From jambalaya cookouts to blood drives and telethons, parish teams across Louisiana spent the day connecting with their communities as the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation’s inaugural Membership Monday brought together insurance agents, office staff, and volunteers in a coordinated statewide effort that welcomed more than 1,200 new members across 64 parishes.  

The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is organizing a one-day, statewide Membership Monday drive today, May 11, bringing together staff, existing members and volunteers to increase membership while strengthening Louisiana agriculture. 

Members of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Leadership Committee and Young Farmers and Ranchers brought their voices directly to lawmakers at the state capitol, advocating for policies that impact farmers and rural communities across Louisiana. 

For Courtney Gerace, life looked like everything she had ever hoped for – a growing family, a role in agriculture, and a life rooted in purpose. But behind that reality, she was quietly struggling.  

On the Gerace family farm, a typical day starts like many others across rural Louisiana.

Courtney Gerace balances the books, keeping the farm’s finances in order. Her husband, Nicholas, works in the shop, making sure equipment is ready to roll. Nearby, their children take a break from homeschooling—trading lessons for fresh air, imagination and the freedom to just be kids.

More than 130 head of cattle passed through the show ring April 10–11 at the Florida Parishes Arena in Amite during the Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Youth Livestock Show. The annual event brings young exhibitors from across the state together to showcase their livestock while gaining insight into the agriculture industry.

The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is calling on the federal government to investigate what it describes as unfair foreign trade practices impacting the U.S. crawfish industry.

The highly anticipated Farm Bill continues its slow climb through Congress, offering hope to farmers facing mounting financial pressure, but many key details remain unresolved.

Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot says farmers are entering the 2026 growing season with uncertainty on several fronts, from weather delays in the field to ongoing policy and labor concerns in Washington.

A group of Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation and advocate for issues affecting agriculture in the state.

The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation made farming in our parish quite a bit safer with the donation of a Grain Bin Rescue Tube and Rescue Auger to the Natchitoches Fire Department, Wednesday, March 4 at the Parish Fairgrounds. Grain Bin Entrapment is an extremely dangerous situation in which a person working in a grain bin falls in. Moving grain will cause the person to rapidly sink. The grain is heavy and exerts pressure on the body. A person in grain over their knees will not be able to be lifted out. As the grain rises, so does the pressure.

Louisiana Farm Bureau urges Congress to pass the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026 as it advanced out of the House Committee on Agriculture on March 5, 2026. Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation President Richard Fontenot sent a letter to the state’s congressional delegation, including Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, outlining the urgent need for updated policy.

Farm country has endured three consecutive years of worsening economic conditions, spreading financial stress across much of rural America.
A prolonged cost-price squeeze has increased demand for credit, reduced equipment purchases and contributed to a slight uptick in farm bankruptcies.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on USDA’s announcement that the first case of New World screwworm (NWS) has been reported in the United States.

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Leadership Committee, with support from JBS and CoBank, is unveiling the results of a new national study intended to guide programming dedicated to women in agriculture for the next five years.

After nearly 21 million birds were affected by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) between January and March 2026, detections have fallen, with less than 10,000 birds affected so far in May. The resulting increase in egg supply comes during a time of softened demand.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall urged House lawmakers this week to pass legislation to allow year-round sales of fuels blended with 15% ethanol, known as E15. The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote today on H.R. 1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, as reported from the Rules Committee.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on Bureau of Land Management actions to update grazing regulations and rescind the misguided Conservation and Landscape Health Rule.

President Trump is considering issuing an executive order that would allow more beef imports at lower tariff rates, but increasing imports could have long-term impacts and fails to address the underlying issues facing America’s ranchers. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed the issue in the latest Market Intel.

The American Farm Bureau Federation recently announced the members of its 13th Partners in Advocacy Leadership (PAL) class, a program designed to help agricultural leaders strengthen their advocacy and communication skills.

Farmers are invited to submit nominations for the 2027 Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest, which comes with cash prizes and bragging rights. This is the ninth year of the contest, supported by Nestlé Purina PetCare, which celebrates farm dogs and the many ways they support farmers and ranchers.

Few agricultural sectors capture the identity of a state in the way crawfish defines Louisiana. From roadside boils to restaurant menus far beyond the Gulf Coast, crawfish is both an economic engine and a cultural institution. But behind that visibility, the industry is navigating a convergence of pressures - rising production costs, intensifying import competition, a critical labor supply disruption and increasing weather volatility - that are testing the financial resilience of producers across the region.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the House of Representatives vote to pass the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026.

The American Farm Bureau Federation says billions in federal aid are reaching farmers through the Farmer Bridge Assistance program, but warns financial pressures in agriculture are far from over.