Updated versions of the LSU AgCenter's useful guides to controlling weeds, insect pests and plant diseases are available.
The 2006 editions of guides can be downloaded for free from the LSU AgCenter's Web site, and printed copies of the guides can now be purchased through that site.
Prepared by experts in the LSU AgCenter, the publications are known as the "Louisiana Suggested Chemical Weed Control Guide," the "Insect Pest Management Guide" and the "Louisiana Plant Disease Management Guide."
The weed control guide includes helpful information on herbicides and weed control with detailed suggestions for many types of Louisiana crops. It includes information on different types of herbicide registrations, as well as information on herbicide labels and restricted uses. Also included are sprayer calibration techniques, suggestions for reducing herbicide drift and a guide to proper spray tip selection.
The insect pest management guide includes information on regulations, precautions and suggestions for pest control in Louisiana. Detailed topics include drift of pesticides, hazards of pesticides to beneficial insects and wildlife, phytotoxicity and using beneficial insects to control pest populations. A section on organic gardening is also included.
The plant disease guide contains suggestions for management of the most important or more prevalent diseases of Louisiana plants. It includes information on disease control products and safety precautions for using them. It also explains an AgCenter service for identifying diseases from samples and details how to submit the samples for testing.
Paul Coreil, vice chancellor and director of Extension with the LSU AgCenter, said that the AgCenter has recently developed a system of distributing affordable printed copies of their most popular guides.
The printed versions of these guides come in an 8.5-by-11-inch format and are spiral bound with a durable cover. They range in length from 156 to 198 pages and are available for $10 per copy of each guide, which includes shipping and handling.
The AgCenter will continue to distribute their materials for free on the Internet at their website, www.lsuagcenter.com.
LSU AgCenter's publications office can be reached at 225/578-6598.