With about half of Louisiana’s — and the nation’s — farmers facing dire financial straits, agricultural communities are hoping the $12 billion short-term relief ordered by President Donald Trump earlier this month will be enough to offset losses from trade wars, tariffs, depressed commodity prices, and increased planting costs.

For so many farmers, the effort is about family.

That is truly the case when it comes to this year’s Rotary Club of Abbeville Farmer of the Year Award. On Nov. 19, the club presented the honor to Kelsi and Amanda Duhon.

“It is definitely an honor,” Amanda Duhon. “We were very shocked. We’re just so thankful to be a part of this community.”

Louisiana agriculture is facing a difficult chapter and evolving challenges, but there is reason for hope, thanks in part to the work of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.

Louisiana consumers will spend even less this Thanksgiving, according to a statewide sample of prices for the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation Thanksgiving Dinner Price Survey. Louisiana was the second-lowest price-wise in the survey, only behind Arkansas, and residents should expect to spend almost $10 less than the national average for a classic Thanksgiving dinner for ten people.  

Registration for the inaugural 2026 Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation joint leadership conference, Rooted in Leadership, is now open! The conference will be held January 23–24 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visited a Farm Service Agency (FSA) office in Louisiana Monday, marking her first stop at one of the 2,100 offices reopened nationwide following a presidential directive to resume operations during the ongoing government shutdown.

Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA), Governor Jeff Landry (R-LA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, and Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain held a roundtable discussion with Louisiana farmers, cattlemen, and aquaculture reps, focused on strengthening the state’s agricultural industry.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple on Friday announced that Louisiana Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company will reduce auto insurance rates by 11.8% for more than 80,000 policyholders statewide beginning Jan. 1.

The reduction marks one of the largest single decreases in recent years, coming as insurers report fewer accidents and cite growing confidence in Louisiana’s legal reforms.

To find inspiration for his interior design of LSU’s latest University House, Kenneth Brown had to put down his pencil and put on his sneakers.

“When I finally said yes to this project, I just walked the lakes,” says Brown, an LSU alumnus whose design portfolio includes high-profile jobs both in Hollywood and here in his Baton Rouge hometown.

The home’s social calendar is packed many months out. Recent events have included a 50-person seated dinner, a breakfast meeting, and a luncheon for an LSU Foundation Board of Directors member who received an honorary degree. For a dinner held in conjunction with Louisiana Farm Bureau, the menu included biscuits made with LSU-grown sweet potatoes and a sweet potato cheesecake for dessert.

It looks like Louisiana has one decent chance of rain in the next week, and that will come today. It may linger into Thursday for south Louisiana, but if you need significant rain, I hope you get enough to last you by close of business Thursday.

The Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Task Force officially named its members Thursday, Sept. 4.

The task force was created during the 2025 Louisiana Legislative Regular Session to study and recommend best practices for managing and mitigating CWD in the state.

The 21-member panel includes a state senator, a state representative, a Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries commissioner, officials from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), a veterinarian from the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and representatives from the Louisiana Landowner Association, Natural Resource Management Association, Louisiana Forest Association, Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Louisiana Farm Bureau, private industry, and landowners.

In August, the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) welcomed a team of 11 Mexican grain importers to New Orleans to offer a better understanding of U.S. grain export procedures, regulatory frameworks, logistics and operations in maritime shipping

With about half of Louisiana’s — and the nation’s — farmers facing dire financial straits, agricultural communities are hoping the $12 billion short-term relief ordered by President Donald Trump earlier this month will be enough to offset losses from trade wars, tariffs, depressed commodity prices, and increased planting costs.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on USDA’s announcement to provide financial relief and an economic bridge for America’s farmers and ranchers until benefits from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reach the farm.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on departments of the Interior and Commerce proposed rules to improve Endangered Species Act regulations.

A Thanksgiving family feast to feed 10 people in Louisiana this year is more affordable than any other state in the U.S. except for Arkansas, according to the annual American Farm Bureau cost survey.

Cooking a Thanksgiving dinner for your friends and family will cost less than last year, marking the third straight year of price declines. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 40th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of Thanksgiving staples that make up a classic holiday feast for 10, which is $55.18 or about $5.52 per person. 

Louisiana consumers will spend even less this Thanksgiving, according to a statewide sample of prices for the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation Thanksgiving Dinner Price Survey. Louisiana was the second-lowest price-wise in the survey, only behind Arkansas, and residents should expect to spend almost $10 less than the national average for a classic Thanksgiving dinner for ten people.  

When we talk with farmers across the country, from cotton fields in Mississippi and cornfields in Iowa to apple orchards in Washington, the theme is the same: uncertainty. The past few years have tested even the most seasoned farmers. Facing rising input costs, unpredictable market access and many other challenges, farmers and ranchers are working harder while margins grow thinner.

The American Farm Bureau Federation announced the next recipient of an award that recognizes veterans or service members for excellence in farming or agriculture and positively impacting local communities. Retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Rutter of South Carolina is the second recipient of the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence presented by AFBF with support from Farm Credit. Rutter served 22 years in the Army, where his service included leading intelligence operations across Europe and the Middle East.

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall today applauded the Senate vote to end the government shutdown and urged the House to act quickly.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is expanding the reach of its landmark Farm State of Mind initiative to a broader coalition of food and farming sector partners by joining forces with the Farm Family Wellness Alliance to launch the Farm State of Mind Alliance.

Thirteen farm and ranch women leaders graduated from the fall session of Women’s Communications Boot Camp hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

It’s almost time to kick off AFBF’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Survey! Each year, AFBF reports on the average retail cost of a traditional meal for 10 people. Help from farmer and rancher members across the country makes this possible.