On a recent fall day, as Wilburn Harris did the rounds on his cattle farm in the Missouri town of Drexel, he was met with brown grass, cracked soil and half-empty ponds.
He was used to it. Last year’s drought was so bad, he had to haul water and hay to his farm to keep the animals fed and watered.
Read MoreIn rural Louisiana, food insecurity, poverty and obesity rates are often higher than national and state averages. These challenges make it difficult for residents to access nutritious food and safe communities for physical activity and active transportation, increasing the risk of preventable diseases like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Read MoreThe strike began early Tuesday over wages and automation even though progress had been reported in contract talks. The contract between the ports and about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association expired at midnight, the Associated Press reports.
Read MoreIn the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, communities across the Southeast from Florida to Georgia, through the Carolinas to Virginia and Tennessee are picking up the pieces. The devastation in rural and farm communities has been widespread, and it will be weeks—possibly months—before we know the full impact of the storm. Farm Bureau organizations across the region are providing resources for those affected and those looking to help their neighbors near and far.
Read MoreThe volatility of the cocoa market has led to some truly spooky headlines over the past year, including cautionary tales of candy shortages. It’s inevitable that these headlines will rise from the dead again this Halloween and opponents of U.S. sugar policy may choose to take this opportunity to take a stab at sugar producers.
But if your Halloween basket is light on chocolate this year, it’s cocoa that’s the culprit – not sugar.
Read MoreAmerican Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the impact of the East Coast dockworker strike.
“America is bracing for the impact of the massive dockworker strike that threatens to paralyze traffic of goods in and out of the United States. Our nation relies on international trade for everything from electronics to machinery.”
Read MoreGov. Landry unveils his tax reform plan that he says would simplify the tax code and close most of a $700 million budget shortfall.
In a news conference at the Capitol, Landry said the main objective of his plan, which he has dubbed Driving Louisiana Forward, would lower income taxes for all Louisiana taxpayers.
Read MoreLouisiana all wheat stored in off farm storage facilities on September 1, 2024 totaled 6.92 million bushels, up 28 percent from a year ago. United States all wheat stored in all positions on September 1, 2024 totaled 1.99 billion bushels, up 12 percent from a year ago. On farm stocks are estimated at 664 million bushels, up 11 percent from last September. Off farm stocks, at 1.32 billion bushels, are up 13 percent from a year ago.
Read MoreCongress’ inability to pass a new farm bill before the end of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30 could have an impact on more areas of farm programs than just the low reference prices in the current law.
Producers will stop receiving payments when they run up against the life-of-farm bill payment limits on the Conservation Stewardship, Environmental Quality Incentives and other popular conservation and price support programs in the new fiscal year.
Read MoreComfortable early fall temperatures provided an ideal backdrop for a field day held Sept. 26 at Richard Farms in Kaplan, where attendees got a firsthand look at LSU AgCenter research projects focused on conservation practices.
Richard Farms, a rice and crawfish operation, is one of the model farms where AgCenter scientists are conducting research as part of a grant from the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for October 2024, which are effective Oct. 1, 2024. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures, or meet cash flow needs.
Read MoreU.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast dockworkers began their first large-scale strike in nearly 50 years on Tuesday, halting the flow of about half the country's ocean shipping, after negotiations for a new labor contract broke down over wages.
Read MoreLouisiana farms are facing another year of losses in 2024, according to the LSU AgCenter. Those losses would continue in 2025 if Congress does not pass a new Farm Bill this year.
Ag Economist Michael Deliberto, Ph.D. calculated with current commodity prices, production costs and price supports, a 1,500-acre farm would end 2024 with $306,097.50 in losses. A 2,000-acre farm would fare considerably worse with a balance sheet ending in 2024 with $564,482.50 in losses.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Cattle Festival is nearly upon us as hundreds are expected to take to Downtown Abbeville this weekend to celebrate the beautiful bovine and the products it provides us with each day.
The festival, held annually during the first full weekend in October, is slated for October 4-6 this year — but help is needed to make sure everything is roped in and all loose ends are tied up.
Read MoreThe United States Department of Agriculture has created a new position in state Farm Service Agency offices designed to keep continuity of services during changes of Federal administrations. That new position is the Deputy State Executive Director (DSED) and serves in a direct supervisory line over all Federal FSA positions in the state. The position would also serve as the State Executive Director’s (SED) proxy in their absence and participates fully with the SED in managing state programs to further the agency’s mission.
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