendar, which will aid in dissemination of messages and programs to consumers in a coordinated, targeted and powerful way. Wilder is SU Ag Center’s nutrition assistant for FF-News in East and West Carroll Parishes.

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SU Ag Center to hold Back-to-School Summit in New Roads, September 9


BATON ROUGE, LA - The SU Ag Center will hold its Annual Back-to-School Summit in New Roads, Pointe Coupee Parish on Friday, September 9, from 8:30 am-2:00 pm at the Scott Memorial Civic Center. This year’s theme is: “Step Up-Be You.”

This parish-wide event for eighth graders is a collaborative effort with the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, through its Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives; the Louisiana Department of Education; and 40 other non-profit organizations, state agencies, local municipal governments, and businesses.

For more information, contact the Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives at 337- 943-2410 or email Edna Lastrapes at: edna_lastrapes@suagcenter.com

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Wednesday, August 3

Kudos to Dr. Malekian on her Elizabeth Fleming Stier Award


Dr. Malekian

BATON ROUGE, LA-Fatemeh Malekian, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center and adjunct faculty at Louisiana State University, received the 2011 Elizabeth Fleming Stier Award for pursuit of humanitarian ideals and unselfish dedication resulting in significant contributions to the well-being of the food industry, academia, students, and the general public.

Malekian received $3,000 honorarium from the New York Section and a plaque from the Institute of Food Technologists.

The story was printed in the May 2011 Phi Tau Sigma Newsletter, Member News section. To read the full story, please visit http://www.ift.org/community/phi-tau-sigma/newsletter/0511phitausigma.aspx.

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Monday, August 1

Back-to-School Summit scheduled for September 1 in Cade

BATON ROUGE, LA, 8/1/2011 - The SU Ag Center will hold its Annual Back-to-School Summit in Cade, St. Martin Parish on Thursday, September 1, from 8:30 am-2:00 pm at the Cade Community Center. This year’s theme is “Step Up-Be You.”

This parish-wide event for 8th graders is a collaborative effort with the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center- through its Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives, the Louisiana Department of Education, and 40 other non-profit organizations, state agencies, local municipal governments, and businesses.

For more information, contact the Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives at 337- 943-2410 or email Edna Lastrapes at: edna_lastrapes@suagcenter.com

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Penn State Plant Pathology and Southern University Urban Forestry


The SU team: courtesy of Penn State
 Penn State Plant Pathology and Southern University Urban Forestry


BATON ROUGE, LA, 8/1/2011 - On July 10-12, Dr. Dan Collins, professor, urban forestry, SU Ag Center, and four students from the Department of Urban Forestry at Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA, visited Penn State University to participate in a Short Course on Agricultural Plant Biosecurity developed by the Department of Plant Pathology.

Penn State Plant Pathology and Southern University Urban Forestry are collaborators in Agricultural Biosecurity Education. The course was funded in part by a USDA/NIFA Capacity Building Grant to Enhance Graduate Education and Training in Global Food Security and Agricultural Biosecurity.

For the full story visit: Penn State University.
Courtesy of the drum: http://www.facebook.com/TheDrumNews

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Tuesday, July 26

Back-to-School Summit to be held in Ville Platte, August 26

PRESS RELEASE


Southern University and A&M College
Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Contact: Bridget Udoh
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Back-to-School Summit to be held in Ville Platte, August 26

BATON ROUGE, LA, 7/26/2011 - The SU Ag Center Annual Back-to-School Summit will be held in Ville Platte, Evangeline Parish on Friday, August 26, from 8:30 am-2:00 pm at the Northside Civic Center. This year’s theme is: “Step Up-Be You.”

This parish-wide event for 8th graders is a collaborative effort with the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center- through its Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives, the Louisiana Department of Education, and 40 other non-profit organizations, state agencies, local municipal governments, and businesses.

For more information, contact the Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives at 337- 943-2410 or email Edna Lastrapes at: edna_lastrapes@suagcenter.com



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Friday, July 22

Graduation Ceremony Held for Experiential Learning Garden Program

PRESS RELEASE

Southern University and A&M College
Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Contact: Bridget Udoh
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Bridget_udoh@suagcenter.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Experiential Learning Garden Program Graduation Ceremony Held

Student, Siriah Rogers offers Chancellor Williams a cantaloupe
 BATON ROUGE, LA, 7/22/2011 - The SU Ag Center’s eight-week Experiential Learning Summer Gardening Project ended with a graduation celebration for participants on July 21. A total of 11 students, ranging in age from 6-18 years, graduated from the program. The ceremony was immediately followed by a tour of the garden, located behind the Horticultural Unit, adjacent to the SU Ag Center. Chancellor Leodrey Williams was out in the field celebrating with the students and their families. Youth showed their dedication by participating in the summer sun learning the essential elements of growing their own produce and healthy eating habits.


