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.

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.

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.

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.

As we approach the 2025 regular session of the Louisiana legislature, beginning April 14th and ending June 12th, many people wonder when is the best time to connect with their legislator to educate them regarding issues important to agriculture. The answer is all year long. You should be talking to your legislators in their office in your district, in your churches, grocery stores, and your festival grounds any chance you get.