Thompson, Hill, and Bipartisan Leaders Release Digital Asset Market Structure Legislation
House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (AR-02) today introduced the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act. The legislation is the product of the committees' historic partnership to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets in the United States and builds upon H.R. 4763, the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, which passed the House on a bipartisan basis in the 118th Congress.
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USDA Invests $200M to Expand Timber Production, Strengthen Rural Economies, Secure American Industry
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a bold $200 million investment to implement the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service’s National Active Forest Management Strategy (PDF, 24.7 MB), a key initiative to increase timber harvest, improve forest health and productivity, reduce wildfire risk, and support rural prosperity in forest communities.
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Congress Shouldn't Cut Federal Conservation Funds That Help Local Farmers
I am a second-generation farmer from Eunice, and we produce rice, soybeans and crawfish.
Farmers can respond to market changes, and we support our leaders to re-balance global trade and eliminate waste in federal spending. But, as Congress begins work on budget reconciliation and a new Farm Bill, I am concerned that potential cuts to agricultural conservation programs could have unintended consequences for American farmers and our nation’s food independence.
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USDA To Provide $1B To Livestock Producers Impacted By Drought Or Wildfire In '23 & '24
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the release of Congressionally mandated Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) payments to cover grazing losses due to eligible drought or wildfire events in 2023 and/or 2024. Secretary Rollins committed on May 7 to release these emergency payments by May 30, and today she is delivering on that commitment ahead of schedule.
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Cattlemen Thank USDA For Prioritizing Disaster Recovery
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) thanked Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins following an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the agency would quickly be sending Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) payments to cattle producers who suffered losses from drought and wildfire.
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U.S. Rice Sales to Iraq Stay Consistent
Another rice sale to Iraq has hit the books, with 44,000 MT of U.S. long grain aiming to set sail later this fall. This brings the total U.S. rice sales to Iraq to 220,000 MT contracted for 2025 deliveries.
Iraq is consistently a top ten export market for U.S. rice and the second largest market for long grain milled rice, however, changes in financing there had caused delays in Iraq’s rice purchases for a time.
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Trump Administration Appoints Craig McCain to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Louisiana
The Trump Administration recently appointed Craig McCain as the new State Executive Director (SED) for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Louisiana. McCain joined the Louisiana FSA team on May 5, 2025.
“When America’s farming communities prosper, the entire nation thrives. This new group of USDA appointees will ensure President Trump’s America First agenda is a reality in rural areas across the country. I am grateful for the leadership of these new state directors and look forward to their work reorienting the agency to put Farmers First again,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
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Louisiana Crop Progress and Condition: May 27, 2025
According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Louisiana, there were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, May 25, 2025. Topsoil moisture supplies were 0 percent very short, 11 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were 0 percent very short, 8 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus.
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What to Know Before You Mow
Warm weather is upon us, and so is grass mowing season. The Childhood Agricultural Safety Network (CASN) urges parents and other supervising adults to ensure that young people are “Mow Ready” before tackling this potentially hazardous job.
Nearly 10,000 child/youth lawn mower injuries occur in the United States annually, with approximately 5 percent resulting in amputation.
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Sen. Bob Hensgens Amends SB 244, Gives Agriculture a Seat at the Table
Louisiana farmers and ranchers will not have to add meters to water wells thanks to amendments offered by Senator Bob Hensgens, author of a bill to restructure the Department of Natural Resources and rename it the Department of Conservation and Energy.
Staff at Louisiana Farm Bureau discovered the provisions in Senate Bill 244 last week dealing with water regulation that did not exempt agriculture from those regulations.
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Registration Begins for 78th Annual LFA Convention
Registration has opened for the Louisiana Forestry Association 78th annual convention, Aug. 19-21, 2025, at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino Resort in Lake Charles.
This year's theme is "Focus on Forestry: The Future and Adapting to Change" and begins with the President's Reception on Tuesday, Aug. 19. Wednesday, Aug. 20 will be filled with fellowship includes a great slate of speakers.
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Secretary Rollins Increases Funding to Reimburse States for Food Safety Inspections
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced she will exercise the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) authority to provide a much-needed funding increase of $14.5 million in reimbursements to states for meat and poultry inspection programs.
“This is much welcome news. This has been an issue and major concern for the states. I thank the Trump Administration for funding this critical work to ensure the safety of our meat and poultry products for the American people,” said Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain.
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U.S. Cotton Growers Disappointed With MAHA Report
The U.S. cotton industry is disappointed with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s report.
In a statement issued May 22, the National Cotton Council notes that, for decades, the Environmental Protection Agency has subjected pesticides to rigorous review and eliminated those that were deemed unsafe. Current products have been tested and re-tested to protect the farmer, the environment, and the consumer.
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Farmers Market Promotion Program
The FY 2025 grant application period is open. Applications are due on June 27, 2025. Applications received after the due date will be subject to the AMS' - Policy on Late Applications. For any questions related to FMPP, contact FMLFPPgrants@usda.gov.
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Louisiana Leaders Applaud House Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) celebrated the House passage of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and Louisiana leaders issued the following statements praising the legislation:
“President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill unleashes Louisiana energy and increases the cap on GOMESA from $500 to $650 million/ year. It lowers taxes for Louisiana families and allows us to properly secure the border. It’s exactly why Louisiana voted for President Trump, and Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Scalise did a great job getting it to the finish line—delivering win after win for Louisiana," said Governor Jeff Landry.
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