This report contains the results from the 2023 September Agricultural and September Grain Stocks surveys.
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In general, places don't get much wetter than Louisiana. Much of the state is wetlands, and warm, humid air regularly blows in from the Gulf of Mexico, often bringing thunderstorms. And, most notably, the Mississippi River Basin carries water from 31 states and 2 Canadian provinces through Louisiana.
However, over the past few years the state has been much drier than usual; Louisiana has been cycling in and out of drought since 2020.
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Louisiana, the state that produced the largest amount of sugar in the United States last season, kicked off the harvest of the new crop expecting losses as drier-than-normal weather in the second half of this year hurt sugarcane development.
The Alma Mill in Lakeland, southeastern Louisiana, started operations Wednesday, and other mills in the state are expected to follow through next week, said Kenneth Gravois, sugarcane specialist at the Louisiana State University.
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This Secretarial natural disaster designation 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. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts.
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Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA), a staunch advocate for Louisiana's agricultural community, and Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR) introduced the Prioritizing Offensive Agriculture Disputes and Enforcement Act. The bill identifies trade barriers to the United States agriculture exports and develops strategies to enforce violations of trade agreements.
The initiative enhances Congressman Higgins' ongoing efforts to support Louisiana's unique agricultural needs in the Farm Bill.
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U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced two bills to protect Louisiana rice and shrimp against China and India’s dumping of cheap shrimp and produce into U.S. markets. The Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act and the India Shrimp Tariff Act will both protect the Louisiana agricultural industry while ensuring that food that appears on U.S. store shelves meets U.S. health standards.
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Nutrition assistance benefits for low-income women and their children would cease, farmers won't have access to government loans and tens of thousands of USDA staff won't get paid.
Those are the top-line impacts rural communities can expect to experience if Congress fails to pass legislation required to keep the federal government operational before a Sept. 30 deadline, according to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.
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Fifth graders from East Baton Rouge Parish recently met at Burden Museum & Gardens to learn lessons about teamwork, making healthier choices and to have a little fun at the inaugural AgBash cosponsored by the LSU and Southern University agricultural centers.
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The Louisiana rice industry celebrates National Rice Month doing what they do best – cooking and sharing the region’s homegrown rice!
Throughout the month, annual cooking competitions from the Port of Lake Charles to Jennings to Crowley reward rice chefs with prizes, recognition, and bragging rights.
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Louisiana crawfish farmers and cattle ranchers affected by this year’s drought will have additional protections in the 2023 Farm Bill if Congress passes H.R. 5691, the Drought Assistance Improvement Act, authored by Louisiana 5th District Congresswoman Julia Letlow.
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Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05) announced the introduction of H.R. 5691, the Drought Assistance Improvement Act. This bill will amend the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and improve the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP).
As it currently stands, the Livestock Forage Disaster Program requires cattle producers to be at a level of Severe Drought (D2) for eight consecutive weeks to qualify for one month of disaster relief.
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Following consultation among the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM), the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security (GOHSEP), and the National Weather Service (NWS), the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry has modified the burn ban order to rescind the prohibition on agricultural burning, EXCEPT for standing sugarcane, effective as of 5:00 p.m., September 27.
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The LSU AgCenter and the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture are bringing drone training to high school students across the state.
Brian Gautreau, LSU AgCenter youth wetlands and education outreach program coordinator, has been awarded a nearly $800,000 grant that will bring drone education to Louisiana in formal and informal settings.
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The LSU Ag Center Office of Youth Development is excited to announce the return of the highly anticipated 2023 Bash on the Bayou, proudly presented by Sunshine Quality Solutions. This Louisiana 4-H and FFA tailgate event is set to take place on October 21st in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in celebration of the LSU vs. ARMY football game.
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Louisiana K-12 school district child nutrition directors and purchasing agents were invited to the LSU Hilltop Arboretum on Wednesday, Sept. 20 for “Meet the Buyer,” a networking event where they connected face-to-face with Louisiana farmers and other food vendors.
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