Deadline Extended: Apprenticeship Project For Growing Beekeepers & Honey Producers In Louisiana
The deadline to apply for the Apprenticeship Project for Growing Beekeepers and Honey Producers in Louisiana is now December 6th.
The LDAF announced the opportunity to participate in the Apprenticeship Project for Growing Beekeepers and Honey Producers in Louisiana last week.
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Staff Retreat Includes Rest, Relaxation & Rice In South Louisiana
November is a busy time for everyone in the rice industry, and with USA Rice staff scattered across the country serving rice-growing areas (and even traveling around the world), it’s not often that the whole team is able to get together in one place. But earlier this month, the staff found time to meet up in southwest Louisiana for good food, good company, and a bit of adventure.
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Honoring the Tree Farmer of Year
Covering 862 woodland acres in East Feliciana Parish, The Shades Plantation has been a witness to Louisiana’s history since the 18th century.
Located near the community of Wilson, the plantation was established by Alexander Scott in 1796, whose family first landed on America’s East Coast from Galway, Scotland in 1690. Nine generations later, this unique place remains in the hands of a Scott descendant, Jackie Berger Harvey, who continues to nurture this remarkable family legacy.
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Louisiana Christmas Tree Farm Ready for Holiday Rush After Drought Recovery
A Christmas tree farm in Ethel is ready for the holiday rush and happy to keep Christmas traditions alive for families across the state.
Lisa Brabham and her husband Ricky Peairs own Windy Hills Farm and have been growing trees since the 1990s. Last year's historic lack of rain spooked the couple.
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USA Rice Members in DC Attend Reception at Cuban Embassy
Last week, the Cuban Embassy hosted an event commemorating U.S. and Cuba agricultural relations. Cuban Ambassador to the U.S. Lianys Torres Rivera welcomed guests including Rep. Maxine Waters of California, Ranking Member on the House Financial Services Committee, and USA Rice members PJ Haynie III, Meryl Kennedy-Farr, and John Owen to the evening reception. Their participation underscored USA Rice's commitment to normalizing trade relations and expanding opportunities for U.S.-origin rice exports to the island nation.
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Applications Open for Internship Program Giving High School, College Students Hands-on Ag Research Experience
The LSU AgCenter is accepting applications for the Charles and Rose Broussard Internship, a program that gives high school and college students the opportunity to gain hands-on agricultural research experience.
The internship program is named for Charles Broussard, a ninth-generation Vermilion Parish farmer and rancher, and his wife, Rose.
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Dry Early Fall Affecting Pecan Quality for Some Producers
Some Louisiana pecan producers could amass a larger pile of rejected nuts because of abnormally dry weather through the late summer and early fall, said Michael Polozola, the LSU AgCenter state fruit and nut specialist.
A lack of rain just before harvest prevented some pecans from filling out, Polozola said, leading to lower yields for many producers.
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Overreaching Department of Labor Rule Halted Nationwide
AFBF and other industry coalition members achieved a crucial win yesterday that will help farmers across the country. AFBF and its partners were granted a preliminary injunction by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi barring the Department of Labor (DOL) from enforcing its Worker Protection Rule extending unionization rights to H-2A visaholders.
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5 Things To Know About Trump USDA Pick Brooke Rollins
President-elect Trump has tapped Brooke Rollins, a former White House aide in his first administration, to head the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in his second term.
“Brooke’s commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns is second to none,” Trump wrote in a release.
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'The Rice Stuff' Covers the 87th International Rice Festival
On this week’s episode of The Rice Stuff podcast, co-host Lesley Dixon recounts her recent adventures at the 86th International Rice Festival in Crowley, Louisiana, from judging cooking competitions to VIP seats on the parade route.
The episode includes interviews with many of the festival’s heavy hitters.
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Cotton Market Shows Life As March Contract Period Begins
Strong export sales, coupled with the beginning of the December contract’s expiry, brought life to the cotton market. The expiring December contract had a limit and near limit-up move as December futures gave way to the March contract as the nearby trading contract.
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In Louisiana, You can Celebrate Thanksgiving Relatively Cheaply
This year, you can host a Thanksgiving feast for ten for relatively little money.
“In Louisiana, that’s going to cost you on average $45.84, which is still $3 lower than it was last year,” says Avery Davidson with the Louisiana Farm Bureau.
Furthermore, that’s considerably less than the national average.
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Fall Fly-in Pushes for Meaningful Farm Bill, Farmer Economic Assistance
Last week, more than five dozen rice industry representatives from all sectors traveled here in what may be a final push to get the Farm Bill across the finish line in the lame duck Congress, and to discuss the need for economic loss assistance for rice farmers for the 2024 crop year.
Before fanning out across the Capitol, the group gathered to hear updates and policy analysis, and pose questions to ag policy thought leaders and officials.
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Each Thanksgiving Dinner Requires a National Effort
As friends and family sit down for a Thanksgiving dinner, very few are aware that the feast on their table is a culmination of efforts of farmers from every corner of the United States. American Farm Bureau Federation economists analyzed the production of the ingredients that go into a classic Thanksgiving dinner, detailing which states produce the most commodities and the production value of those items. The Market Intel provides context to AFBF’s annual Thanksgiving dinner cost survey, which found the average cost of this year’s classic holiday dinner for 10 is $58.08, or about $5.80 per person.
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Louisiana Lawmakers Conclude Special Session on Tax Reform
In Baton Rouge on November 22, 2024, the Louisiana Legislature wrapped up a special session focused on tax reform, culminating in the approval of a substantial tax package. This legislative action is set to reshape the state’s tax landscape with significant reductions in some areas, increases in others, and the establishment of a permanent stipend for teachers.
However, the implementation of these changes is contingent upon voter approval of a crucial constitutional amendment in the upcoming election.
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