Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued a disaster declaration Wednesday for the state's crawfish industry after last year's severe drought devastated this year's harvest, which should be at its peak during Lent and Easter.
""It's the worst season in my history, and I've been farming crawfish for 30 years," Acadiana farmer Richard Fontenot said in interview with USA Today Network. "We're 80% behind where we usually are."
Read MoreEye injuries on the farm or ranch can translate into pain and related eye diseases along with loss of time, money, and possibly one’s eyesight. That is why, during Agricultural Safety Awareness Week (March 4-8), Louisiana Farm Bureau reminds everyone to consider eye safety recommendations with fresh eyes.
Read MoreA medical doctor and former U.S. congressman, a crop consultant with a weed science background and a longtime Southern University administrator are the latest inductees into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction. The induction will take place at the L’Auberge Hotel in Baton Rouge March 7.
Read MoreIn partnership with The Mississippi Farm Bureau, The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is holding a grain bin safety and training workshop here at Cannatella Outdoors Farms.
This comes just two weeks after first responders recovered the body of a man who fell into a grain bin and died. Vincent Cannatella, owner of Cannatella Outdoors Farms says he’s farmed his entire life and accidents involving grain bins and silos can happen to the most experienced worker.
Read MoreLouisiana Farm Bureau President Jim Harper announced he will not seek reelection to the position he’s held since June 2020.
“It is an honor to serve as president,” Harper said. “I am proud of the accomplishments Louisiana Farm Bureau has made in its 102-year history and that I was the organization’s leader for its centennial. This is not a decision I make lightly, but family comes first and that is where I must focus my energy in the future.”
Read MoreAnyone who’s been on the hunt for boiled crawfish this year knows that it’s been harder than in the past. The lengthy drought of 2023 has led to diminished production and smaller crawfish. Combined with increasing operational, labor and transportation costs, it’s a tough time for farmers in the industry. And, it’s not just crawfish. Experts predict that the lingering drought effects will hamper production of other key Louisiana crops like rice, soybeans and more.
In situations like this, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation (LFBF) stands ready to support farmers and advocate to lawmakers on the local, state and federal levels on their behalf.
Read MoreThis is going to be a year of surviving for Brant Lamm and his family. He and his brother are farmers and together they manage 3000 acres of land, with 1500 of those acres dedicated to crawfish. While that may sound like a lot, they, along with other Louisiana crawfish farmers, are struggling to make ends meet.
“We spent several hundred dollars an acre flushing and fertilizing all summer long and it seems like it was all for nothing at this point,” said Lamm.
Read MoreAccording to the USDA, Louisiana lost two-thousand farms between 2017 and 2022, but the amount of land used to farm has stayed about the same. Neil Melancon with the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation says smaller farms are finding it impossible to remain economically viable, so we are just seeing bigger farms.
Read MoreThe Georgia Peanut Commission, Texas Peanut Producers Board, South Carolina Peanut Board and the Louisiana Farm Bureau are seeking eligible peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board.
Nomination election meetings will be held to select two nominees each for member and alternate from each state to serve on the National Peanut Board. All eligible producers are encouraged to participate. Eligible producers are those who are engaged in the production and sale of peanuts and who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Farm Bureau has announced it is seeking eligible Louisiana peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board. The Louisiana Farm Bureau will hold a nominations election held jointly with New Mexico to select nominees for the National Peanut Board during a meeting to be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the LSU Ag Center - Morehouse County Agents Office located at 9609 Marlatt Street in Bastrop, La.
Read MoreA lobbyist is a professional like a plumber, or a lawyer, but lobbyists provide specialized services in regard to the legislature, politics, and government. Now, politics is not everybody’s cup of tea, but that’s the whole point. You wouldn’t want to represent yourself in court, or fix your own leaky pipes, and you definitely don’t want to try and take care of your industry or profession’s politics down at the State Capitol all by yourself.
Read MoreLouisiana's ongoing exceptional drought is making the Bayou state's staple of boiled crawfish unaffordable for many.
Louisiana is amid its worst drought since 2000, with more than 70% of the Bayou State in exceptional drought, the worst rating on the 5-level U.S. Drought Monitor scale. Many of the crawfish farmers' crops from last spring didn't survive without rain.
Read MoreAwards recognizing excellence in implementation of outstanding member programs and membership achievement in 2023 were presented at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 105th Convention.
Read MoreMore than 65 Louisiana Farm Bureau Members and their families are traveling to the 105th American Farm Bureau Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s at the convention where voting delegates from all 50 states and Puerto Rico set policy positions for the nation’s largest general farm organization.
Read MoreCash prizes and bragging rights are up for grabs during the inaugural Louisiana Ag Week taking place March 18 through 22.
The Louisiana Ag in the Classroom program will be hosting a coloring contest, art contest and a video contest for students in all grades during Ag Week.
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