Cultivating Change: NRCS and Producers Pave the Way for Sustainable Agriculture
On June 26th and 28th, NRCS was invited to participate in farm tours for the No-Till Organic Market Garden (OMG) NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) project. The purpose of these tours was to collect soil samples and have discussions about soil health plans with producers who are committed to sustainable agriculture. The program supports a diverse group of small-scale, urban, beginning farmer and ranchers measuring their production over a three-year period with help from the NRCS. We visited several notable farms, including: James Price, 3P Farm; Samantha Starkey, Starkey Farmstead; Sierra Torres & Becks Hilliard, Cicada Calling Farm & Market; Donna Isaacs & Waylon Breaux, DeLaTerre Permaculture Farm; and Anthony Hoff, Heart & Harvest Homestead. They have all been embracing and implementing no-till and organic practices.
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Louisiana Crop Production Report: August 12, 2024
Louisiana corn for grain production is forecast at 82.3 million bushels, down 31 percent from 2023. Based on conditions as of August 1, yield is expected to average 185 bushels per acre, up 10 bushels from last year. Planted acreage is revised to 470,000 acres, down 40,000 acres from June 2024. Harvested acreage for grain is revised from 495,000 to 445,000 acres.
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USDA Forecasts US Corn Production Down and Soybean Production Up From 2023
The Crop Production report issued by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) forecasted corn production down from 2023 and soybean production up from last year. Corn production is down 1% from last year, forecast at 15.1 billion bushels; soybean growers are expected to increase their production 10% from 2023, forecast at a record high 4.59 billion bushels.
Average corn yield is forecast at record high 183.1 bushels per acre, up 5.8 bushels from last year. NASS also forecasts record high yields in Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. As of Aug. 4, 67% of this year’s corn crop was reported in good or excellent condition, 10 percentage points above the same time last year.
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USDA Invests Nearly $4.1 Million in Risk Management Education for Farmers, Including Underserved and Organic Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is awarding nearly $4.1 million to organizations and outreach efforts to educate underserved, small-scale, and organic producers on farm risk management and climate-smart farm practices. The funding from USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) provides assistance through its Risk Management Education Partnerships for organizations, such as nonprofits and land grant universities, to develop training and resources for producers about risk management options.
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Black Farmers in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi Eligible for Technology, Financial Training from USDA
A new, free program offered by Daitaas and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency aims to increase productivity and profitability for underserved farmers in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.
The TEAM Tilley Leaders Program allows qualified farmers to participate in a learn-by-doing program that combines financial and risk management education with robust proprietary technology using the farmers’ own financial data to deliver real results. The program is designed to demonstrate how the decisions farmers make throughout the growing season impact their bottom line and profitability.
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Could the 2025 Louisiana Crawfish Season be More Normal? Here’s What Could Change, Why it Matters
Crawfish season in Louisiana this year was heavily impacted by the summer drought in 2023, an arctic blast and rising costs for farmers.
Anyone who wanted to buy live or boiled crawfish faced sky-high prices at retailers. Crawfish prices remained higher than usual through much of the season, selling for as much as almost $13 per pound at one point.
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USDA Updates Farm Loan Programs to Increase Financial Freedom, Resilience and Profitability for Agricultural Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announces changes to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Loan Programs, effective Sept. 25, 2024 — changes that are intended to increase opportunities for farmers and ranchers to be financially viable. These improvements, part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, demonstrate USDA’s commitment to improving farm profitability through farm loans designed to provide important financing options used by producers to cover operating expenses and purchase land and equipment.
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USDA Invests $22 Million in 29 Projects to Expand Conservation for Livestock Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $22 million for 29 selected projects in 36 states that expand access to conservation technical assistance for livestock producers and increases the use of conservation practices on grazing lands. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is funding the cooperative agreements through its Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI), which empowers partners to increase availability of grazing land technical assistance for livestock producers, including historically underserved producers, as well as Native American tribal governments.
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Louisiana Agricultural Workforce Development Program
Learn about funding for ag-related internship programs
Through this grant, Louisiana businesses can establish internship programs that grow the next generation of agriculture professionals while strengthening their own businesses.
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Honey Bee Colonies Across Louisiana: August 2024
This report contains the results from the Quarterly Colony Loss surveys.Honey bee colonies for operations with five or more colonies in the Delta Region on January 1, 2024 totaled 88,000 colonies. This is up 11 percent from 79,000 colonies on January 1, 2023. On April 1, 2024, honey bee operations in the Delta Region totaled 104,500 colonies. During 2023, honey bee colonies for the Delta Region on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 were 79,000 colonies, 131,000 colonies, 92,500 colonies, and 101,000 colonies, respectively.
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USDA Discrimination Financial Assistance Program
Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP) decisions and awards have now been made. If you applied and haven’t received an award or denial by August 6, 2024, please call the DFAP call center at 1-800-721-0970.
Deputy USDA Secretary Xochitl Torres Small told the Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network some 77-million dollars will be distributed to just over eleven hundred farmers and ranchers in Louisiana who applied for the program.
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NASS To Review Acreage Data
In preparation for the August Crop Production report, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will review all available data, including survey data and the latest information from USDA’s Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency, for planted and harvested acreage for barley, corn, cotton, dry edible beans, oats, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans, sugarbeets, Durum wheat, other spring wheat, and winter wheat.
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USDA Announces August 2024 Lending Rates For Agricultural Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for August 2024, which are effective Aug. 1, 2024. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
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Hurricane Preparation and Recovery Guides for Louisiana Producers
Louisiana agriculture generates approximately $3 billion in sales each year, but in most years agricultural productivity is negatively affected by hurricane damage. Louisianans are familiar with the devastation and loss of life and property that can accompany a hurricane event as the state experiences, on average, one hurricane every three years. The total economic losses from a single hurricane can reach tens of billions of dollars, while agricultural losses can exceed one billion dollars. Louisiana is a major agricultural producer for the United States, but the structures, livestock, and crops are highly exposed to extreme wind and flooding during hurricane events.
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Farm Expenditures Top $480 Billion in 2023
The USDA estimates 2023 farm production expenditures in the U.S. at $481.9 billion, up from $452.5 billion the previous year. The four largest expenditures totaled $238.7 billion and accounted for 49.6 percent of total expenditures in 2023.
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