Mixed Reactions Greet Stabenow’s $39 Billion Rural Prosperity Act
On Monday, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced the $39 billion Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act. The proposal aims to address food insecurity, support rural economies, and strengthen agricultural policies.
The announcement highlights the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the farm bill, as the current extension nears expiration and Stabenow’s opposition (the incoming Republican majority) is poised to take control of the Senate in January.
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Wishing You a Happy, Mellow and Blessed Thanksgiving
It seems like Thanksgiving always sneaks up on me, I think it is because all the retail stores decorate for Halloween and quickly go right into the Christmas Holiday mode, many times before we even celebrate Halloween.
I'm afraid its part of our society's hurry up and get it done mentality so we can move on to the next project or job.
I'm not sure if it’s just a “California” thing, and our pace of life is faster than other parts of the country. It seems like when I visit our friends in Louisiana who are farmers, and busy, they seem to take time to enjoy life and family at a slower pace.
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Country Star, Lainey Wilson Honored With Marker on Northeast Louisiana Music Trail
It is a big deal when a small-town farm girl becomes a superstar!
That is exactly what has happened to country singer Lainey Wilson. RFD-TV’s own Tammi Arender had the opportunity to be there when Wilson got her marker on the Northeast Louisiana Music Trail and a portion of a state highway named after her.
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Research Team Awarded Grant to Study Use of Wastewater as Fertilizer
A team of Louisiana researchers has received a federal grant worth more than $100,000 for the first step of a study that aims to use wastewater from aquaculture ponds, seafood processors and farms for fertilizer.
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New Name Surfaces for Trump’s Secretary of Ag Pick — This One Has Strong Ties to Regenerative Ag
Names continue to be added to the list of possible candidates for Secretary of Agriculture. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly playing an active role in the cabinet selection, and the latest name added to the list, Jimmy Emmons, has a heavy background in regenerative agriculture. Emmons is the senior vice president of climate-smart programs for Trust In Food, Farm Journal’s sustainable agriculture division, but is on leave of absence from Farm Journal.
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Stabenow Finally Releases Full Text of Senate Farm Bill; Here’s What It Means for Agriculture
Stabenow unveiled 1,397-page details of her long-awaited farm bill Monday morning. This comes as early Sunday evening Pro Farmer broke the news that Senate Ag Chairwoman (D-Mich.) had briefed Democrats but not Republicans on her coming farm bill text, which was expected to be released Monday.
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Landry Awards Almost $1.4B to Bridge Digital Divide
Gov. Landry has awarded $1.355 billion to bolster broadband connectivity throughout the state.
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Biden Administration Asks Congress for $98.4 Billion in Disaster Aid After Stormy Year
The Biden administration is asking Congress to approve $98.4 billion in emergency spending to bolster the federal government’s response and recovery efforts following a series of natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton that devastated parts of Southeastern states.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Agriculture would receive the bulk of the funding request, if lawmakers approve it in full, though they can increase, decrease, or ignore whatever they wish.
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CWD Found in Jeff Davis Deer; Hunters Asked to Help
A deer from a Jeff Davis Parish farm has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease, and officials are asking deer hunters to help with surveillance.
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Feasting on Agriculture -- Salt Revival Oyster Company
Irish writer Jonathan Swift once wrote, “He was a bold man that first ate an oyster.”
And maybe he was right. Heck, it took me 37 years to muster up the courage to take the plunge—into raw oysters, at least.
If you’re going to cross this cultural bridge into the world of oyster slurping, there’s no better place than the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, which is where I found myself for this month’s Feasting on Agriculture.
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Lecture on Hemp Fiber Highlights its History, Modern Relevance
Casey Stannard admits she didn’t have any experience with hemp fiber throughout her studies and career in apparel design until she took on a recent research project.
The associate professor in the LSU College of Agriculture Department of Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising said that was the case for many of her students and colleagues even though hemp was the first cultivated fiber, with evidence of hemp ropes in ancient China and along the Dead Sea dating back between 3,000 and 10,000 B.C.E.
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Rural Cooperatives are Essential to Louisiana
Rural cooperatives are the backbone of our nation and provide countless goods and services that people in rural Louisiana rely on to thrive.
Cooperatives have existed throughout the U.S. for more than a century. They are businesses owned and controlled by the people who use them. They differ from other businesses because they operate for the benefit of their members, rather than to earn profits for investors.
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Ag Commissioner Mike Strain Heading to the U.K.
Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain is set to visit the UK to promote Louisiana spices, meet agricultural officials, and tour farms and other agricultural sites. Strain highlights the UK’s extensive agricultural land, with 71% dedicated to farming, focusing on staple crops like wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes. He also notes that UK’s top export is…
“…Beverages…oh yeah. So maybe there might be a little Guinness there I heard. Maybe, a little Guinness and a few other things.”
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Farm Credit Council Sends Unanimous Letter to Congress
The Farm Credit Council sent a letter to House and Senate leadership calling for action before year-end to provide emergency funding for agricultural producers recovering from disasters and enact a 5-year Farm Bill providing an enhanced safety net for farmers and ranchers. We are proud to share the letter was signed unanimously by all 61 Farm Credit institutions, sending a powerful message to Congress.
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Eunice Chamber Names ‘Eunice’s Best’
The Eunice Chamber of Commerce presented its first Eunice’s Best honors on Tuesday at the LSUE Mumphrey Center.
Michael Fruge is named Farmer of the Year. “... a second-generation rice, soybean, and crawfish farmer from Eunice, Louisiana, whose remarkable contributions have left a lasting impact on both agriculture and the health-conscious consumer market.
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