Corn is traditionally a staple crop in Louisiana. However, this year may be different.
Beauregard Parish grain farmer David Smith planted 500 acres of corn this year, but he seems to be the outlier in the widespread production decline. Unlike many farmers, Smith is fortunate enough to still have a market to sell all the corn he can grow to a local feed mill.
Read MoreAn LSU researcher has developed a new vaccine against bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and related illnesses that kill around 8 million calves each year and cost the U.S. cattle industry more than $1 billion.
Most cattle producers now use a commercially available modified live BRD vaccine containing several live viruses (a cocktail) to protect their herds. Still, the diseases kill more than one out of every five calves.
Read MoreU.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Louisiana State Director, Deidre Deculus Robert, will announce that USDA will invest $166,666 to Louisiana Tech through the Rural Energy of America Program – Technical Assistance Grant (REAP TAG).
These funds will provide hands-on support to farmers, ranchers and rural small business owners seeking federal funds for renewable energy systems, like solar, and energy efficiency measures.
Read MoreThe annual Iowa Rabbit Festival wrapped up on March 16 at the Burton Coliseum.
The festival hosted a rabbit cook-off, inviting teams to make their best rabbit appetizer or entree.
The first, second, and third place winners as well as the people’s choice winner received a trophy and a cash prize.
Read MoreWhen Congressman Mike Johnson became Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives his life changed in many ways. Being third in line to the Oval Office has its perks — a bump in pay, a bigger office, more staff, not to mention authority to impact like few others the public policy of the most powerful nation on earth.
Read MorePasture-raised pork. Dry pasta made with durum wheat. Grass-fed beef.
Conversations with vendors and customers who have rural northern U.S. roots. A local band playing in the midst of the vendors selling their products. Occasionally swatting at mosquitoes.
A northern Plains farmers market in June?
Read MoreThe Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting offers for specific conservation practices under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Continuous Signup.
In exchange for a yearly rental payment, farmers enrolled in the program agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and to plant species that will improve environmental health and quality.
Read MoreThe American Farm Bureau Federation says tax reform in 2025 could be more complicated if Congress fails to pass a farm bill this year.
Managing Director of Government Affairs Ryan Yates tells Brownfield, “We’re not looking forward to having those two issues overlap in the next Congress, but if that’s what Congress chooses to do, so be it,” “We’ll be there to tell our story,” he says.
Read MoreHoney production during 2023 from Louisiana producers with five or more colonies totaled 1.44 million pounds, down 44 percent from 2022. There were 32,000 honey producing colonies in 2023, down 10,000 colonies from previous year. Yield per colony averaged 45 pounds of honey, down 26 percent from 2022.
Read MoreThe Cajun Cuties, 4-H cooking challenge team from Winfield took home first prize in last weeks 4-H Food Pantry Challenge at the Mid-South Farm & Gin Show.
The team consisting of Emily Nevils, Emily Higginbotham, Elizabeth Page and Isabella Schilling from Winnfield Senior High School 4-H Club, Winnfield, La., were challenged by 4-H cooks from Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Tennessee, then evaluated by a panel of food industry judges considering 4-Hers knowledge and skills related to preparing nutritious foods.
Read MoreSometimes forecasting the weather isn’t an exact science. I’m sure every single one of you knows this. Thankfully, there are ways to share information that isn’t as black and white as, yes it will freeze, or no there won’t be a freeze.
Subtle differences in topography, higher than forecast soil moisture, or even a few clouds drifting by a location can impact a temperature by a few degrees. Here’s a graphic showing our current chance for temperatures to fall below freezing on Tuesday morning.
Read MoreThe Inaugural Louisiana Ag Week began today, March 18, 2024, and runs through Friday March 22.
To kick off the week, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom (AITC) committee announced winners of statewide creative youth contests.
Read MoreFinding the right risk management fit for your farm can feel overwhelming, especially for specialty crop and small-scale farmers and ranchers. That’s why the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) created a new searchable directory of crop insurance agents who have experience selling Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) and Micro Farm policies.
Read MoreLouisiana 2nd District Congressman Troy Carter will host 3 workshops for people involved in the crawfish industry affected by the lack of crawfish.
The first workshop is scheduled in New Orleans for Monday, March 18 from 9-11 a.m. at the Southern University at New Orleans College of Business Auditorium.
Read MoreRain will return to the state in widespread fashion on Friday. Along with that, there is a chance for at least a few severe storms. Storms will start off Friday morning over northern Louisiana, and slowly progress to the south through the day. These storms should exit the southern part of Louisiana Friday night. While I think there will be some severe storms, I don’t see this as a major rain event. It looks like most areas will see 0.5 to 1.5 inches of rain.
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