Louisiana Ag Commissioner Outlines Path to Federal Aid for Flood-damaged Farms
Louisiana's agriculture commissioner met with flood-affected farmers in Opelousas on Monday, urging them to meticulously document their losses as crop damage from catastrophic flooding in Avoyelles and St. Landry parishes climbs into the millions of dollars.
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain traveled to Opelousas to outline the steps farmers must take to access state and federal assistance following flooding that inundated miles of farm fields and forced livestock to seek higher ground about a week and a half ago.
Read More
Sugarcane Considerations Following a Flood
A mid-June tropical disturbance (remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur), combined with a stalled frontal system, produced record-breaking rainfall and significant flooding across south-central Louisiana. The highest rainfall totals were recorded in Avoyelles, St. Landry, and northwestern Pointe Coupee parishes.
Sugarcane is a key component of the diverse cropping systems in these affected areas.
Read More
Innovations, Updates, and Awards Abound at Rice Field Days in Louisiana
Field days abounded earlier this week throughout rice country in southern Louisiana.
Kicking off the week was the RiceTec field day held in Iota on Tuesday, where attendees heard crop updates, developments to reduce pubescent hairs on rice panicles, as well as recommendations on herbicide applications.
Read More
At Rice Field Day, AgCenter Debuts Two Promising New Varieties
New varieties are one of the best ways farmers can stay ahead of the many challenges that come with growing rice. Next year, they’ll be able to plant two fresh releases from the LSU AgCenter that address key disease and grain quality issues.
Read More
Soybean Response To Flooding And Management Considerations
Recent heavy rainfall across Louisiana has resulted in flooding and saturated soil conditions in many soybean fields. The extent of damage from flooding depends on several interacting factors, including the soybean growth stage, duration of flooding, temperature, and overall environmental conditions.
Read More
Louisiana Crops Newsletter--Volume 16, Issue 4 - June 2026
One of the most common observations during the early growing season is uneven crop growth within the same field. While some areas emerge quickly and develop vigorous canopies, others appear delayed or less uniform. These differences can be frustrating for producers, especially when planting conditions seemed favorable and management practices were applied uniformly across the field.
Read More
Market Update for Corn, Soybeans, Rice, and Cotton: June 2026
The 2026/27 U.S. corn outlook remains virtually unchanged relative to last month. June’s WASDE report calls for fractionally higher beginning and ending stocks for 2026/27, reflective of mostly offsetting trade and domestic use changes for 2025/26 with adjustments to imports, corn used for ethanol, and exports based on data to date. The 2026/27 season-average farm price received by producers is unchanged at $4.40 per bushel.
Read More
“Dr. Joe” Willis, First Louisianan Ever to Win National Garden Club’s Top Award
LSU AgCenter horticulturist Joe Willis, also known as “Dr. Joe,” loves helping people grow plants. And the number of awards he’s won this year attests to how good he is at it.
Willis most recently won the National Garden Club’s Award of Excellence, their highest honor, in May, at the annual convention in St. Louis, Missouri.
Read More
LSU AgCenter Opens Application Process For Its Leadership Class
The LSU AgCenter Agricultural Leadership Development Program is now accepting applications for Class XX, which is scheduled to begin in January 2027 with a completion date of February 2029.
“Developing leaders is one of the most important things we can do to move agriculture forward, especially as we navigate finance, policy and regulatory challenges,” said Matt Lee, senior vice chancellor and dean of the College of Agriculture.
Read More
LDWF Hosts ATV/UTV Safety Task Force Kickoff Event
The Louisiana ATV/UTV Safety Task Force held their statewide kickoff event at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) headquarters building in Baton Rouge on June 10. The ATV/UTV Safety Task Force will highlight the growing need for youth ATV/UTV safety education and injury prevention efforts across the state.
Read More
Parasitic Screwworm Fears are Mounting. Here’s What Experts Say About the Threat to Northwest Louisiana.
The 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 More
3 Front Battle: The Stem Borer, Rice Weevil & Less Effective Treatments
For nearly a decade, LSU AgCenter entomologist Blake Wilson has been facing an uphill battle over stem borer and rice weevil infestation in rice crops, particularly the most popular variety in the state, PVL03. For the last three years, a formerly effective insecticide has become decidedly less so in controlling the pest.
Read More
Cotton Jassid Factsheet
The cotton jassid or two-spot cotton leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula, is an invasive leafhopper species threatening Louisiana. First detected in 2023, it was reported in Florida during 2025 and spread across multiple southeastern states later the same year
Read More
LSU College Of Ag Student Receives NSF Grant
LSU student Keana Howard, who will begin as a master’s student at the College of Agriculture this fall, was awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship on May 1. The award is given to undergraduate or graduate university students that demonstrate notable achievements in their research and complete a comprehensive application process.
Read More
Sweetening The Pot: Finding New Culinary Uses For A Vital State Crop
“Would you like regular or sweet potato fries with that?” is an oft-asked question to diners across America. And for those looking for a higher-fiber, nutrient-dense option to accompany their main course, the latter is often the way to go — especially if they are baked rather than fried.
Read More
