The Louisiana Forage Conference will be held Friday, Dec. 13, near Alexandria. This conference is sponsored by the Louisiana Forage and Grassland Council and the Louisiana Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative.
The meeting site will be the State Evacuation Shelter near the LSU Alexandria campus on U.S. Highway 71.
Read MoreThe past couple months have been dry in Louisiana, with the exception of a couple pockets and a quick tropical system that rolled through the state. Drought conditions are affecting farmers and ranchers across the state, but the tool used by USDA in determining financial assistance may not be keeping up with conditions on the ground. Avery Davidson sits down with Louisiana State Climatologist, Jay Grymes, and Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, Mike Strain, to discuss how you can help paint the picture of Louisiana's drought.
Read MoreOne of the biggest days of the year for local students is almost here. It's when the best of the best compete in the ArkLaTex Agricultural Council's Jr. Livestock Sale at the State Fair of Louisiana.
It's set for Nov. 6 in the fairgrounds Sale Arena. Students from across the state have put in blood, sweat, and tears for months getting their show animals ready for auction. Prospective buyers will be on hand ready to offer up the highest bids.
Read MoreA farmer in Sunset, Louisiana has designed and constructed a solar-powered and self-driving chicken coop.
KLFY News 10 recently featured this amazing design on a newscast, and now the chicken coop from Guidry Organic Farms LLC has caught the attention of so many.
Read MoreIt looks like Louisiana may be done with tropical threats for 2024 but there is another weather concern underway across much of the state: drought.
To be clear, conditions are not as severe and the dry pattern has not lasted nearly as long as the wildfire-enhancing drought of 2023. But given last year’s situation, farmers, foresters and ranchers are having flashbacks.
Read MoreWith beef prices continuing to soar, many Louisiana shoppers are asking if they’re paying more than they should.
Whether it’s stocking up for football tailgates, Sunday BBQs, or planning for holiday meals, families across the state are feeling the pinch at the checkout.
Read MoreThe McNeese State University rodeo men’s team is in second place in the Southern Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association after two rodeos.
The men’s team took first place at the Panola College rodeo in Tatum, Texas, where Kash Krogman placed first in bull riding.
Read MoreRyegrass is a winter annual that comes up from seed each year.
Two Midsouth Extension weed scientists say a fall residual herbicide application is the best way to get ahead of ryegrass.
For fall herbicide applications, farmers should read the label and be aware of any plant-back intervals.
Read MoreLouisiana experienced extremely dry summer and fall seasons in 2023. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, the worst drought continued from June to late September in the southern U.S., including Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. This has put a strain on quality forage production
Read MoreSometimes an opportunity presents itself that is too good to pass up. In Tara and Josh Morris’ case, it was a series of several opportunities strung together that made their dreams of grazing cattle in southern Louisiana a reality.
Tara and Josh both got their feet wet in agriculture by working on research farms in college before they rented their first piece of land in 2016. They leased the then conventionally farmed field from a friend under the condition that they fix the fence.
Read MoreHurricane Helene caused record destruction and deaths from Florida, Georgia, The Carolinas and into Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and beyond. My prayers go out to the families, loved ones and friends who died and those who lost homes and businesses. This tragic event was followed by the longshore union strike. We as a nation have got to come together and assist those in need.
Read MoreIn recent years, drought has been common in many Southern states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The U.S. Drought Monitor reported that approximately 65% of this area was experiencing some level of drought as of October 1, 2024 (Fig. 1). Producers are increasingly adopting the USDA’s Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Insurance (PRF), recognizing its crucial role in supporting ranchers during these challenging times.
Read MoreCow-calf operations are the heart of Louisiana’s livestock industry. Cattle in this sector spend much of their lives grazing perennial and annual pastures, so high-quality forage is important.
Summer 2023 was one of the hottest and driest in recent memory. The drought took a major toll on crop production, and everyone from sugarcane farmers to cattle ranchers felt the effects.
Read MoreSylvia “Tweety” Trahan has been named the 2024 Cattlewoman of the Year.
Trahan’s honor comes as part of the 74th Annual Louisiana Cattle Festival, which will begin on Friday in Abbeville.
Tweety, as she is known by family and friends, has been a member of the Vermilion Cattlewomen's and Louisiana Cattlewomen’s Associations for 30 years. She has been a member of the American National Cattlewomen's Association for 25 years.
Read MoreThere’s this tiny town in the Cajun country of Calcasieu Parish called Iowa. That’s Iowa, Louisiana—population 3,121, and Iowa’s pronounced with a “hard A” on the end. But this quaint little community is only that big and booming when all the rodeo rigs pull back into their hometown driveways on Denison Road, down in “the country part of Iowa that’s north of I-10” that they call LeBleu Settlement. Imagine the block-party barbecues being planned there this week, as two native sons and a daughter just crossed the National Finals finish line ranked among the Top 15 in the world and are headed to Vegas.
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