The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) opened the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, a state-of-the-art laboratory facility today that will provide the U.S. cattle industry with innovative tools and advanced technologies to manage and eliminate the invasive fly and tick pests that threaten the U.S. cattle industry.
Read MoreA hybrid online and in-person program designed to help increase the number of people growing fruits and vegetables for distribution (sale and/or mutual aid models) in communities across the state of Louisiana.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture is rolling out several updates to livestock insurance programs beginning with the 2027 crop year, expanding coverage options and adjusting rules for cattle and dairy producers.
Read MoreThis Secretarial Natural Disaster Designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.
Read MoreAt the center of the announcement is the Blue Point Project in Louisiana, a $3.7 billion ammonia facility, USDA says, that will become the world’s largest ammonia plant once completed.
Read MoreThe USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced the selection of Sarah Trichel as the new Louisiana State Conservationist. Trichel, a native of Natchitoches, Louisiana, has been acting in the role since July 2025. She will officially assume the position on May 17, 2026, and brings more than 16 years of dedicated service and leadership in conservation.
Read MoreThe Rural Business Development Grant Program has $27.7 million available to support projects that help rural communities grow their local economies and create jobs.
Read More$14.3 million available through the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program (SCMP) to fund collaborative multi-state partnerships to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.
Read MoreThis Presidential disaster declaration allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.
Read MoreThe U.S. Forest Service today announced an additional 2026 recreation fee-free day on June 6 in celebration of National Trails Day, providing no cost use of all standard amenity recreation sites on national forests and grasslands.
Read MoreThe National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the USDA recently released 2025 county yield estimates for corn, soybeans, and winter wheat. County yields tended to exceed the national average in the main Corn Belt region of the Midwest, while yields tended to be below the average in other areas. The number of individual U.S. counties with yield estimates reported has continued to decline.
Read MoreFederal News Network's Jory Heckman reported that "for the second time in seven years, USDA is looking to move D.C.-based employees at the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to Kansas City. USDA relocated hundreds of ERS and NIFA positions to Kansas City in 2019, but about 85% of impacted employees quit their jobs or retired, rather than relocate."
Read MoreUSDA is here to help you prepare for and recover from hurricanes and related tropical weather activity. The 2026 hurricane season begins on June 1, and USDA is asking producers to prepare their operations for potential impacts and explore recovery resources.
Read MoreA Secretarial disaster designation was issued for Louisiana due to drought, making farm operators in primary and contiguous parishes across Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi eligible for Farm Service Agency emergency loan assistance.
The drought, classified as a Fast-Track disaster, began on April 14. Farmers have until Jan. 4, 2027, to apply for these emergency loans.
Read MoreThis Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.
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