New Solar Facility Unveiled in Franklinton

A new utility-scale solar facility was unveiled Monday in Washington Parish and is expected to go online in the next few days to generate enough electricity to power roughly 11,500 homes. 

D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, one of the nation’s largest independent solar power producers, unveiled its 50-megawatt solar facility on about 447 acres of private land just outside Franklinton. The Sunlight Road Solar facility boasts new technology in the form of all-terrain, sun-tracking sensors developed by the Oakland, Calif.-based Nevados.

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Avery Davidson
Governor Landry Expected To Pass Order On Beetle Emergency

According to sources close to the matter, Governor Jeff Landry is expected to declare an official “state of emergency” on the pine beetle infestation in Louisiana.

In the order, it directs the Department of Environmental Quality to issue a set of emergency rules aimed at easing regulations previously identified by the emergency beetle subcommittee as burdensome.

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Forestrydon molino
US Drought Monitor May Be Behind the Curve in Louisiana

It looks like Louisiana may be done with tropical threats for 2024 but there is another weather concern underway across much of the state: drought.

To be clear, conditions are not as severe and the dry pattern has not lasted nearly as long as the wildfire-enhancing drought of 2023.  But given last year’s situation, farmers, foresters and ranchers are having flashbacks.

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LivestockAvery Davidson
Joe Mapes: Explaining Amendment 1

A friend called me today and asked me to explain constitutional amendment number one being voted on at Louisiana’s polls on November 5th. She also wanted to know if I thought it was OK for her to vote for the amendment. I couldn’t get back with her right away, so she sent me this text: 

“I guess my big question is. Will I have to pay any more money 💰. Big girl is tapped out!”

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Demand Issues Keep Driving Cotton’s Four Cent Trading Range

Cotton muddled through the week, spending most of its time near its heretofore support level at 71 cents. It appears that the market will try again to break that support and visit the very high 60s before making a run back to the 74-cent level. Thus, the narrow four cent trading range between 70.50 and 74.50 continues to be the most respected trading range.

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Cottondon molino
Louisiana Milk Production Report: October 21, 2024

Louisiana milk production during the July - September 2024 quarter was 19.0 million pounds, down 5 percent from the same period in 2023 and down 24 percent from the April - June quarter. The average number of milk cows on farms during the quarter was 7,000 head, unchanged from the same period last year but 500 head lower than the previous quarter.

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USDA, Dairydon molino
Louisiana Crop Progress and Condition Report: October 21, 2024

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Louisiana, there were 7.0 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, October 20, 2024. Topsoil moisture supplies were 43 percent very short, 41 percent short, 16 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were 32 percent very short, 48 percent short, 20 percent adequate, and 0 percent surplus.

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USDAdon molino