Water buffalo are not typical farm animals in West Feliciana Parish. But then Sarah Roland's farm isn't exactly typical.

On 52 acres near Lake Rosemound, three years have gone into Roland’s dream, Bayou Sarah Farms.

It's where fruit trees and wildflowers support the bees that produce Roland’s honey. Where free range chickens dine on natural protein and fertilize the pasture as they go. Where nitrogen-storing goumi plants help feed adjacent blueberry bushes.

Elevated commodity prices supported farm income and kept the U.S. agricultural economy strong into this autumn, said the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank on Wednesday. “Prices of most major crops were at multiyear highs moving into fall harvest and supported farm revenue prospects,” wrote economists Nathan Kauffman and Ty Kreitman.

Pork, much like everything else these days, has gotten more expensive due in part to the supply chain issues and inflationary pressures spurred by the pandemic.

And now comes another wildcard: The pork industry's ability — and desire — to adapt to a new animal welfare law in California, its largest U.S. market.

The voter-approved measure taking effect on Jan. 1 requires pork products sold within the state to adhere to standards that mother pigs are given at least 24 square feet of space each and kept out of gestation crates — 7-by-2-foot stalls where their movements are severely restricted.