A number of my columns since my election as Louisiana Farm Bureau President have revolved around farm programs through USDA. I also often try and implore our farm leaders to get involved. Now I would like to share with you how you can combine the two. USDA-FSA is currently accepting applications for County Committees. Nomination forms for the 2021 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 2, 2021.
Read MoreThe voting delegates of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation elected Jim Harper, a rice, crawfish, sugarcane and soybean farmer in Rapides Parish, to a second term as president of the state’s largest general farm organization.
Read MoreMatt Dennis doesn't mind following in previous generations' footsteps, or turn rows, on his family farm in East Carroll Parish, even though they're big shoes to fill.
His father and grandfather were both once recognized as top young farmers in the state.
And now Matt Dennis has been recognized as Louisiana's top young farmer of 2021.
Read MoreWith 7,500 acres of sprawling farmland in East Carroll Parish, Matt Dennis has a lot on his plate.
This year, he’s got something new on the farm—the 2021 Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award. The award was presented during the Louisiana Farm Bureau Annual Convention, held partly in person and online for the second year in a row.
The month of June is a busy time on the farm for many of us, but for Farm Bureau members, it means the anticipation of another year gathering with friends from across the state on Canal Street in New Orleans for the Louisiana Farm Bureau Annual Convention.
Read MoreAvery Claire Hebert, 20, of Vermilion Parish, was crowned the 2021 Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Queen on Saturday afternoon during an unconventional LFBF Queen’s Coronation Ceremony.
While the crowd was small and limited due to COVID-19 precautions, Hebert’s beaming smile filled the room as 2019 Louisiana Farm Bureau Queen, Victoria Roussel placed the crown upon her head.
Read MoreTwo pieces of legislation that could slow solar development in Louisiana moved forward at the State Capitol Wednesday. A House resolution and Senate bill both advanced out of committees without opposition.
Read MoreFormer Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer dead at 77
Buddy Roemer, a Harvard-educated reform-minded politician whose one tumultuous term as Louisana’s governor was marked by bruising political battles over taxes, budgets and abortion, died Monday at age 77, the Associated Press is reporting.
His son, Chas Roemer, said the former governor died peacefully at his home in Baton Rouge after a long battle with diabetes. He was surrounded by family, Chas Roemer said.
Read MoreIn 2020, Louisiana sugarcane growers produced more than two million tons of sugar, a new record for any year, but especially amazing during a pandemic. In April of this year, the LSU AgCenter released two new sugarcane varieties, 885 and 267. Both of these facts received little fanfare, but they are both important and connected.
Read MorePlanting season for area crops has been “hit and miss” due to uncooperative weather, said Carol Pinnell-Alison, LSU County Extension agent.
With corn planting season complete, farmers are busy fertilizing and performing weed control between rain showers on the crop.
Area farmers planted some 98,000 acres of corn last season, up from the previous year’s total of 72,000, according to Farm Service Agency (FSA) certified acreage numbers.
Read MoreMark your calendars for the 2nd Annual “Party at the Red Barn”, presented by the Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau YF&R Committee to be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021 benefiting the Vermilion Parish Dwayne Zaunbrecher Scholarship, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Foundation Linda and Wayne Zaunbrecher Scholarship, Louisiana Ag In the Classroom Foundation and the Vermilion Parish YF&R Committee. Louisiana Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom and scholarship programs are the most vital agricultural resources available to our youth.
Read MoreIt seems like every few days I hear of someone still picking up the pieces from last year’s record hurricane events, or, more frequently, rebuilding structures lost in the more recent winter storms.
Meanwhile, Louisiana Farm Bureau is continuing to look to federal programming as a potential safety net for our farmers and ranchers in times like these. I am afraid that net is proving to have some holes in it, unfortunately.
Read MoreLaunched last March to assure consumers that farmers and ranchers take very seriously their commitment to fill grocery store shelves with safe, affordable food, #StillFarming has reached more than 100 million people in all 50 states and more than 90 countries.
Whether they were prepping the soil for spring planting, tending to newly sprouted crops, harvesting those crops at just the right time, feeding and milking their dairy cows or looking after their cattle, chickens and pigs, farmers and ranchers carried on, day-in and day-out, while much of the world came to a standstill.
Read MorePatients who've been through the difficult experience of fighting COVID-19 have various accounts of the symptoms and struggles they've faced.
While some say they felt as though they had a bad case of the flu, others faced extensive hospital stays marked by a series of life-threatening health complications.
Ronnie Anderson, the former head of the Louisiana Farm Bureau and member of the LSU Board of Supervisors, was one such patient who WBRZ followed last year.
Read MoreAll graders working at grain elevators in Louisiana will be tested and certified for the 2021 harvest season following an announcement from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF).
Those graders will be trained, tested and certified by LDAF to uphold the standards set through the U.S. Grain Standards Act. The goal is to provide consistent and professional grain inspection and weighing services for producers, handlers processors, exporters, importers and end-users.
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