Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) introduced H.R. 9781, the Defend American Agriculture Act, legislation that raises the borrowing authority of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) from $30 billion to $45 billion through September 2031.
Read MoreA Cyclospora outbreak has significantly altered consumer buying habits, leading thousands of heads of lettuce from large brands to remain on grocery store shelves. This shift has prompted consumers to turn to local farmers for safe, fresh produce. Amid the outbreak, Big Daddy Farms is providing a solution with its hydroponic growing system.
Read MoreFlood damage after Tropical Storm Arthur in Avoyelles and St. Landry parishes in Louisiana, as well as counties across the state line in Mississippi, left many farmers questioning how to carry on in a growing season that sorely needed success.
In Louisiana, more than 29 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, breaking a state record set in 1962. Both Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared states of emergency.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Legislature has sometimes been accused of having a herd mentality. One time it was literally true.
That was in 2024, when the House passed a bill allowing the sale of raw, unpasteurized milk directly from farms. As the vote was being taken, a number of legislators belted out hearty moos to celebrate.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available $35 million for partnerships to respond to the threat feral swine pose to American agriculture, landscapes and human and livestock health. This partnership opportunity is part of a broader $105 million investment for the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, where USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are working together to target feral swine.
Read MoreFarmers in the Mississippi Delta can now enroll in an irrigation efficiency program focused on protecting water supplies. This opportunity is led by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to address the challenges of aquifer decline in the Mississippi River valley.
Read MoreFor 25 years, the Louisiana Master Farmer Program has helped farmers improve efficiency, sustainability and long-term productivity. A rancher in south Louisiana completed the program, which led her to make environmental improvements.
Read MoreA proposed solar installation outside of Hineston could cover more than 10,000 acres of currently undeveloped land in Rapides Parish, pending permit approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
A permit currently in the review process would allow development of a 4,554-acre solar array in the first stage of the project, positioned alongside the Vernon-Rapides Parishes border. A second stage would add another 5,688 acres to the development, almost entirely within Vernon Parish.
Read MoreA nine-year stocking program at Lake Claiborne is yielding dramatic results for local anglers, turning the North Louisiana reservoir into a premier destination for trophy bass.
The transformation stems from an ambitious effort by the Lake Claiborne Watershed Commission, which began introducing high-grade fingerlings to boost fish populations and size potential nearly a decade ago.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking steps to speed up progress in plant science by calling on universities and stakeholders to help build new AI tools that can translate the huge amount of germplasm data the agency collects.
Through the Genesis Mission and the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AgARDA), USDA is expected to launch an Agricultural National Science & Technology Challenge later this year.
Read MoreU.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the appointment of 21 new members to the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee (FRRCC). The FRRCC provides independent policy advice and recommendations to the Administrator on crucial environmental issues affecting agriculture and rural communities.
Read MoreAgriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is urging Congress to approve more than $11 billion in additional farm assistance, telling lawmakers many producers continue to struggle with high input costs despite efforts to improve the farm economy.
Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee, Rollins says the Trump administration is pursuing both short-term financial relief and long-term strategies to reduce production costs, including expanding domestic fertilizer manufacturing.
Read MoreCongressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) issued a statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2715, the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act.
Congressman Higgins and Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA) introduced the legislation in April 2025. The bill would authorize the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to destroy imported products that pose significant health risks.
Read MoreLouisiana residents with an interest in gardening and community service can receive specialized horticulture training through the LSU Ag Center’s Louisiana Master Gardener program.
Several regional programs are scheduled to begin in August, including a Central Louisiana class that will meet in Mansura.
Read MoreThe United Soybean Board (USB) is pleased to announce that Courtney Knupp will join the organization as its chief executive officer starting October 1. Knupp currently serves as director of global supply chain at the National Security Council. USB’s board of farmer-leaders, representing more than 30 states, ratified the decision at its July board meeting in Indianapolis.
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