The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for March 2024, which are effective March 1, 2024. USDA’s 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.
Read MoreThe U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is undertaking a new fact finding investigation that will examine recent trends and developments in the global rice market and the export competitiveness of the rice industries in the United States and other major producers, such as Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Thailand, Uruguay, and Vietnam.
Read MoreA medical doctor and former U.S. congressman, a crop consultant with a weed science background and a longtime Southern University administrator are the latest inductees into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction. The induction will take place at the L’Auberge Hotel in Baton Rouge March 7.
Read MoreThe Southern University Ag Center will host the 81st Annual Livestock and Poultry Show this upcoming weekend, where local students will compete for a grand champion title.
The show will feature expos, a giving day, a luncheon, an auction, and of course the show itself.
Read MoreIn partnership with The Mississippi Farm Bureau, The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is holding a grain bin safety and training workshop here at Cannatella Outdoors Farms.
This comes just two weeks after first responders recovered the body of a man who fell into a grain bin and died. Vincent Cannatella, owner of Cannatella Outdoors Farms says he’s farmed his entire life and accidents involving grain bins and silos can happen to the most experienced worker.
Read MoreRio Grande Valley Sugar Growers Inc. recently announced it is closing after 51 years in business, citing dwindling water for irrigation and an ongoing dispute with Mexico over water supplies.
The closure will result in layoffs of 435 employees, including 101 company truck drivers, for the sugar-growing operation and mill based in Santa Rosa, Texas. The mill’s closure will be finalized by April 29.
Read MoreSen. John Kennedy (R-La), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, introduced the Crawfish Recovery Assistance from Weather Disasters and Droughts (CRAWDAD) Act. The bill would support Louisiana’s crawfish jobs as droughts and severe weather have put strain on the industry.
“Louisiana’s crawfish farmers have worked hard to weather a bad freeze and devastating drought. My CRAWDAD Act would give mudbug farmers the help they need to keep delivering quality Louisiana fare to crawfish lovers everywhere,” said Kennedy.
Read MoreSince it was launched in 1970 in response to increased market dominance from polyester and other synthetic fibers that threatened to put U.S. cotton out of business, Cotton Incorporated has told the story of U.S. cotton to brands, retailers and consumers. As a natural fiber, cotton is the natural choice.
Read MoreUSDA and state officials are assessing the damages from wildfires that have ravaged portions of the Texas panhandle.
Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller told Agri-Pulse Wednesday the wildfires had potentially wiped out "tens of thousands" of cattle, although it's too early to determine the extent of the damage.
A group of sixth, seventh and eighth grade students gathered at the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center last week to attend the Ecolympics Junior Wildlife Habitat Education Program Challenge, an event designed to give them a deeper understanding of wildlife and various habitats.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) urges the federal government to aid Louisiana’s crawfish industry after an unprecedented drought.
On February 2, LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM, wrote a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack asking that the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) and/or similar programs be properly funded and instituted to assist the crawfish industry.
Read MoreU.S. Congressmen Garret Graves (Louisiana) and Troy Carter (Louisiana) led a formal request asking that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provide Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP) funding to drought-affected crawfish producers in Louisiana. Congress has already granted the USDA discretion to provide assistance to farmers affected by severe weather through the ELAP statute; the bipartisan letter asks that the Secretary use it now to provide relief to Louisiana farmers who suffered significant crawfish crop losses due to extreme heat and drought in 2023.
Read MoreWhen thinking about cotton products, it makes sense that the first thoughts turn toward apparel — the denim jeans, the dress shirts, the tees, etc. – especially if you’re in the fashion industry. But interesting innovations are giving new uses to this traditional fiber, both as new products and an end-of-life usage. Bonus: These initiatives are great for apparel makers looking to improve the sustainability aspect of both their brand and their offerings.
Read MoreWhen he first enrolled in college, Justin Dufour thought he wanted to become an athletic trainer. But a few classes into his coursework at LSU Alexandria, he realized that career path wouldn’t suit his interests very well.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of approximately $26 million for the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) to help local and regional food entities develop, coordinate, and expand producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets, and local food enterprises.
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