Fifteen farm and ranch women leaders graduated from the fall session of Women’s Communications Boot Camp hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The agricultural leaders completed an intensive four-day course that featured hands-on sessions focused on public speaking, working with the media and messaging. Program graduates will use their training to strategically support Farm Bureau’s priority issues.
Read MoreDave Ruppenicker has held three jobs since beginning his career in 1980 at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. In all of his roles, Ruppenicker has maintained the same mission: being an advocate for farmers.
Ruppenicker will retire as CEO of Southern Cotton Growers on December 31, after more than 23 years of service to the largest cotton farmer association in the country.
Read MoreThe average farmer age in the United States is around age 60, a concerning statistic for an agriculture-driven country and community in Central Louisiana. That is why the Vernon Parish Cattlemen’s Association (VPCA) is recruiting the next generation of farmers by hosting its Youth Farm Day at the Porter and Son’s Ranch in Leesville.
Those students learned about farm safety, animal health, beef quality assurance, agriculture careers and farm programs from the LSU Ag Center, McNeese State University, Louisiana Wildlife and Forestry and the Louisiana Farm Bureau.
Read MoreLouisiana Farm Bureau President Jim Harper sent letters to Congressman Clay Higgins and Senator Bill Cassidy to thank the two lawmakers for filing companion bills to help farmers and fishermen.
The Prioritizing Offensive Agriculture Disputes and Enforcement Act would identify trade barriers to U.S. agricultural exports and develop strategies to enforce violations of trade agreements, according to a press release.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction is now accepting nominations for its annual induction ceremony, which will be held March 7 in Baton Rouge.
The nomination form can be obtained online at www.louisianaagriculturehallofdistinction.com or through any parish LSU AgCenter office. The deadline for receiving nominations is Nov. 17.
Read MoreCongresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05) announced the introduction of H.R. 5691, the Drought Assistance Improvement Act. This bill will amend the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and improve the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).
As it currently stands, the Livestock Forage Disaster Program requires cattle producers to be at a level of Severe Drought (D2) for eight consecutive weeks to qualify for one month of disaster relief.
Read MoreIn 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 MoreOliver 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 MoreIn 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 MoreWith 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 MoreRoughly 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 MoreUSA 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 MoreEmma 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 MoreRobert 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 MoreRobert 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.
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