A friend called me today and asked me to explain constitutional amendment number one being voted on at Louisiana’s polls on November 5th. She also wanted to know if I thought it was OK for her to vote for the amendment. I couldn’t get back with her right away, so she sent me this text:
“I guess my big question is. Will I have to pay any more money 💰. Big girl is tapped out!”
Read MoreDry conditions continue in many parts of Louisiana, as evidenced by the current U.S. Drought Monitor. There are eight parishes in the state where at least a portion is classified in a D2 severe drought. Better data allows state and national official to better assess conditions on the ground. That’s where you can help.
Read MoreThe official rumors have been confirmed. It appears Louisiana will enter into a 4th legislative session in 2024 down at the Capitol in Baton Rouge come November. The session should occur sometime after the November 5th election and before Thanksgiving. It will be a special legislative session that will address only matters related to taxation and revenue reform. Legislators say the support does exist to hold a third legislative session in 2024, but some say that they're not sure if a consensus can be reached in the short amount of time allowed by a special session.
Read MoreLouisiana farms are facing another year of losses in 2024, according to the LSU AgCenter. Those losses would continue in 2025 if Congress does not pass a new Farm Bill this year.
Ag Economist Michael Deliberto, Ph.D. calculated with current commodity prices, production costs and price supports, a 1,500-acre farm would end 2024 with $306,097.50 in losses. A 2,000-acre farm would fare considerably worse with a balance sheet ending in 2024 with $564,482.50 in losses.
Read MoreMany were left without power and others were devastated by flood waters and damaging winds after Hurricane Francine made landfall earlier this month. This storm was a major setback for cattle ranchers and sugarcane farmers and left them with weeks of additional work.
Cattle ranchers Colleen Landry and her fiancé Cody Batiste operate H&M Ranch in Terrebonne Parish. Despite their pasture being flooded by Hurricane Francine, the couple had no choice but to head out to check on their cattle.
Read MoreApplications are now open for the American Farm Bureau Social Media Ambassador Program at the 2025 FUSION Conference to be held March 7-10, 2025, in Denver, Colorado! If you are seeking an opportunity to apply what you are learning through your coursework, get creative with social media and/or engage the public in a conference experience, apply today.
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter continues to be a leading resource in crawfish data. Many of you know, LSU and their data sources have been key in all funding opportunities and communications with USDA on any assistance programs we have been able to secure over the past few years. As recently as the ELAP excessive heat calculations of 2023, LSU AgCenter agents and faculty were the leading resource for information on our niche “farm raised fish.” In an effort to continually improve those figures, we are supporting their effort to update key information that is a general resource for the industry and allows their scientists and economists to provide quality anonymous information back to the industry when needed.
Read MoreRegardless of whether or not you’ve ever set foot on a farm, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act would impact you.
The Farm, Food and National Security Act is the U.S. House of Representatives’ version of the Farm Bill. It is a key piece of legislation that has the potential to affect an array of agricultural and food policies.
Read MoreIn this episode of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast, Karl Wiggers sits down with Richard Fontenot, the newly elected Louisiana Farm Bureau President and they discuss his busy first month in the new role.
Read MoreCongress hasn’t passed a new farm bill since 2018, and the ag community shouldn’t expect a new one any time soon.
“We need a farm bill, (and) we needed it done yesterday,” Andy Brown, Louisiana Farm Bureau’s commodity and public policy director, said in a recent interview.
Read MoreThe return to school for Fall 2024 marks the official implementation of action plans developed by four Louisiana school districts as part of the first cohort of the Louisiana Farm to School (F2S) Institute sponsored by Seeds to Success: The Louisiana Farm to School Program and the LSU AgCenter.
The Louisiana Farm to School Institute is a unique, year-long professional development program designed to support selected schools that are expanding and implementing effective farm to school (F2S) programs throughout their districts.
Read MoreCongressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) and Congressman Mike Flood (R-NE) introduced the bipartisan Sustainable Aviation Fuel Information Act. This bill directs the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA) to include Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on their weekly and monthly reports, consistent with other fuel types that the agency regularly tracks.
Read MoreA bipartisan group of lawmakers is introducing a bill that would require the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to provide more weekly and monthly reports on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production.
Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., and Rep. Troy Carter, D-La., introduced the bill Sustainable Aviation Fuel Information Act with four other co-sponsors. The bill would require the more SAF weekly and monthly reports consistent with other reports published by the EIA.
Read MoreThe schedule shows Congress will be in town for 13 days between now and the week after the Nov. 5 congressional and presidential elections.
Judging from the amount of work left, such as passing an annual federal government budget, most remaining legislation will be shunted aside, including the $1.25 trillion Farm Bill, the shorthand for H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024.
Read MoreA lot has changed in agriculture since Richard Fontenot began farming with his grandfather and father in Evangeline Parish. New technology like drones and data collection systems give farmers more details than ever about field performance. Recent weather extremes ranging from droughts to floods have prompted farmers to adapt accordingly. And, challenges like finding enough labor and overall rising costs mean that farmers must be creative and flexible as they work to produce the crops that feed families across the country.
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