USDA Requests Input on Environmental Impacts of the Tree Assistance Program and Farm Storage Facility Loan Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) welcomes input on the assessment of environmental impacts on two programs – the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) and Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) program. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting comments until Jan. 18 on its draft programmatic environmental assessments. The TAP environmental assessment includes updates to streamline the program and enable a quick response to natural disasters. The FSFL environmental assessment recommends continuing the program as currently administered.  

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LSU AgCenter Variety And Fungicide Trials Help Determine Best Management Practices

The LSU AgCenter conducts research that provides valuable information for Louisiana farmers. To help growers make informed decisions about variety selection and fungicide use, the LSU AgCenter conducts side-by-side soybean official variety trials (OVT) at research stations. For the OVT, seed companies and university-based breeding programs enter varieties to be evaluated in different growing conditions across Louisiana.

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Research Team Awarded Grant to Better Train Farm Workers on Food Safety, Handling

A team of researchers in Louisiana and Florida recently received nearly $500,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute for Food and Agriculture to better train farm workers and underserved farmers in food safety practices.

The team, composed of researchers from the LSU AgCenter, Southern University Ag Center and Florida A&M University, will use the funds to provide interactive techniques, which the researchers believe will provide better learning opportunities for the farm workers.

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LSU AgCenter Researchers Slated to Speak at Midsouth Multi-conference Event

LSU AgCenter experts will be featured speakers during a national multi-conference event, Jan. 27 and 28 in East Memphis, Tennessee. The conferences include the National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice, Southern Soybean and Corn, Delta States Irrigation and the Southern Precision Ag Conferences.

The conference will mark the 28th year that LSU AgCenter along with six other Midsouth universities have co-sponsored these conferences. The other universities are Auburn University, Mississippi State University, University of Arkansas, University of Missouri, University of Tennessee and Texas A&M University.

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Farmers Ask Congress to Pass Critical Assistance

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall today is asking Congress to pass the continuing resolution bill that includes support for farmers.

“I know I speak for farmers across the country when I say thank you to Speaker Johnson, Leaders Jeffries, Schumer and McConnell, and many other members of Congress for recognizing the incredibly difficult agricultural economy by including in the year-end legislation: much-needed economic assistance for farmers; emergency aid for communities devastated by natural disasters; a farm bill extension; and for making E-15 available at fuel pumps all year long.

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Avian Influenza Found in Louisiana Backyard Flock; Producers Urged to Take Precautions

Testing has confirmed a case of avian influenza in a backyard flock in Bossier Parish, Louisiana. The backyard flock owner alerted the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry of increased mortality in the backyard flock. Following an investigation by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry).

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This Crisis Does Not End on the Farm

The American farm economy is in crisis, and farmers need immediate supplemental economic assistance to stay afloat.

Louisiana Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation worked over the weekend to ensure a final government funding deal did not leave agriculture behind. Congressional leaders floated the idea of a clean Continuing Resolution with a simple Farm Bill extension. Agricultural advocates responded with a clear message: “No. We won’t be left out this time.”

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