Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year have until March 15, 2024, to revise elections and sign contracts. Both safety net programs, delivered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provide vital income support to farmers who experience substantial declines in crop prices or revenues for the 2024 crop year. In Louisiana, producers have completed 6,285 contracts to date, representing 38.5% of the more than 16,312 expected contracts.    

During a sometimes prickly House hearing on Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urged lawmakers to buckle down and write a farm bill that does not cut SNAP or climate funds. Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee said the Biden administration has overlooked the needs of the large-scale farmers who produce the bulk of U.S. crops and livestock.

Join the Louisiana Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative on Friday, February 23, for an informative workshop on composting led by Grant Estrade, a seasoned composter with over 15 years of experience. The workshop will cover various aspects, including understanding material handling challenges, delving into the science behind composting, learning how to start composting on both small and large scales, understanding the necessary equipment for compost creation and spreading, and exploring the costs and benefits of composting.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced it has a cooperative agreement with Louisiana under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and Louisiana are working together to offer over $4.6 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain. Louisiana is accepting applications for this Infrastructure Grant funding through April 15, 2024.