Dry weather is settling in statewide, after some spots actually saw too much rain! That's hard to believe from here in central Louisiana, where we have stayed quite dry. The drought monitor shows several areas of moderate drought, and it looks like this will worsen in the coming weeks. I've shared a map that shows most of the state has seen less than half of the rain it should see in the last 30 days, with some exceptions in southeast Louisiana, and up near the Arkansas border.
Read MoreThe weekly update of the U.S. Drought Monitor was released this morning ... and that corresponded with the issuance of burn bans in Caddo and DeSoto parishes.
Burn bans were already in effect for Acadia (since mid-September) and St. Landry (as of Oct 8) parishes.
Read MoreFarm Bureau veteran Dr. John Newton returns to the American Farm Bureau Federation team on October 20, 2025, to serve as Vice President of Public Policy and Economic Analysis. In this role, he will lead AFBF’s government relations and advocacy staff and serve as chief economist, guiding AFBF’s team of economists.
Dr. Newton previously served as AFBF’s chief economist from 2018 to 2021. He returns to AFBF after serving as the chief economist for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry from 2021 until 2024, and most recently serving as part of the Farm Credit system as the executive head of Terrain.
Read MoreThe state of Louisiana has withdrawn permit applications for one of its largest coastal restoration efforts, the Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion Project on the east bank of Plaquemines Parish.
The project would have channeled up to 75,000 cubic feet per second of Mississippi River water and sediment into Breton Sound to build wetlands.
Read MoreThe next generation of Louisiana farmers and ranchers is celebrating National 4-H Week.
4-H, a youth development program administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, focuses on teaching kids and teens life skills through hands-on experience.
High school senior Brock Greathouse says that joining 4-H not only gave him great real-life preparation outside of the classroom but also introduced him to things he’ll carry with him forever.
Read MoreDr. Mike Strain joins the show to share updates on Louisiana’s agriculture and fire prevention efforts. He began by celebrating the abundance of certified Louisiana seafood, especially shrimp and the upcoming crawfish season. With over 360,000 acres of farmed crawfish and favorable weather, the state anticipates a strong harvest with larger crawfish and lower prices, potentially around $2.34 per pound. Louisiana leads the nation in aquaculture, including oysters and crawfish, which are vital to its economy.
Read MoreThe Cotton Board and Cotton Incorporated 2024 Annual Reports are now available online. The annual reports for both companies include letters from the respective chairman, departmental highlights, detailed financial information, and board rosters.
Read MoreLast week, USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited co-hosted the annual Federal Duck Stamp Reception, showcasing the strong relationship between rice and ducks, and to promote ongoing conservation efforts.
The event celebrated the 12th anniversary of the USA Rice-Ducks Unlimited Stewardship Partnership, a unique alliance through which both organizations work to help rice farmers address water quantity, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working ricelands.
Read MoreSpecialists with the Mississippi State University Extension Service are monitoring the spread of a newly detected invasive pest in the state that could threaten future cotton yields.
The two-spotted leafhopper, also known as the cotton jassid, was first found in a Hinds County cotton field Sept. 8. It has since been confirmed in Noxubee, Neshoba, Oktibbeha and Forrest counties.
Read MoreLouisiana 4-H is gearing up to help kids kick off the new year with healthy habits as it brings back its popular Food & Fitness Day Camp this winter — with two locations for 2026.
The one-day camp, hosted by the 4-H Food and Fitness Board, is designed for 4th through 6th graders and focuses on nutrition, exercise, and healthy living through fun, hands-on activities.
Read MoreI represent a state that grows soybeans, and I’ve heard directly from our farmers. I met with them in the fields and at kitchen tables. They told me how tariffs are closing export markets and how costs for fertilizer and equipment keep going up. At the same time, cuts to SNAP — the program that helps families buy groceries — hurt local demand here at home.
Read MoreI want to give you an update on all the work your leadership and staff are putting in on the row crop assistance asks you’ve likely been reading a lot about. While there is no definite news to share, only rumor, we have been very active in trying figure out the best path to getting commodities suffering unprofitable market conditions some support to make it into 2026.
Read MoreThe sugarcane harvest season has begun, and the crop plays a big role in Louisiana’s economy.
“So far, we’re looking at great conditions. It’s a little bit dry, and the cane is dehydrated. Yields are down a little bit more than what we expected, but the sugar levels are reall,y really good,” sugarcane farmer Chad Hanks said.
Read MoreFollowing USDA guidelines regarding the current government shutdown, the National Cotton Council (NCC) has analyzed and listed the status of programs and operations most relevant to the U.S. cotton industry.
Overall, the NCC anticipates that most USDA activities will be shut down or scaled back, and nearly half of USDA’s employees will be furloughed. However, most activities supported through mandatory appropriations or user fees will remain in operation.
Read MoreOn September 30, the Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act (H. R. 5620) was again re-introduced by House Agriculture Committee member Rick Crawford (R-AR) with Louisiana Representatives Troy Carter (D-LA) and Clay Higgins (R-LA) as co-sponsors.
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