Louisiana Farm Bureau President Urges Swift Passage of Farm Programs in "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"
Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot today issued the following statement in support of essential farm programs included in H.R. 1, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and the Senate Ag Committee’s budget reconciliation language.
“Every issue is a local issue. The debate over the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ may be happening in Washington, D.C., but we’re hearing from farmers, ranchers and bankers in Louisiana who say we’re going to have fewer people in agriculture if Congress does not act soon.”
Read More
Dylan and Shelby Laster: Farming with Purpose, Passion and Pride
Dylan and Shelby Laster’s farm in Marion is a place where tradition meets innovation, where technology works hand-in-hand with hard work, and where family roots run deep. As finalists for the Louisiana Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award, the Lasters are not just raising chickens and cattle — they’re raising a future.
Read More
Crawfish Season Winds Down as Next Year’s Crop Begins
As crawfish season comes to a close across south Louisiana, farmers like Jonathan Fontenot in Evangeline Parish are already thinking about next year’s catch.
At least for K&K Ag Partnership where he works, Fontenot says the season has been a good one.
Read More
CENLA Agriculture Teacher Gains National Recognition For Teaching Excellence
A core part of the economy in Central Louisiana, which includes Avoyelles Parish, comes from agriculture. It is why third-grade agriculture teacher Chantelle Hataway from Lafargue Elementary School is exposing her classes to what agriculture is, and how it is an integral part of society and grows the local economy.
Read More
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.
Read More
American Food Producers Welcome Trade Deals, Call for Targeted Tariffs to Increase Food Security
On the heels of a historic trade win, a coalition representing four American food industries praised President Trump's "America First" leadership, while calling for targeted tariffs on imported honey, catfish, crawfish, and shrimp to counter years of predatory trade practices.
Read More
Kennedy Reintroduces Crawdad Act to Support Louisiana Jobs, Culture
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today reintroduced the Crawfish Recovery Assistance from Weather Disasters and Droughts (CRAWDAD) Act. The bill would support Louisiana crawfish jobs when severe weather puts strain on the industry.
Read More
Louisiana Farm Bureau Supports Appointment of Craig McCain as FSA Director
Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot issued the following statement in response to the appointment of Craig McCain as State Executive Director for the Louisiana Farm Service Agency (FSA).
Read More
The Farmer's Forecast: Rivers Cresting and More Rain
Multiple rounds of thunderstorms will impact Louisiana over the next few days, with a nice lull, and some cooler air after the storms move out by late Saturday. Heavy rains upstream could prolong flooding conditions in some areas, but we’ll have to see how much rain falls in each river basin before we get a good handle on future flooding.
Read More
LSU AgCenter, College Of Agriculture Honors Agricultural Leaders At Second Annua. AgExcellence Awards
The LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture proudly hosted the second annual AgExcellence Awards Ceremony, presented by A. Wilbert’s Sons, on April 25, 2025. The event, led by Vice President and Dean Matt Lee and emceed by Veronica Mosgrove from the Louisiana Office of Tourism, celebrated leaders whose contributions have significantly advanced the LSU AgCenter and College of Agriculture's mission.
Read More
Louisiana Farmers Brace for Trade Turbulence Amid New Tariffs
Louisiana farmers are no strangers to market instability, but the recent wave of tariffs announced on April 2 added a fresh layer of uncertainty to an already difficult planting season.
LFBF Commodity and Public Policy Director Andy Brown, has fielded many phone calls from both farmers and media. He said the farmers are not panicked but rather recognize the reality of the situation.
Read More
Planting Roots: Melanie Netterville Beavers Finds Her Place in the Field
Melanie Netterville Beavers grew up riding horses on the land she now farms in southern Tensas Parish. That’s where the seed was planted for a future she once only dreamed about.
“And I always thought, you know, how cool would it be to be the farmer?” she said.
As a young girl, Melanie had no idea how to make that dream a reality.
Read More
Louisiana Farmers Face Uncertainty as New Trump Administration Tariffs Take Effect
President Donald Trump's new tariffs raise questions for farmers across Louisiana, many of whom are concerned about their livelihoods.
Trump's sweeping new tariffs announced Wednesday have left Louisiana farmers like Donald Schexnayder with some uncertainty on what comes next.
Read More
La. Farm Bureau Applauds Rapid ECAP Payments, Possible Improvement
The United States Department of Agriculture is following through on its promise to get funds into farmers’ hands quickly through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), according to Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot. He expressed those sentiments in a letter he sent to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
Read More
Bankston Built on Farm Bureau Family Foundation
Farm Bureau means family for Henry County’s Emmanuel Bankston.
A passion for agriculture and heart for service set the foundation for Farm Bureau involvement that’s spanned three states — and three State Young Farmers Committees.
Read More
