Editorial: Congress Should Act To Renew the Farm Bill
Every five years, Congress takes up the sprawling farm bill, a laden piece of legislation that impacts millions of Americans nationwide and has broad ramifications for agricultural and other policy.
Many Louisianans are anxiously awaiting congressional action.
The state's more than 400 sugar farmers are at the top of the list. Since 1981, the bill has provided a number of supports to Louisiana's two-century-old sugar industry through subsidies, price-floors and loans that protect local farmers from inexpensive imported sugar.
Read More
USDA Confirms Louisiana Pork Product Recall
The United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Inspection Service has announced a product recall from Bonneval Foods, LLC based in Gonzales, Louisiana.
Read More
LA Delicious: Cajun Country Rice Teams up With Rouses Supermarkets
Cajun Country Rice and Rouses Supermarkets are joining together for Louisiana rice lovers.
Cajun Country Rice is made right here in Crowley by the Falcon family. Falcon Rice Mill proudly maintains their status as the only rice mill owned and operated by the original family. They started it decades ago, and one of the only mills that continues to support local agriculture by keeping Louisiana rice farmers at the heart of their operation.
Read More
See-Saw Weather: Louisiana Cotton Farmers Are Hustling To Get Their Crop Planted Before It Gets Too Try
The first half of May was wet for much of Louisiana’s cotton belt, which kept many farmers from planting. Now, the pendulum has swung, and farmers are racing to get their cotton planted before it gets too dry.
If all intended acres of cotton are planted, Louisiana could see one of its largest crops in the past decade.
Read More
Louisiana Rural Complete Streets Summit Maps Out a Safer Future for Small Towns
Safe and active ways to get to everyday activities, such as walking or biking to the supermarket or bank, was the focus of the second Louisiana Rural Complete Streets Summit.
Read More
The SU Ag Center and the NMSDC Acres Program to co-host Soul of the Soil
The Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center has partnered with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) to host the 2nd annual Soul of the Soil.
The event themed, “Rooted in the Future: Cultivating Tomorrow,” will be held from 11 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. on July 3, 2024 at Harrah's Hotel and Casino, 228 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130.
Read More
Rescue Tubes Can Prevent Suffocation Deaths in Grain Bins
Nearly 200 people have suffocated in grain bins in the U.S. in the past 30 years, according to Texas A&M.
The Louisiana Farm Bureau and the Louisiana Fire and Rescue Academy have compiled a list of all grain safety rescue tubes in the state. There are 25 in the state and only one here in Southwest Louisiana.
Read More
USDA Opens Application Period for Composting and Food Waste Reduction Cooperative Agreements
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) pilot projects for fiscal year 2024. The cooperative agreements, using remaining funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, are jointly administered by USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Selected projects will develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans and are part of USDA’s broader efforts to support urban agriculture.
Read More
When You Don't Know What to Make for Dinner, Fullness Farm Always Has the Answer
The general concept of Fullness Farm is simple.
Grant and Allison Guidroz grow seasonal, organic produce and vegetables, pick it, wash and bag it, and then bring it to weekly distribution points for their subscribers to pick up.
What sounds easy requires a lot of work leading to the end product, but the Guidrozes aren't complaining. This is what they signed up for in college.
Read More
LSU Career Chats: Field Trip to the Dairy Store
They love the adventure and the atypical day. Field trips are a fun and casual way to learn new things and create core memories. We’ve decided this will be the summer of field trips for the Career Center. We need to get out, see the awesome things happening around campus, and have a little fun as a team.
First up – The Dairy Store.
The LSU Dairy Store has been around for a LONG time but just got a glow-up with a new facility in the Spring. It’s no secret the ice cream is delicious, but we had no idea how big of an operation this was.
Read More
Which States had the Highest Percentage of Soybeans in Good/Excellent Shape?
In the first report of soybean conditions for the growing season, USDA said at least 75% of the crop in these five states are rated good/excellent.
According to USDA’s Crop Progress report for the week ending June 9, Louisiana had the largest percentage of soybeans rated good/excellent, at 83%. Louisiana is the only state of the top-producing states that does not have any soybeans rated less than fair.
Read More
Nutrien Moves on from Louisiana Ammonia Project Amid Cost Cuts
Nutrien on Wednesday said it was no longer pursuing its clean ammonia project in Louisiana and would also be reviewing strategic options for its stake in an Argentinian fertilizer company as it looks to rein in expenses.
The top potash producer had halted work indefinitely on its clean ammonia project at Geismar, Louisiana, in 2023 due to rising costs and uncertainty around the timing of emerging uses for clean ammonia.
Read More
McNeese Rodeo Team Is Going to the College National Finals Rodeo
The McNeese State University men’s rodeo team is the champion of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s (NIRA) Southern Region for the third year in a row. Seven members of the team, and one member of the women’s team, are headed to the 2024 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) June 9-15 in Casper, Wyoming.
The saddle bronc riders going to the CNFR are Isaac Richard, of Eunice, Drew Bordelon, of Ville Platte, and Caleb Miller, of Welsh. Richard is the Southern Region Saddle Bronc Champion. Kash Martin, Lufkin, Texas, will compete in bareback riding.
Read More
2024 International Temperate Rice Conference: Forum for Information Exchange
More than 250 people from more than 25 countries across six continents attended the 2024 International Temperate Rice Conference (ITRC) held here last week. USA Rice and the Louisiana State University AgCenter co-hosted the four-day event, and USA Rice President & CEO Peter Bachmann was on hand to welcome attendees.
“Research within the industry over the last half of a century has led to monumental breakthroughs and growth in yields and production efficiency, and when you combine this impressive group of professionals from all corners of the globe with modern technology and turn them loose, our opportunities for advancement of the world’s rice industry are limitless,” said Bachmann.
Read More
6 People Arrested For Hogwash Entries Into Hog Hunting Contest
Six hunters were arrested for allegedly catching hogs in Texas and using them as winning entries into Louisiana hog hunting contests.
Agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries found evidence that the six participants—Trace Davis, 30, of Longville, Hunter Webb, 27, of Pitkin, Colby Bushnell, 26, of Dry Creek, Davy Haymon, 35, of Pitkin, Nathan Granger, 34, of Vinton, and Don Pollard Jr., 40, of Pitkin—caught wild hogs in Texas before bringing them as entries into two hog hunting contests in Bienville and Caldwell Parishes.
Read More
