The Age: Beaumont Rice Mills shuts down after 132 years

The sprawling historic Beaumont Rice Mills, situated at 1800 Pecos Street in Beaumont, Texas, loomed bleak and large, dominating the landscape as I approached for an interview with the mill president, Louis Broussard, Jr. His son, Jacob, arrived just in time to direct me to the third-story office where the business of the mill was being wrapped up.

Louisiana’s rice boom started around 1884 with the introduction of mechanical harvesting equipment, but due to pricey Louisiana land, many of the farmers headed across the state line to Texas, where land was abundant and cheap.

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RiceAvery Davidson
Get The Most From Your Cotton Harvest Aid Program

Each crop year presents a different set of challenges, prompting many producers to recall the number of experiences they have had in farming as opposed to how many years of experience they have farming. The 2024 growing season is running ahead for most by about a week based on USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Information reports released the end of July. Some regions are running as much as two weeks ahead of the last five-year average. This certainly calls for an evaluation of your harvest aid strategy and program. 

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Cottondon molino
LSU Uses Artificial Intelligence for More Accurate, Faster Wildfire Detection and Prediction

Uncontained wildfires can quickly engulf homes and infrastructure, leading to significant economic losses, displacement of communities, and health risks due to smoke. They also present significant threats to forests, grasslands, and other natural habitats, leading to the death or displacement of countless animals and plants. 

Providing firefighting teams with the best technology improves their chances of containing wildfires before they cause widespread damage.

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Customer, Vendor Bonds Key Ingredient of Alexandria Farmers Market's Success

Every Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m., the parking lot across from First United Methodist Church on Jackson Street bustles with the activity of the Alexandria Farmers Market.

And starting Tuesday (Sept. 3) it will be bustling with even more activity as it prepares to celebrate its 10-year anniversary at each market throughout September, with several special activities planned for each Tuesday of the month.

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USDA Announces No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) announced today that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2024, which runs from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025. The CCC is required by law to quarterly announce estimates of sugar to be purchased and sold under the Feedstock Flexibility Program based on crop and consumption forecasts.

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USDAdon molino
One Week Left To Submit Rice Leadership Development Program Applications

The Rice Leadership Development Program gives future leaders a comprehensive understanding of the rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication skills. Applications for the 2025-27 class are due by Friday, September 6.

The class attends four one-week sessions over a two-year period that encompasses studies of all aspects of the rice industry through firsthand observations. They also attend seminars and workshops designed to strengthen leadership skills.

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Ricedon molino
Internet Access On Louisiana Farms Increases 7.5% In '22 Census Of Agriculture

Reliable access to the internet is increasingly necessary to take full advantage of these newer technologies. To that end, there have been several government programs initiated to provide more access to the internet across the U.S. The Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) was announced in 2019 and is focused on improving internet access for rural Americans with $20.4 billion in funding in a ten-year period.

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don molino
St. Landry Parish Man Arrested For Felony Theft

On August 22, 2024, inspectors with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission (LBC) arrested Lester R. Johnson, Jr. of Opelousas for felony theft.  

Prior to the arrest, an LBC investigation determined that in November of 2023, 32-year-old Johnson fraudulently bid on and was the high bidder on one head of livestock at a local livestock market. 

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LDAF, Livestockdon molino