Louisiana's Crawfish Industry Seeks Relief After 2023 Drought

Louisiana's crawfish industry, a vital part of the state's agricultural landscape and cultural heritage, is in turmoil in 2024.

The industry, already grappling with the aftermath of a severe drought in 2023, has been further devastated by a recent freeze, leading to widespread concerns among farmers and lawmakers about the future of this iconic industry. 

In a letter to United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-LA, underscored the gravity of the situation.

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Aquaculture, USDAAvery Davidson
US State Agriculture Officials Eye Cuba's Private Sector

The leader of an association of top U.S. state agriculture officials on Wednesday said his country might want to take advantage of reforms underway in Cuba, possibly through investments.

Commissioners from Louisiana, Indiana, South Carolina, Michigan and Montana all told Reuters at the cooperative they sensed Cuba was changing. They cited the emergence of more than 10,000 non-farm small and medium-sized businesses over the last two years, some linked to farm supply and food processing.

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American Rice Farmers Feed The World With Commodity-Based Aid

Earlier this month, Bobby Hanks, a Louisiana rice miller and chair of the USA Rice International Trade Policy Committee, joined representatives from the U.S. Wheat Associates, North American Millers’ Association, and the Seafarers International Union (AFL-CIO) as part of a stakeholder panel briefing for Congressional staff on “The Role of American Agriculture & Transportation in International Food Aid.”

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Dairy Produces Can Enroll For '24 Dairy Margin Coverage Beginning February 28

Starting next Wednesday, dairy producers will be able to enroll for 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), an important safety net program offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provides producers with price support to help offset milk and feed price differences. This year’s DMC signup begins Feb. 28, 2024, and ends April 29, 2024. For those who sign up for 2024 DMC coverage, payments may begin as soon as March 4, 2024, for any payments that triggered in January 2024.

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Producers Have Until March 15 To Enroll In USDA Safety Net Programs

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.    

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Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Steps Up Advocacy Work Amid Drought and Economic Challenges

Anyone who’s been on the hunt for boiled crawfish this year knows that it’s been harder than in the past. The lengthy drought of 2023 has led to diminished production and smaller crawfish. Combined with increasing operational, labor and transportation costs, it’s a tough time for farmers in the industry. And, it’s not just crawfish. Experts predict that the lingering drought effects will hamper production of other key Louisiana crops like rice, soybeans and more.

In situations like this, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation (LFBF) stands ready to support farmers and advocate to lawmakers on the local, state and federal levels on their behalf.

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Farmers Ask for Stability in Milk Prices

The American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union sent a letter today requesting that USDA bring stability to Class I milk prices. The letter, sent jointly by AFBF President Zippy Duvall and NFU President Rob Larew, asks Secretary Tom Vilsack to issue an interim final decision to return the Class I mover formula to the “higher of” the Class III or IV calculations, as it was before the 2018 farm bill.

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Two Local Marines Partner to Open Specialty Meat Market in Cut Off

A new business is coming to Cut Off later this spring — a brick and mortar store that will give locals the chance to buy fresh, homegrown meat, eggs, poultry and more for their family’s kitchens. 

Southern Farms Specialty Meats has aspirations to open later this spring. The new business will be located in the old gas station in front of the Bason Boat Launch in Cut Off right off La. Highway 3235. 

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LivestockAvery Davidson