The warning signs for U.S. agriculture in 2026 are stacking up fast. From record-setting drought coverage to historically low snowpack and new research explaining why water supplies aren’t adding up, experts say the challenges facing farmers and ranchers this year aren’t just seasonal. They’re structural, compounding, and increasingly difficult to predict.
Read MoreDuring the first week of April 2026, Louisiana saw a return of rain after a dry stretch, with showers and storms bringing some much-needed moisture—especially in northwestern and southeastern parts of the state. However, rainfall was still below normal in many areas and only led to minor drought improvement.
Read MoreThe Secreary of Agricuture has designated 25 Parishes here in Louisiana as Natural Disaster Areas due to the recent drought.
Read MoreThere’s hope on the horizon! It starts this weekend, and it’s possible that we could see a decent rain late next week into next weekend. I don’t like to get too specific, or excited about stuff that 8-10 days out, but it’s better to see solid hints for rain than nothing at all.
Read MoreThe USDA has designated 107 counties and parishes across seven states as Natural Disaster Areas, including the ArkLaMiss.
The seven states included in the declaration are Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
Read MoreI wish I had good news. Unfortunately, I have more of the same for most of Louisiana. It does look like northwest Louisiana at least has some chance for some rainfall as we get into early next week. Elsewhere, it’ll be isolated showers, and many of us not seeing any rain for the next week.
Read MoreSouth Louisiana’s spring is starting off bone dry. The latest drought map shows extreme conditions tightening their grip on Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, leaving farmers, marsh managers and coastal communities staring down a serious water shortage just as planting season and the seafood hustle kick into gear.
Read MoreFebruary 2026 in Louisiana brought a mix of severe weather, warmth, and worsening drought. A Valentine’s Day tornado outbreak marked one of the most active severe weather events in years, while the rest of the month remained relatively quiet. Temperatures were warmer than normal overall, with record highs in the 80s, though several freeze events still occurred early and late in the month. Rainfall was well below average statewide, intensifying drought conditions, which expanded significantly by the end of February. Dry conditions also led to rare winter burn bans and increased wildfire risk, while frequent dense fog created additional hazards. Overall, the month contributed to a very dry, warm winter with growing impacts on agriculture and soil moisture heading into spring.
Read MoreLouisiana is entering April with worsening drought conditions, as more than 80% of the state is now in drought and nearly 25% is experiencing rare “Extreme Drought.” While some rain is expected in the coming week, it will only provide limited relief. With warmer temperatures increasing moisture demand, consistent rainfall will be critical in the coming weeks to rebuild soil moisture before the intense summer heat arrives.
Read MoreFarmer Jack Dailey says that the drought over the last few days has not impacted his crops yet, but if it continues much longer it could create challenges.
Read MoreJanuary 2026 in Louisiana was marked by a major late-month ice storm that severely impacted the northern half of the state, causing widespread power outages, dangerous travel conditions, and nine fatalities. Temperatures fluctuated dramatically throughout the month, ranging from highs in the 80s early on to freezing conditions and wind chills in the teens by late January. Rainfall remained below average for the eighth consecutive month, contributing to ongoing drought conditions affecting up to two-thirds of the state.
Read MoreLouisiana has received no rain in the last 7 days. I mean, it's possible there was a trace here or there, but as I look at the data over the last 7 days, I'm not seeing anything more than a couple drops. It looks like we have more dry time on the way, along with low relative humidity this weekend. That means high fire danger, especially on Saturday, and worsening drought conditions as we start to heat up.
Read MoreLouisiana saw its second tornado outbreak in less than a month on March 11, with eight tornadoes touching down in the Florida Parishes in just 90 minutes and six more in southwest Mississippi. Despite the fast-moving storms and numerous warnings, damage was limited and no casualties were reported. Recent rainfall has improved drought conditions slightly, but nearly three-quarters of the state remains in some level of drought, with continued dry conditions and elevated fire risks in several parishes.
Read MoreAs part of a suite of product improvements for the 2026 hurricane season [PDF], NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) is implementing two new tropical products and services: a new operational hurricane track cone map, and new storm surge alerts for Hawaii.
Read MoreThis Administrator’s Physical Loss Notification allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans.
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