Flood damage after Tropical Storm Arthur in Avoyelles and St. Landry parishes in Louisiana, as well as counties across the state line in Mississippi, left many farmers questioning how to carry on in a growing season that sorely needed success.
In Louisiana, more than 29 inches of rain fell in 24 hours, breaking a state record set in 1962. Both Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared states of emergency.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available $35 million for partnerships to respond to the threat feral swine pose to American agriculture, landscapes and human and livestock health. This partnership opportunity is part of a broader $105 million investment for the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program, where USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are working together to target feral swine.
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The Ike Hamilton Expo Center is preparing to host the 42nd annual Junior Beefmaster Breeders Show this week, bringing youth cattle exhibitors from multiple states to West Monroe.
Roughly 200 competitors from Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas will present their animals Wednesday and Thursday for evaluation by a panel of judges. Organizers say the event helps develop the next generation of agricultural leaders by emphasizing responsibility and sound breeding practices.
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It has been a challenging time for farmers. First tariffs, and more recently, restrictions on ships in the Strait of Hormuz carrying fertilizer or the elements and compounds in it, have increased the cost of bringing crops to harvest.
LSU Ag Center’s Dr. Peters Egbedi said farmers have dealt with the increases in different ways. Some, anticipating price hikes, purchased extra fertilizer early.
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Dr. Maxwell Amos Lea Jr., 79, "Mack," a resident of Zachary, LA, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 13, 2026.
Mack was an active member of the Louisiana Cattleman’s Association, Zachary Rotary Club, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and enjoyed volunteering weekly at the Zachary Food Pantry.
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With optimism for the cattle business remaining strong, nearly 700 cattle producers from across the country gathered in Aurora, Colorado, this week for the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting. This event helps shape the future of the industry through grassroots policy development and discussions that will guide research, education and promotion efforts.
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If you've noticed higher prices for ground beef at the grocery store, you're not alone. Consumers across the country are paying more at the meat counter due to shrinking cattle supplies and ongoing industry concerns continue to drive up costs.
KTBS Chief Meteorologist Patrick Dennis recently visited Smith Family Farms in Bossier City to learn more about the factors affecting the beef market.
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Floodwaters that swept through Avoyelles and St. Landry parishes devastated hay fields, leaving farmers to contend with rotting crops, mounting disposal costs, and a hay shortage that could strain cattle producers across the region.
The rain fell hardest in Avoyelles Parish, but as water moved south, farmers in northern St. Landry Parish watched fields, roads, and yards change by the day.
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Symbiotic relationships come in many harmless forms throughout nature: clownfish and anemones, whales and barnacles, and bees and flowers to name a few. Two LSU AgCenter scientists are studying how to use symbiosis to potentially control a dangerous pest that is anything but harmless — the New World screwworm.
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Happy 250th Birthday America! I hope y’all had a safe, happy and enlightening 4th of July! Our country is amazing, despite what the news media says. Just ask the soccer fans and players from other countries who are here for the World Cup what they think. We get a chance to look back at our history and see how far we have come as a nation.
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The State Fair of Louisiana will celebrate its 120th annual event from Oct. 29 through Nov. 15 at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport.
The 14-day fair will close on Mondays and Tuesdays. Daily hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Lab-grown meat, also known as cultivated or cell-cultured meat, has officially received federal approval in the United States. While that may sound like a major shift in the food industry, it doesn’t necessarily mean Louisiana consumers will soon find it in their local grocery stores.
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Flooding on a Cottonport farm forced cattle to higher ground and left crawfish ponds underwater after days of rain and rising water.
With parts of his property flooded, James Bernard, owner of J. Bernard Seafood Inc., said one of the biggest priorities was moving cattle to higher ground until conditions improved.
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The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation’s Livestock Advisory Committee is responding to the needs expressed by Central Louisiana ranchers following last week’s devastating floods. The Louisiana Farm Bureau Hay Clearinghouse connects ranchers who have an abundance of hay with those who lost pastures and forage to ensure their cattle, horses and other livestock can stay alive through this disaster.
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