Vermilion Parish Couple Named Louisiana's Top Young Farmers
Aaron and Jamie Lee of Vermilion Parish have been named the 2024 Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award Winners, the highest honor given by the Louisiana Farm Bureau to individual farmers each year.
The Lees won the award during the organization’s 102nd Annual Convention here at the Marriott on Canal St. Thursday night during the Organizational Awards. The young couple are sixth-generation sugarcane, livestock, rice, and crawfish farmers who will now go on to compete for the national title in January 2025 at the American Farm Bureau convention in San Antonio, Texas.
Read More
Vermilion Parish Wins Big at 102nd Annual Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention
The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation culminated the opening night of its 102nd Annual Convention with Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau capturing the President’s Award for the fifth straight year.
The President’s Award recognizes the parish Farm Bureau that excels in membership, advocacy and communications over the past year. Louisiana Farm Bureau President Jim Harper presented the award to Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau President Bryan Simon Thursday night at the New Orleans Marriott.
Read More
Higgins, Carter Introduce Legislation Giving FDA Authority To Destroy Contaminated Imported Seafood
Clay Higgins and Troy Carter, congressmen from opposite sides of the aisle, have introduced a new bill that would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to destroy imported products that pose a significant public health concern, specifically contaminated seafood, the pair said in a release Thursday.
Read More
Evangeline Parish Man Faces Charges for Sinker Cypress Theft
On June 18, Leonard Laborde of St. Landry was arrested on two counts of timber theft, two counts of criminal trespass, and one count of simple criminal damage to property.
Read More
Louisiana 4-H Elects New Officers, Crowns Contest Winners at 4-H University
For many 4-H’ers, coming to LSU to compete in a contest, attend an educational program or run for a statewide office is one of the highlights of their 4-H experience. And for many, this year did not disappoint.
Read More
102nd Annual Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention Underway
The 102nd Annual Convention of the Louisiana Farm Bureau, the state’s largest general farm organization, is underway here at the Marriott Hotel on Canal St.
The convention will see 1,500 farm families attend during the four-day event, which includes contests, commodity conferences, youth activities and a host of guest speakers, including politicians. Expected to attend this year is U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., Commissioner of Ag and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain and Commissioner of Insurance Tim Temple.
Read More
The Farmer's Forecast: It's Convention Time!
It’s convention time, so let’s jump in with a New Orleans forecast for everyone that will be gathering down there this weekend! It looks like a very New Orleans weekend with loads of humidity, plenty of heat, and daily rain chances. Rain should keep highs around 90 each day, with lows only falling into the upper 70s. Some of the most refreshing moments will be the time immediately after thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Read More
Louisiana Rice Farmers Gather For Annual Field Day That's Been Going On For Over A Century
For the 115th year, farmers gathered June 25 for the LSU AgCenter’s annual rice field day, where they heard updates on researchers’ efforts to breed higher-yielding varieties, develop pest management strategies and encourage beneficial agronomic practices.
Read More
Cost Of Summer Cookout Reaches Record High
Families celebrating the 4th of July holiday will continue to find stubbornly high prices at the grocery store. An Independence Day cookout will cost $71.22 for 10 guests this year, based on the 2024 American Farm Bureau Federation annual marketbasket survey.
The grocery bill is up 5% from 2023, and almost 30% from just five years ago. A $7.12 per-person cost represents a record high since AFBF began the survey in 2013. The cookout favorites include cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream, among other products.
Read More
USDA Expands Funding Opportunities For Specialty Crop Growers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program to now include medium-sized businesses in addition to small businesses. Eligible specialty crop growers can apply for assistance for expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification.
Read More
Challenges in Farming: Mental Health Struggles Among Farmers
Farming is a vital occupation that helps to ensure fresh produce on our tables, but at the same time comes with immense pressures that often go unnoticed.
According to the American Farm Bureau, farmers are 2.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the national average.
Read More
Almond Brothers Lumber, LaSalle Lumber tops in safety
Almond Brothers Lumber Co. and LaSalle Lumber were recently awarded the 2023 John Edgar Rhodes Sawmill Safety Exellence Award by the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA).
Almond Brothers Lumber of Coushatta was one of three mills in Division I (producing 50 million board feet or less) and LaSalle Lumber of Urania was the only mill in Division III (producing more than 150 million board feet annually) receiving the award for having zero reported incidents in 2023.
Read More
LSU AgCenter Pays Tribute to Avoyelles Parish Sweet Potato Industry with Release of New, Early-maturing Variety
It can be harvested up to 30 days sooner than other sweet potatoes. It is a high yielder and tastes great, though its skin is a shade lighter than the sweet potatoes many Louisianans are accustomed to.
It’s the LSU AgCenter’s newest sweet potato variety, Avoyelles — named for the parish where scientists initially saw its potential and a parish that has played a central role in the state’s sweet potato industry for decades.
Read More
AFBF Appreciates Packers and Stockyards Act Updates
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on USDA’s release of the Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets proposed rule, intended to improve fairness and competition in the livestock, meat and poultry sectors. This is the fourth rule issued by USDA to address fairness and competitiveness in livestock markets under the Packers and Stockyards Act.
Read More
Emergency Forest Restoration Program
The Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) helps the owners of non-industrial private forests restore forest health damaged by natural disasters.
The local FSA County Committee implements EFRP for all disasters with the exceptions of drought and insect infestations. In the case of drought or an insect infestation, the national FSA office authorizes EFRP implementation.
Read More
