Southwest Louisiana Rice Country Hosts Nigerian Delegation
Last week, several families and rice industry representatives hosted the Nigerian Catholic Bishop Ernest Obodo and Father Francis Chiawa to south Louisiana rice country. The trip was organized by the Lounsberry Family, including Mrs. Yvonne Lounsberry and Michelle Deshotel, Gayla and Mark Popeck, and their son Conner Popeck. The trip was an initial visit to further explore the idea for the SWLA rice farming family to create a Farmer-to-Farmer Training Program to train Nigerians in the various trades associated with U.S. agriculture practices, with the goal of participants then being able to take these new skills and knowledge back to Nigeria and train others at Mary Agro Farms.
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Agriculture Emissions Fall To Lowest Levels in 10 Years
America’s farmers and ranchers are leading the way in greenhouse gas emission reduction through voluntary conservation efforts and market-based incentives. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2022. The report shows American agriculture reduced emissions by almost 2% from 2021 to 2022, the largest decrease of any economic sector.
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USDA Invites Applications For Grants To Strengthen Rural Cooperatives That Serve Socially Disadvantaged Groups
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Dr. Basil Gooden today announced that USDA is inviting applications for grants to strengthen rural cooperatives that serve and are made up of people who are part of socially disadvantaged groups in rural areas.
USDA is making the $3 million in grants available under the Socially Disadvantaged Groups Grant program to help new and existing cooperatives strengthen their hands-on assistance, like leadership training and strategic planning, to small business owners and agricultural producers.
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USDA Forest Service Invests Over $1M To Support Schools, Roads & Other Services As Part of Investing In America Agenda
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service announced it is issuing more than $232 million to support public schools, roads and other municipal services through the agency’s Secure Rural Schools program. The program was reauthorized for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Fiscal year 2023 funds will be paid to 745 eligible counties in 41 states and Puerto Rico.
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USDA Seeking Partners For Summer Food Service Program
For many families whose children receive free or reduced breakfast and lunch during the school year, summer can be a time of food insecurity. To combat this problem, each year the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) participates in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
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The Pick of the Patch: Agritourism Aids Learning
Strawberry season is in full swing and students from across the state have begun traveling to Mrs. Heather’s Strawberry Patch.
For more than 20 years, Mrs. Heather’s has added value to agritourism in Louisiana by serving as a field trip hotspot. Owner Heather Hughes said nothing is more heartwarming than seeing big smiles on children’s faces. Compounding agriculture and tourism helps farmers generate revenue from recreational and educational activities, like “pick-your-own fruit and vegetables” programs.
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Non-Dicamba Options For Midsouth Cotton Growers
Faced with the potential of a dicamba-free growing season, farmers across the country reevaluated their dependence on a long-time, highly effective herbicide tool. No class of farmers was more wary than cotton growers, whose yield relies on more intensive management with fewer effective herbicide options than any other dicamba-friendly crop.
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Crop Market Report: April, 2024
The April WASDE report was neutral with no major surprises. Perhaps the most noteworthy piece of information was the estimate of U.S. ending stocks for the 2023/24 crop year. Prior to the release of the April report, the trade’s attention focused on the USDA’s estimates of the South American corn and soybean crops. Specifically, the difference between the USDA and CONAB estimates of the Brazil soybean crop (USDA’s 155 MMT versus CONAB’s 146.5 MMT).
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Agricultural Policy & Market Situation: April, 2024
The Congressional Budget Office’s February 2024 baseline for USDA Mandatory Farm Programs and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program revealed projected outlays for Farm Bill-related programs at $1.46 trillion over the 10-year window from fiscal years 2025 to 2034 – this latest baseline projection is 3.5% lower than the previous 10-year baseline of $1.5 trillion.
May 2023’s baseline remains the Farm Bill scoring baseline until directed otherwise by the budget committees. In addition to this February baseline, CBO will release a new spring baseline following the release of the President’s fiscal year 2025 budget request.
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Average Louisiana Crawfish Prices, Live and Boiled, Go Down Again
Another week, another drop in crawfish prices in Louisiana.
Prices dropped “by another 50 cents per pound, making this the second price drop since Easter Sunday,” according to Laney King, co-founder of The Crawfish App mobile app.
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Lainey Wilson’s a Proud Farmer in New Tractor Supply Commercial
Tractor Supply Company has teamed up with their 2024 Brand Ambassador, Lainey Wilson, for a brand new commercial.
The 30-second clip follows Lainey from her simple life on the farm to onboarding her tour bus and taking the stage as a country superstar.
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RoyOMartin Announces $30 Million Modernization of Timber Manufacturing Facility in Southwest Louisiana
Martco, LLC, parent company for timber sourcing and manufacturing company RoyOMartin, announced it will invest more than $30 million to install technologically advanced production equipment at its Allen Parish plant that produces oriented strand board (OSB) for the housing industry.
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Legislation Introduced in D.C. To Help Louisiana Shrimpers
Congressman Higgins introduces legislation in an effort to aid Louisiana shrimpers.
Congressmen Clay Higgins and Troy Nehls (R-TX) introduced the Save Our Shrimpers Act of 2024, which would prohibit federal funds from being made available to International Financial Institutions (IFIs) that subsidize foreign activity relating to shrimp farming, shrimp processing, or the export of shrimp to the United States.
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LSU AG Center Issues Warning About Invasive Apple Snails
The LSU Ag Center has issued a warning to residents this week about the return of apple snails to our area.
The university’s agricultural center released a social media post reminding locals how to handle the apple snails and their eggs, which are frequently seen in local ditches and/or in local waterways.
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Foreign Seafood Could Be Banned at Louisiana Schools
Students could be guaranteed domestic catch when seafood is on the school menu if a proposal before the Louisiana Legislature becomes law. The state House approved a bill Tuesday that would prohibit any public or private schools that receive state money from serving foreign seafood to students.
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