After several seasons of perennial grasses popping up in fields and evading herbicide efficacy, Louisiana farmers and researchers are becoming concerned about future control of weeds in rice.
At the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station in Crowley, Connor Webster, weed specialist for rice at Louisiana State University, said many trials have been conducted on perennial grass and sedge species with little to no response to commonly used herbicides, which is a red flag for resistance.
Read MoreLast week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins launched the inaugural Great American Farmers Market here on the National Mall, just in front of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) headquarters.
The market ran for several hours daily, from Sunday, August 3, through Friday, August 9, and each day was themed and featured special events in addition to the daily vendors from throughout the U.S. selling agricultural products. Themes included America Grows, MAHA Monday, Faith & Fellowship, Forests & Firefighters, America the Beautiful, and Farmer First Friday.
Read MoreAfter decades of farming, the Fruge family transforms Louisiana rice into nationally awarded spirits, with their eyes set on becoming a household name.
Read MoreHouse Speaker Mike Johnson and his staff visited rice country this week to spend time with members of Louisiana's agriculture industry, including several rice growers and rice industry representatives, and the Speaker’s staff was fortunate to catch rice harvest in action.
Read MoreCongressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) delivered a letter to President Trump today urging increased tariffs on rice imports from Thailand, which are eroding markets for Louisiana farmers.
In a newly released video, the Grow Louisiana Coalition (GLAC) highlights how Chevron’s longstanding partnership with Ducks Unlimited through the Rice Stewardship Program (RSP) is helping keep Louisiana rice farmers and a way of life thriving.
Read MoreOn Wednesday, July 23, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a confirmation hearing for Richard Fordyce, the nominee to serve as Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area.
Fordyce, a Missouri farmer and former Administrator of the Farm Service Agency (FSA), is widely respected across the agriculture community for his leadership and hands-on experience in farm policy and conservation.
Read MoreYesterday evening, President Donald Trump announced the freshly inked trade agreement with Japan that would allow for additional duty-free sales of U.S. rice. USA Rice supports Trump’s major milestone in U.S.-Japan agricultural trade relations and creating new opportunities for U.S. rice exports. The agreement follows just a few short months of negotiation stemming from the Liberation Day announcement on April 2, 2025.
Read More“It’s at work every day; it doesn’t get tired; and it’s consistent,” says Mark Pousson, manager of the South Louisiana Rail Facility in Lake Charles, La. “And it does it quickly – it gives you the measurements you need in about 60 seconds.”
Pousson, who also grows rice on his farm near Lake Charles, was referring to the MachVision Rice Analyzer technology that he’s been working with at the Rail Facility and at the Port of Lake Charles for two years.
Read MorePerhaps the most ‘normal’ weather for farmers is the lack of any sort of ‘normal’ weather at all. Every year brings unique challenges and for rice farmers throughout the midsouth wet conditions are pulling pathogens to the forefront of management decisions.
Read MoreThe U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC), that represents and promotes the export promotion interests of growers and processors of U.S. agricultural products, welcomed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins to their annual meeting last week where she expressed her appreciation and support for “the greatest of all American industries: American agriculture.”
Read MoreThis month’s 2025/26 U.S. corn outlook calls for smaller supplies, domestic use, and ending stocks. USDA cut corn beginning stocks by 25 million bushels to 1.3 billion, reflecting an increase in exports that is partly offset by lower feed and residual use for 2024/25. Feed and residual use is down 75 million based on indicated disappearance in the June 30th Grain Stocks report. Exports are raised 100 million bushels to 2.8 billion based on current outstanding sales and shipments to date and, if realized, would be record high.
Read MoreOn Wednesday, USA Rice staff joined the newly sworn-in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden for a stakeholder meeting as the Administration rolled out the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP). The briefing coincided with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins' formal announcement that sign-ups for SDRP have commenced.
Read MoreThe Nutrien Ag Solutions Texas Rice Field Day was held yesterday at their research station south of El Campo. General Rice Business Manager Randy Ouzts welcomed attendees and provided an overview of Nutrien’s rice breeding activities, and rice breeder Nanyen Chou explained the various steps in pure line rice variety development.
Dr. Steve Linscombe, director of The Rice Foundation, was there to talk about ongoing USA Rice activities as well as the Rice Leadership Development Program, which is currently accepting applications.
Read MoreFor decades cotton was king. But this year the Louisiana cotton crop is expected to be the smallest in history. State Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says input costs to produce cotton has gone up and the price farmers can get for cotton has gone down from two dollars a pound in the mid-1800s.
Read More
