The Charles and Rose Broussard Internship has been awarded to Lily Grace Perrin, an incoming freshman at McNeese State University. Perrin is currently a senior and student of the year at Kaplan High School in Vermilion Parish.
Democratic and Republican senators from the Great Plains and Midwest have proposed the "Fertilizer Transparency Act" to offset, or at least monitor, the rising costs of fertilizer amid the third week of the war in Iran.
Louisiana’s ideal geography allows for the cultivation of all kinds of seafood, especially crawfish. While consumers can enjoy crawfish year-round, the official season runs from January through June. This year, however, a shortage of migrant workers in crawfish processing plants could mean a quick, more expensive season.
Dr. Carrie Castille stepped into the role of president last summer at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. Her background in rural development and education is already shaping her vision for the university and the surrounding region.
The Nebraska Farm Bureau has established a Disaster Relief Fund at the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation to gather donations to support farm and ranch families and communities affected by the March 2026 wildfires, including one of the single largest wildfires in Nebraska history.
Liuzza Family Farm is more than 7,000 miles from Iran, but the war in the region is still hitting home in Tangipahoa Parish.
Louisiana saw its second tornado outbreak in less than a month on March 11, with eight tornadoes touching down in the Florida Parishes in just 90 minutes and six more in southwest Mississippi. Despite the fast-moving storms and numerous warnings, damage was limited and no casualties were reported. Recent rainfall has improved drought conditions slightly, but nearly three-quarters of the state remains in some level of drought, with continued dry conditions and elevated fire risks in several parishes.
Legislation continues to move through the state capitol that would allow for the Louisiana Wildlife Commission to establish rules and regulations for a recreational alligator hunting season. The Louisiana Senate unanimously approved the bill by Franklin Senator Robert Allain, who says the alligator population has become too large.
Over 50 state grower groups and eight national ag groups filed a letter with the Department of Commerce on Friday asking it to revoke countervailing duties on imports of phosphate fertilizer as the sunset review begins.
Chances are low, but not zero, that a lawsuit to vacate 2026 registrations allowing use of over-the-top dicamba products in cotton and soybeans might keep farmers from using the herbicide, said Brigit Rollins, staff attorney for the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC).
An ag economist says cattle placed into feedlots were up 4 percent from last year. Charley Martinez is with the University of Tennessee. “Part of the reason why we see that and kind of going against the trend that we saw last year,” he says. “I think drought’s really putting some pressure on folks throughout the country that we just can’t hold on to some of these animals.”
Cotton’s three-week rally gave us the 68 cents suggested last week, and then some. Yet, the market has now posted three consecutive down days. That should not be viewed as evidence that the rally is over. To the contrary, the same factors that sent prices higher are still in the market
The initial planting for a soybean date of planting by population trial at the Dean Lee Research and Extension Center occurred on March 3, 2026. On March 17, 2026, a freeze event resulted in damage to the unifoliate leaves and apical meristem (the primary growing point) of the main stem. However, by March 23, 2026, most plants exhibited axillary branch development originating from the cotyledon node.
As part of a suite of product improvements for the 2026 hurricane season [PDF], NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) is implementing two new tropical products and services: a new operational hurricane track cone map, and new storm surge alerts for Hawaii.
With freezing temperatures hitting early-planted corn, farmers are weighing the costs and benefits of replanting. An LSU Extension specialist urges most of them to wait and see.
USDA’s Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation says the agency is working to fast-track disaster assistance for producers impacted by recent wildfires.
A surge of U.S. soybean shipments to China is providing a boost to export demand, even as uncertainty grows over the future of trade talks between the two countries. Recent export activity shows increased volumes of U.S. soybeans moving to China, the world’s largest buyer, as previously arranged purchases are fulfilled. Bloomberg reports the shipments come amid shifting global competition, particularly from Brazil, and reflect continued reliance on the Chinese market for U.S. growers. However, market sentiment has been tempered by delays surrounding a potential summit between U.S. and Chinese leaders, raising questions about future trade policy and demand stability. Analysts say uncertainty over negotiations could weigh on soybean prices and influence farmer marketing decisions. China remains the top destination for U.S. soy exports, making trade relations a key factor for the farm economy. Any disruption or delay in talks could have ripple effects across commodity markets.
From barns to show rings, producers and students say that livestock events offer economic opportunity and life lessons. Let’s take a look at some shows across the southeast in Georgia, Virginia, and Louisiana, showcasing the hard work and talents of rural youth in 4-H and FFA.
As Congress considers a military funding package, relief for farmers might become a key component of the legislative equation. More than 50 farmer groups are asking President Trump and Congress to include aid in the package. The letter sites severe weather conditions, the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and sustained market pressure as their reasons for additional funding.
In another sobering reminder of the economic challenges facing America’s farmers and ranchers, new data show that farmers’ share of the money consumers spend on food continues to shrink, even as expenses rise. The latest Market Intel from American Farm Bureau Federation economists shows that in 2024 farmers and ranchers received a combined 5.8 cents of every food dollar after accounting for expenses, down from 5.9 cents in 2023. 2024 is the latest available data from USDA.
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced a bill that would require mandatory price reporting of fertilizer — a bid for more market information after the war in Iran prompted the biggest surge in crop nutrient costs in years.
The National Family Farm Coalition, an advocacy group that has historically been critical of large-scale and corporate agriculture, is raising concerns over a reported delay to a federal poultry rule it says is critical for contract growers.
At the Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference, U.S. Department of Agriculture Administrator for the Rural Business and Cooperative Service J.R. Claeys announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is guaranteeing $115.2 million across eight states through the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP) to ensure sawmills and other wood processing facilities have the necessary funding to establish, reopen, expand, or improve their operations.
When we sit down to eat crawfish, we hardly ever think about the process of getting these crustaceans from wetlands onto our plates. By learning about this process, we can better appreciate the time and efforts crawfish farmers and catchers put in to ensure we can enjoy this Louisiana staple.
Listen to the latest markets and headlines in Louisiana Agriculture on The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network.