U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the cancellation of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC). Following a thorough line by line review of each of these Biden era partnerships, it became clear that the majority of these projects had sky-high administration fees which in many instances provided less than half of the federal funding directly to farmers.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Louisiana, there were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, April 13, 2025. Topsoil moisture supplies were 0 percent very short, 13 percent short, 67 percent adequate, and 20 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were 1 percent very short, 5 percent short, 77 percent adequate, and 17 percent surplus.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching agricultural trade promotion programs for FY 2026 and accepting applications for four export market development programs. USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service has opened funding opportunities for the Market Access Program (MAP), Foreign Market Development Program (FMD), Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops Program (TASC), and Emerging Markets Program (EMP) that will help U.S. agricultural producers promote and sell their goods internationally.

Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Acting State Conservationist for Louisiana, Kelli McClelland, has announced that a contract renewal sign-up is under way for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Customers with active CSP contracts set to expire on December 31, 2025, may be able to renew their contract for an additional 5-year period during the final year of the current contract. Applicants interested in CSP renewal must submit their applications to their local NRCS field office by June 20, 2025. 

Physical loss loans through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses. Examples of property commonly affected include essential farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit and nut bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay.

With everything you have on your “to do” list, it can be easy to forget about signing up for USDA programs. FSA’s Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) are two key safety net programs created to protect farmers from significant losses due to fluctuations in crop price or revenue. Don’t delay!

This report contains the results from the Crop Progress and Condition weekly survey.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the agency can’t yet quantify how farmers will be impacted by President Donald Trump’s latest tariffs. According to her, the full impact may not be known until late summer or even early fall, well after planting season.

Farming is risky, ARC and PLC can help! You may be eligible for the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs, which provide vital income support to farmers who experience substantial declines in crop price or revenue.