The Rice Technical Working Group (RTWG), which convenes every two years, bringing together research and extension faculty, and rice industry professionals to exchange information, engage in cooperative planning, and review rice research, will meet February 17-20 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel.
The RTWG has grown to become one of the largest rice-focused meetings in the country, with more than 300 participants from around the world attending the 2023 meeting.
Read MoreGovernor Jeff Landry announced appointments to the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System and Board of Regents, including Ted Glaser of Pointe Coupee Parish.
Read MoreLouisiana’s Chronic Wasting Disease news took another turn for the worse last week when a state agency reported three more positive cases in captive deer facilities in three new parishes. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry said it detected the cases while investigating movement records following a CWD positive test found in a Jeff Davis Parish facility in November.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers, including dairy producers impacted by H5N1, that the deadline to apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) is Jan. 30, 2025, for losses due to specific adverse conditions that occurred in 2024.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced that 15 additional states have enrolled in the National Milk Testing Strategy, bringing the total number of states to 28 in roughly one month since the program launched. These 28 states represent nearly 65% of the nation’s milk production. In addition, USDA is sharing updates on its expedited work to support vaccine development for use in poultry and bovine species, as part of a multi-faceted effort to fight the spread of H5N1.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing a total of $14.4 million in grants and technical assistance through two separately funded projects to support urban agriculture and innovative production. USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP) is making available $2.5 million for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (UAIP) grants, building on $53.7 million invested in UAIP grant projects by OUAIP since 2020.
Read MoreU.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the appointment or reappointment of 53 members to serve on seven agricultural trade advisory committees.
The advisory committee system was created by Congress in 1974 to ensure that U.S. agricultural stakeholders have input and insight into U.S. trade policy and negotiating objectives.
Read MoreThe new year always feels like a fresh start, a time to plan for the months ahead and think about what needs to get done. For farmers, it’s a chance to think about our upcoming planting season, what we want our herds to look like or even what projects around the farm we plan to take on. It’s also a chance to look beyond our farms and look toward what challenges and opportunities lie ahead for American agriculture in 2025.
One looming challenge for agriculture this year is our projected trade deficit. According to the USDA’s latest outlook, we are expecting a $45.5 billion agricultural trade deficit for 2025.
Read MoreEveryone loves a sequel — don’t they? Well, ready or not, we’re gearing up for a second showdown between the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) union and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). A three-day strike last fall (Oct. 1-3) delivered a tentative agreement for a 62% base wage increase for hourly dockworkers (from $39 to $63 per hour) over six years, as well as an extension of the master contract to allow more time for final negotiations. However, with that extension set to expire on Jan. 15, the union could reignite tensions by calling a new work stoppage, potentially disrupting most non-bulk shipping at U.S. East Coast and Gulf ports once again.
Read MoreUSA Rice is taking to the road in partnership with local UK brand Peacock Premium, delivering U.S. long grain rice to customers throughout the nation from a customized 10-ton truck.
Over the next three years, the truck, branded with eye-catching Peacock graphics, is scheduled to travel the length and breadth of England, Wales, and Scotland – at least 30,000 miles a year being seen by more than 12 million people.
An LSU veterinarian says that the recent death of a Louisiana man from a strain of the bird flu is no reason for panic, despite the death being the first recorded fatality of the newest uptick in bird flu infections.
Read MoreAs the 119th Congress begins, the American Sugar Alliance (ASA) congratulates both the new and returning leaders of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees: Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), as well as House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15) and Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN-02).
Read MoreCongress recently passed a bill with very strong bipartisan support that includes a three-month continuing resolution funding the government to this March, plus a one-year farm bill extension, natural disaster aid, and agricultural economic assistance. Thank you to House Speaker Mike Johnson, who represents my district here in Louisiana, for avoiding a government shutdown and looking out for the interests of farmers nationwide.
Speaker Johnson’s staffers visited my farm last year, and it meant a lot that they heard what I had to say.
Read MoreI’m not sure when Cotton Grower got into the business of prognosticating anticipated cotton acreage for the coming year as part of our January issue. It was definitely before my time in the editor’s chair (thanks, everybody). But it’s an intriguing exercise that generally ends up being equal parts frustrating and surprisingly rewarding.
Maybe not as equal this year.
Read MoreWith temperatures dipping near or below freezing in parts of the state this week, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., urges livestock and pet owners to take necessary precautions to protect their animals. This is also the time to protect plants, pipes, and, of course, people.
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