Youth are now more open to trying new foods, actually taking ownership because this was their project. Youth also learned about community service, leadership, communication skills, the importance of teamwork, and building new peer relationships.

Youth also spent time at the dairy unit, visiting local vegetable and poultry farms as part of their experience.

Participants’ parents and siblings joined them at the graduation ceremony where they received certificates of participation for their hard work and dedication. The youth enjoyed words of encouragement from Ag Center administrators. Dr. Gina Eubanks, Vice Chancellor for Extension, left a letter of encouragement to the graduates due to her unavoidable out of town official trip. In addition, youth were graced with kind words from Dr. Kirkland Mellad, Vice Chancellor for Research. Dr. Mellad and his team of research associates/researchers have been very instrumental in the success of this project.

The youth assisted with a heart healthy breakfast made with fresh veggies from their garden, which included zucchini nut muffins, butternut squash pancakes, fresh cantaloupe, and watermelons. They were excited to try new foods and are looking forward to sharing their experiences with their friends at school and to attending the program next summer!

The ceremony concluded with closing remarks from Tiffany Franklin, Project Coordinator and Stephanie Elwood, Extension Associate - Community Gardener.


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Thursday, July 21

Report Child Abuse 24/7 anywhere in Louisiana

PRESS RELEASE

Southern University and A&M College
Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Contact: Bridget Udoh
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Report Child Abuse 24/7 Anywhere in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, LA, 7/21/2011 - On Monday, July 11, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services launched a toll-free number - 855-4LA-KIDS (855-452-5437) - for anyone in the state to call and report child abuse or neglect.

Louisiana Children's Code Title VI, Article 603 states that any teaching and child care provider "who provides training and supervision of a child, including any public or private teacher, teacher's aide, instructional aide, school principal, school staff member, social worker, probation officer, foster home parent, group home or other child care institutional staff member, personnel of residential home facilities, a licensed or unlicensed day care provider, or any individual who provides such services to a child" are mandated reporters for child abuse and neglect in the state of Louisiana.

Mandated reporters and the public will be able to call one number, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and speak to a trained child welfare worker to report possible abuse and neglect.

This new number will replace all previous local DCFS numbers used in the past to report child abuse to the Department. To ensure that no reports are missed, these numbers will be automatically forwarded to the new toll free number while people transition to our new toll free number.

1-855-4LA-KIDS is part of the state's new centralized intake system to report child abuse. The new system has been developed to help ensure the highest quality child protection intakes, investigations, and assessments as we strive to fulfill our mission to protect children at risk of abuse and neglect.

Please make note of the new toll-free number from anywhere in the state - 1-855-4LA-KIDS (855-452-5437). To learn more, visit the Department of Children and Family Services at: http://dss.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=109

Wednesday, July 20

Graduation Ceremony Scheduled for Experiential Learning Garden Program

PRESS RELEASE


Southern University and A&M College
Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center


Contact: Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714
Bridget_udoh@suagcenter.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Graduation Ceremony Scheduled for Experiential Learning Garden Program

BATON ROUGE, LA, 7/20/2011 - The SU Ag Center will hold its 2011 Experiential Learning Garden Graduation Ceremony on July 21, at the SU Ag Center. The ceremony will be immediately followed by a tour of the garden, located behind the Horticultural Unit, adjacent to the SU Ag Center.

For more information, contact Tiffany Franklin, Project Coordinator or Stephanie Elwood, Extension Associate - Community Gardener at 225-771-2775.

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Tuesday, July 19

Back-to-School Summit to be held in Opelousas, August 18 and 19

PRESS RELEASE

Southern University and A&M College
Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Contact: Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714
Bridget_udoh@suagcenter.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Back-to-School Summit to be held in Opelousas, August 18 and 19

BATON ROUGE, LA, 7/19/2011 - The annual Back-to-School Summit will kick off in Opelousas, St. Landry Parish on Thursday and Friday, August 18 and 19, from 8:30 am-2:00 pm at the Opelousas Civic Center. This year’s theme is: "Step Up, Be Heard, Take Responsibility, Be You.”

This parish-wide event for 8th graders is a collaborative effort with the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center- through its Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives, the Louisiana Department of Education, and 40 other non-profit organizations, state agencies, local municipal governments, and businesses.

For more information, contact the Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives at 337- 943-2410 or email Edna Lastrapes at: edna_lastrapes@suagcenter.com