Cultivating Mental Health: A Farmer's Journey
In the sweltering heat and amidst challenging drought conditions, the rice crops in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, continue to persevere. Yet, the same tenacity can be seen in the farmers themselves, who grapple not only with the unforgiving forces of nature but also with mounting stress and mental health challenges. As rice farmer Allen McLain Jr. reflects, "It's probably one of the biggest mind games because you're spending all of this money... it's a mind game. And it's a life full of stress."
Read More
Remembering Bryan Mitchell
Oliver Bryan Mitchell died Thursday, September 21, 2023, at The Carpenter House of St. Joseph Hospice in Shreveport, LA. He was born January 29, 1931, in Haughton, LA, the son of Robert E. Mitchell, Sr., and Minnie Irene Bryan Mitchell.
Bryan served on the Board of Bremco and Board of Swepco, The Life Board of Southern Farm Bureau, President of Bossier Parish Farm Bureau and Vice President of Louisiana Farm Bureau.
Read More
Learn How to Stay Safe Around the Deceptive Dangers of Grain Bins
In the countryside, where sprawling fields in the breeze, and grain bins stand on the horizon, farming is a way of life. It's a life that brings with it a unique set of challenges and risks. One of the most underestimated and perilous aspects of farming is the grain bin—those seemingly innocuous metal tubes that dot the rural landscape. However, these towering structures hold hidden dangers that can swiftly turn a routine task into a life-threatening situation.
Read More
Louisiana Soybean Harvest -- A Tale of Two Extremes
With nearly 50 percent of soybean harvest complete, many farmers are hoping for a good crop this year to help cover their losses from last year.
This harvest season, farmers faced hot and dry weather, while last year’s story was the other extreme with heavy rainfall. Roy Eley, a Franklin Parish grain farmer is among those who really needed a better crop this year.
Read More
Louisiana Wildfires Ravage 60,000 Acres
Roughly 60,000 acres have been burned by wildfires across Louisiana according to state officials, amid an unprecedented drought.
Sabine Parish has been one of the areas affected by numerous fires. Waylon Salters had good pasture conditions on his ranch near Florien, before fires nearly burned his barn and his house down.
Read More
USA Rice Attends Legislative Conference Hosted By Louisiana Farm Bureau
USA Rice attended the Farm Bureau Southern Region Legislative Conference hosted by the Louisiana Farm Bureau here this week. The annual conference brings together 13 states and agricultural groups to discuss current issues facing the agriculture sector and reports on legislative activities from each state, and how they can continue to advocate and advance policies to benefit producers across all sectors of agriculture on the local and national level.
Read More
Vermilion Parish Youth Compete in La. Farm Bureau Contests
Emma Nicole Stelly represented Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau in the La. Farm Bureau Queen’s Contest at the 101st Annual Convention at the New Orleans Marriott June 22-25, 2023. Twenty-five young women representing their respective parish Farm Bureaus participated in the event.
Read More
Boyce Family Earns ‘Young Farmers and Ranchers’ Award
Robert and Rachel Duncan received the Young Farmer and Ranchers Achievement Award at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention in June.
Their land has been home to the Duncans for over 70 years. Now, after many attempts to win the award, the Duncans can relieve that weight off of their shoulders.
Read More
Meet Louisiana’s Top Young Farming Couple Harvesting Sunflowers, Soybeans and Steaks
Robert and Rachel Duncan are bringing their Rapides Parish bounty from farm to table - from a juicy ribeye steak to a vase of sunflowers or zinnias.
And that's in addition to tending to three daughters ages 4, 2 and 1 and 500 acres of soybeans on their fourth-generation Boyce farm in Rapides Parish.
Read More
Daughter of Slain Lafourche Deputy Crowned Louisiana Farm Bureau Queen Felt His Presence
Gracie Pepper said she felt her father's presence on stage with her when she was crowned Louisiana Farm Bureau queen less than three months after Lafourche Parish Det. Sgt. Nicholas Pepper was killed in the line of duty.
"My mom (Christie) said, 'Your daddy's on this stage working overtime,'" said Pepper, her voice cracking again recalling Saturday's pageant as part of the annual Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention in New Orleans. "We cried together."
Read More
Gubernatorial Candidates Speak to Farmers
Before the evening talent contest Friday at the Louisiana Farm Bureau convention in New Orleans, six gubernatorial candidates took the stage and told a room full of farmers what they most wanted to hear: They promised to invest in Louisiana and support agriculture including preserving the state’s tax subsidies for farming.
Read More
Gubernatorial Candidates Agree on Farm Issues But Differences Emerge on Sales Tax renewal
Six candidates for governor at a Louisiana Farm Bureau forum Friday promised to keep tax subsidies that benefit the agricultural industry, but two of the hopefuls diverged from the other four on another key tax issue: whether to renew the .45-cent sales tax that is scheduled to expire in two years.
Read More
101st Louisiana Farm Bureau Annual Convention Underway
The 101st Louisiana Farm Bureau Annual Convention is now underway at the New Orleans Marriott on Canal Street. More than 1,500 farmers, ranchers and their families are expected to attend the event.
The main purpose of the annual convention is to develop policy for the coming year.
Read More
Vermilion Parish Sixth Grade Teacher to Receive Ag in the Classroom Award at Farm Bureau Convention
Sixth grade science and social studies teacher Hannah Hebert has been named the 2023 Louisiana Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year.
Hebert, who teaches at Rene A. Rost Middle School, was recognized for her innovative teaching methods that use agriculture to teach core subjects. She has a passion for agriculture and believes that it is important for students to understand where their food comes from and how it is grown.
Read More
Sen. John Kennedy, Seven Candidates for La. Governor to Speak at 101st Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention
State and national politics will take center stage for the 101st Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention. U.S. Senator John Kennedy will address the state’s largest general farm organization, and all seven announced candidates vying to become Louisiana’s next governor will be at the convention.
Read More
