Louisiana Farmer Named to National Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee
Farm Bureau farmer and rancher members play an important role in our communities and our organization by serving on governing boards and committees at local, state and national levels. Several newly appointed volunteers will provide leadership beginning in 2025 as members of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Promotion & Education and Young Farmers & Ranchers committees.
Duvall announced the appointment of the following members to the YF&R Committee for the 2025-2027 term beginning in March: Cleveland Jackson, Georgia, (beef cattle); Scot Schwieterman, Kansas (alfalfa hay, row crops, cereal grains); Rachel Duncan, Louisiana (soybeans, beef cattle, cut flowers); Cora Okkema, Michigan (dairy cattle); Dustin and Katie Wiese, Minnesota (beef cattle, hay, corn, sorghum, oats); Tommy Salisbury, Oklahoma (soybeans, milo, wheat, beef cattle); and Jonathan Quigley, Washington (tree fruit).
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Lafayette Parish Recycles Christmas Trees Into Nutrient-Rich Compost
Thousands of pounds of tree trimmings, yard waste, and a small percentage of Christmas trees are being recycled into compost at the Lafayette Consolidated Government's (LCG) Dean Domingues Compost Facility.
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USDA Announces January 2025 Lending Rates For Agricultural Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for January 2025, which are effective Jan. 1, 2025. 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.
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LSU AgCenter Sensory Services Lab Marks 10 Years Of Consumer-Focused Food Studies
Before they hit grocery shelves with labels that shout, “New and Improved!” or “Lower in Calories,” some foods first pass a gauntlet of everyday Louisianans who taste, smell and scrutinize the product in a lab in Baton Rouge.
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Economic Loss Assistance Program Payments Passed by Congress: Here’s What Farmers Need to Know
Congress included economic aid for farmers in the continuing resolution (CR), which keeps the government funded through March 14, 2025. The “Economic Loss Assistance Program” earmarks $10 billion in direct payments for farmers.
While USDA will make the final calculations, Farm CPA Paul Neiffer estimates per acre producer payments will be the following:
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Cotton’s Good News/Bad News Condition
Obviously, this market is wearing me out – and you, too! I commented last week that any price slippage below 69 cents would be short lived. I refused to believe my own words. That comment was written with hope in mind.
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Court Ordered Whiplash: Farmers Granted Reprieve – Again – From Legal Filing
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the ping pong of court orders that ended with a court-ordered reprieve from Treasury Department reporting requirements for many small businesses.
Earlier this month, a federal court halted the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirement from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. On Monday, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reinstated the Jan. 1, 2025, deadline.
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AFBF Expert Breaks Down What Producers Need to Know When Filing Corporate Transparency Act Reporting
The Corporate Transparency Act, passed in 2021, has proven to be a huge headache for farmers. as the deadline to file reports with the Department of Treasury Looms, we brought in an expert to discuss the situation.
American Farm Bureau Associate Economist, Samantha Ayoub spoke with RFD-TV’s own Suzanne Alexander on what businesses are subject to CTA registration, the deadline to file, and the recent back-and-forth in the courts.
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Louisiana Suggested Chemical Weed Control Guide
This guide includes helpful information on herbicides and weed control with detailed suggestions for aquatics, commercial nursery stock, field crops, forestry, fruit crops, home gardens, lawns and many other Louisiana crops. It includes information on different types of herbicide registrations, as well as information on herbicide labels and restricted uses. Also included are sprayer calibration techniques, suggestions for reducing herbicide drift and a guide to proper spray tip selection.
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Deltapine Releases Four New Cotton Varities
Four new products have been added to the Deltapine cotton seed lineup for 2025.
The announcement was made at the the Deltapine New Product Evaluator Summit in Nashville, Tenn., on December 13 and 14, where producers from across the Cotton Belt met to hear the news.
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2025 Louisiana 4-H Scholarship Application Now Open!
The 2025 Louisiana 4-H Scholarship Application is now available! We have 40 scholarships (and growing!), ranging from $250 to $3500.
All completed applications must be submitted to the Louisiana 4-H Foundation by Friday, February 28, 2025, by close of business.
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Last Minute Court Ruling Puts Farmers at Legal Risk
A last-minute court of appeals ruling could put tens of thousands of farmers in legal crosshairs for failing to register their businesses with the federal government. Farmers who operate corporations and limited liability companies are once again required to file Beneficial Ownership Information with the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) or face stiff fines or jail time.
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One Bear Harvested in Franklin Parish During Season
One black bear was harvested in Franklin Parish during Louisiana’s first bear season in decades, according to John Hanks, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) large carnivore program manager.
The season was confined to Bear Management Area 4, which includes Franklin, Tensas, Madison, East Carroll and West Carroll parishes and portions of Richland and Catahoula parishes. The portion of Franklin Parish is east of La. Hwy 425.
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From Louisiana Farm to Ag Retail Leadership: Dean Williams’ Journey to FBN
Dean Williams grew up on a farm in Louisiana and found his way to agriculture through retail. He’s spent more than 20 years selling crop protection, procuring supplies and managing ag retail warehouses and distribution businesses.
His resume includes strategic leadership stints at Nutrien/UAP, Simplot Grower Solutions, Pinnacle Agriculture and Terral Seed. He has a track record of growing businesses, optimizing profitability and navigating market challenges.
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Trade Panel Affirms Safety of American-Grown Corn
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) panel ruling that Mexico’s ban on American-grown biotech corn is a violation of the trade agreement.
“Farm Bureau applauds the USMCA panel decision regarding Mexico’s actions to ban biotech corn for human consumption and animal feed. The panel affirmed what AFBF and America’s farmers have emphasized all along – biotech corn is safe and decisions must be based on science, not politics.”
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