Cuba is having issues with food shortages, and Southwest Louisiana farmers need to sell their rice. That’s why several Louisiana lawmakers visited Cuba with the state’s agricultural commissioner on a trade mission to cultivate more business for our state’s rice farmers.
The group visited a center in Cuba that receives rice from Louisiana in bulk and packages it for distribution to the Cuban people.
Read MoreAs you may have heard, Congress was finally successful late into Friday night in passing a Continuing Resolution that included many priorities we worked very hard to achieve. The House passed the measure 366-34-1 with all Louisiana members voting in favor. The Senate passed the resolution 85-11, Cassidy supporting and Kennedy opposing.
Read MoreSeveral new laws affecting a wide array of issues in Louisiana—including unemployment, THC regulations, and tax law—will take effect on Jan. 1.
More than two dozen bills passed by state lawmakers in regular and special sessions will become effective on New Year's Day.
Read MoreAmerican Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the full passage of the continuing resolution that includes economic and disaster aid for farmers and a farm bill extension.
“Farm Bureau thanks the House and the Senate for finding common ground and passing legislation that will keep the government open and help farmers who are struggling with natural disasters, high supply costs and out-of-reach interest rates. For many farmers, the disaster relief provided through the CR will be the difference between planting for another year or going out of business.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the final approximately $300 million in assistance to distressed direct and guaranteed farm loan borrowers under Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act. Over the past two years, USDA acted swiftly to assist distressed borrowers in retaining their land and continuing their agricultural operations.
Read MoreLouisiana has recorded the nation’s first severe human infection of H5N1, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza or bird flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This development highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting both human health and the state’s animal industry as well as backyard flocks
Read MoreHouse Republicans tried and failed Thursday evening to fast-track a measure to keep the government funded through a maneuver that required a two-thirds majority, pushing the government closer to a shutdown.
The new deal would extend government funding for three months, suspend the debt limit until January 2027 and provide $110 billion in disaster aid. It also includes health care policy extenders, funding for rebuilding Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge and a renewal of the farm bill for one year.
Read MoreLouisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain discussing the importance of self-reliance and the Farm Bill. Strain emphasizes the need for countries to achieve self-reliance to buy American products, highlighting the strength of the U.S. dollar. He notes that while countries need to be self-reliant, the U.S. must help them achieve this to maintain trade relationships.
Strain outlines the U.S. strategy to diversify trade by engaging with smaller, less-traveled countries, moving away from reliance on major partners like China.
Read MoreAn investigation is underway after a body was found in a Louisiana sugarcane field on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, a sugarcane farmer discovered the body in his field.
Read MoreThe U.S. International Trade Commission recently approved tariffs on frozen warm water shrimp imports from Ecuador, India, Vietnam and Indonesia, aiming to counteract the damage these imports are inflicting on the domestic shrimping industry.
David Chauvin, a Louisiana-based seafood company owner, highlighted the disparity.
Read MoreAcadia Parish U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that County Committee elections are over, and the ballots have been counted.
Mr. Ross Thibodeaux was elected to represent local administrative area LAA 1.
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter and LSU College of Agriculture recognized outstanding faculty and staff during an award ceremony held Dec. 18 at Nelson Memorial on the LSU campus. Recipients were honored for their contributions to research, extension and teaching.
Read MoreOn December 13, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) announced the detection of the first presumptive positive human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1, in Louisiana. Following a report of increased mortality in the non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) on the property in southwest Louisiana, testing by Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (LADDL) has detected highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the flock.
Read MoreBird flu has been detected in a backyard flock in Southwest Louisiana after a person exposed to the flock tested positive for the illness.
The SWLA resident was the first person in the state diagnosed with H5N1 and became the first person in the U.S. with a severe case of the disease in the current outbreak. They are hospitalized in Louisiana in critical condition, health officials said Wednesday.
Read MoreAmerican Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall delivered a letter to Congress urging elected leaders to stand with farmers as they reconsider the contents of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government and potentially offer a lifeline to farmers and ranchers. Below are excerpts from the letter.
“Any alternative Continuing Resolution (CR) must include: a farm bill extension, aid to rebuild after natural disasters, economic assistance to bridge the gap until we can get to a new farm bill, and year-round E-15 sales.”
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