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
Read MoreAs the holiday season approaches, Louisiana is gearing up for the return of one of its most beloved traditions soon after: crawfish season. While it’s not quite here yet, experts are optimistic that the 2025 season will bring an early and plentiful harvest, a welcome change from last year’s challenges.
Todd Fontenot, a crawfish specialist with the LSU AgCenter, has been closely monitoring crawfish farms across the state. The good news? Crawfish are emerging earlier than they did last year, setting the stage for a strong season ahead.
Read MoreU.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, urged Congress to provide emergency economic assistance to agricultural producers facing market losses.
“It’s clear the pain our farm families are living through,” Boozman said in remarks on the Senate floor. “For some producers, this is the second or third consecutive year of negative cash flow. This means many farm families are ending 2024 in the red, unable to pay off this year’s operating loan, unable to get the loan to farm in 2025, and face the reality of being the generation to have lost the family farm due to extreme market conditions beyond their control.”
Read MoreThe state is breaking ground on the Maurepas Swamp Project in St. John the Baptist Parish. A freshwater divergence that will reconnect the Mississippi River to Maurepas Swamp. Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana Communication Director James Karst says CRCL is also working in conjunction with the state.
“The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana is beginning a three-year project during which we will plant 4,500 trees in the swamp.”
Read MoreLouisiana Governor Jeff Landry, along with 16 other Republican Governors across the United States, signed a letter urging the U.S. congressional leadership to pass a new federal farm bill, following the expiration of the previous iteration on September 30, 2024.
The federal bill was last passed in 2018 and then had its lifetime extended to the 2024 deadline following the failure of a new farm bill to be passed in 2023; something that is seen as irregular with a new bill being traditionally passed by Congress every five years.
Read MoreCorn hybrid performance is annually evaluated in official hybrid trials (OHTs) by LSU AgCenter researchers to provide Louisiana farmers, seedsmen, county agents and consultants with unbiased performance data for commercial corn hybrids submitted for evaluation by private companies. Selection of superior hybrids that are well adapted for a given region is essential for maximizing yield and profit.
Read MorePrior to and throughout 2024, the National Cotton Council (NCC) focused its efforts on shaping policies for a new farm bill.
The NCC has been proactive in communicating its priorities to Congress and the Administration, advocating for a meaningful farm bill that includes an effective safety net and comprehensive risk management tools.
Read MoreAgricultural producers of perishable commodities including fruits, vegetables and floriculture can now get funding for controlled atmosphere storage through Farm Storage Facility Loans (FSFL) offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). Controlled atmosphere storage regulates the concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen in a storage room to increase the shelf life of crops.
Read MoreA group of 17 Republican governors has sent a joint letter to Congress urging passage of an updated Farm Bill.
The most recent Farm Bill, which federal lawmakers approved early in President-elect Donald Trump’s first term in the White House, expired in September.
Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp joined the GOP governors of Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia in signing the letter.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for December 2024, which are effective Dec. 2, 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 MoreThe LSU AgCenter ASPIRE program is offering a 10-week paid summer internship program for college students ($15/hour). The priority deadline to apply is March 7.
The ASPIRE Project engages undergraduates in agricultural-related internships in research, extension, and teaching, with mentorship from faculty in the LSU AgCenter and the LSU College of Agriculture.
Read MoreThanksgiving is a bloated memory for most in Louisiana. From Tallulah to Tickfaw we're scraping our plates and finally getting those Turkey Day dishes done. Now it's time to turn our attention to the other holiday tradition that comes with Thanksgiving weekend in Louisiana. That would be getting the Christmas Tree
Read MoreUnion Livestock exhibitors showcased their exceptional livestock projects at the State Fair of Louisiana, earning top honors in a highly competitive field. The event, held at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds, saw participants from across the state vying for prestigious titles.
The Union Livestock team demonstrated remarkable skill and passion, making their community proud. Their achievements at the State Fair of Louisiana highlight the importance of youth involvement in agriculture and the positive impact of such programs.
Read MoreFinally, a cold front has passed through Louisiana taking the heat and humidity of summer away from the cities of Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. Yeah, the whole state actually felt the "feeling of fall" this weekend.
Read MoreWith Thanksgiving over, it's almost time for a season that nearly every person in Louisiana's appetite is craving: crawfish season.
Todd Fontenot, a crawfish agent who works with the LSU AgCenter, tells WBRZ he's been talking to crawfish farmers around the state to learn how this season will compare to last season.
He says this year's outlook is much better.
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