It has been a challenging time for farmers. First tariffs, and more recently, restrictions on ships in the Strait of Hormuz carrying fertilizer or the elements and compounds in it, have increased the cost of bringing crops to harvest.
LSU Ag Center’s Dr. Peters Egbedi said farmers have dealt with the increases in different ways. Some, anticipating price hikes, purchased extra fertilizer early.
Read MoreDr. Maxwell Amos Lea Jr., 79, "Mack," a resident of Zachary, LA, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 13, 2026.
Mack was an active member of the Louisiana Cattleman’s Association, Zachary Rotary Club, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and enjoyed volunteering weekly at the Zachary Food Pantry.
Read MoreWith optimism for the cattle business remaining strong, nearly 700 cattle producers from across the country gathered in Aurora, Colorado, this week for the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting. This event helps shape the future of the industry through grassroots policy development and discussions that will guide research, education and promotion efforts.
Read MoreIf you've noticed higher prices for ground beef at the grocery store, you're not alone. Consumers across the country are paying more at the meat counter due to shrinking cattle supplies and ongoing industry concerns continue to drive up costs.
KTBS Chief Meteorologist Patrick Dennis recently visited Smith Family Farms in Bossier City to learn more about the factors affecting the beef market.
Read MoreFloodwaters that swept through Avoyelles and St. Landry parishes devastated hay fields, leaving farmers to contend with rotting crops, mounting disposal costs, and a hay shortage that could strain cattle producers across the region.
The rain fell hardest in Avoyelles Parish, but as water moved south, farmers in northern St. Landry Parish watched fields, roads, and yards change by the day.
Read MoreSymbiotic relationships come in many harmless forms throughout nature: clownfish and anemones, whales and barnacles, and bees and flowers to name a few. Two LSU AgCenter scientists are studying how to use symbiosis to potentially control a dangerous pest that is anything but harmless — the New World screwworm.
Read MoreHappy 250th Birthday America! I hope y’all had a safe, happy and enlightening 4th of July! Our country is amazing, despite what the news media says. Just ask the soccer fans and players from other countries who are here for the World Cup what they think. We get a chance to look back at our history and see how far we have come as a nation.
Read MoreThe State Fair of Louisiana will celebrate its 120th annual event from Oct. 29 through Nov. 15 at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport.
The 14-day fair will close on Mondays and Tuesdays. Daily hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Read MoreLab-grown meat, also known as cultivated or cell-cultured meat, has officially received federal approval in the United States. While that may sound like a major shift in the food industry, it doesn’t necessarily mean Louisiana consumers will soon find it in their local grocery stores.
Read MoreFlooding on a Cottonport farm forced cattle to higher ground and left crawfish ponds underwater after days of rain and rising water.
With parts of his property flooded, James Bernard, owner of J. Bernard Seafood Inc., said one of the biggest priorities was moving cattle to higher ground until conditions improved.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation’s Livestock Advisory Committee is responding to the needs expressed by Central Louisiana ranchers following last week’s devastating floods. The Louisiana Farm Bureau Hay Clearinghouse connects ranchers who have an abundance of hay with those who lost pastures and forage to ensure their cattle, horses and other livestock can stay alive through this disaster.
Read MoreParts of Central Louisiana received several inches of rain as remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur impacted portions of the state, and one man had to go on a rescue mission on his property.
Read MoreUSDA is investing $105 million in 40 projects intended to combat the spread of New World screwworm. Those projects will receive funding through its “New World Screwworm Grand Challenge.”
The initiative, overseen by the agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, offered financial support for projects aimed at fighting the spread of New World screwworm.
Read MoreThe beef is safe to eat. Local livestock and pets aren't yet at risk. A reemerged pest hasn't yet found its way to the Ark-La-Tex.
But the concerns are mounting. If its flesh-eating babies appear in northwest Louisiana, an important piece of the local economy is at risk.
Read MoreThe New World screwworm has arrived in the United States.
For years, ranchers across Southern states have prepared for a potential invasion of the flesh-eating parasite that can wreak havoc on livestock, pets and even humans.
Though the United States went decades without a confirmed case of the invasive pest, it’s now made its way across the U.S.-Mexico border.
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