USDA Invests $2 Million to Provide Risk Management Training to Farmers, Ranchers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced up to $2 million is available for cooperative agreements for risk management training programs that support American farmers and ranchers.
This funding provides the needed resources for organizations such as universities, county cooperative extension offices, and nonprofit organizations, to develop education tools to help producers learn how to effectively manage long-term risks and challenges.
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Legacy of Leadership: Pete deGravelles′ Impact on Agriculture Lives On
Pete deGravelles’ legacy is deeply intertwined with agriculture, community service and leadership. Throughout his life, deGravelles had a strong commitment to nurturing future leaders, not only in the agricultural sector but for all organizations in which he was involved.
Two of his daughters, Renée DeMoss and Diane Trull, are honoring their late father by establishing the Pete deGravelles Ag Leadership Endowment to support the LSU AgCenter’s Ag Leadership Development Program.
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LDWF To Launch Rainbow Trout Season In 17 Parishes On January 14th
On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, Rainbow Trout Season will be stocked in all of 17 of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Get Out and Fish Ponds.
In addition, the Beginner Rainbow Trout Fishing course is also available for those needed to learn tips and tricks for catching novelty fish.
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Coming Soon: The LSU AgCenter & 4-H Livestock Show
Cenla students will soon get the chance to showcase their hard work and talents at the upcoming 4H Livestock Show.
Jessie McDowell, a market lamb exhibitor from Deville, has been showing her animals in 4H for eight years.
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Louisiana Farm & Ranch: January 2025
Thanks to Buck Leonards and the team at Louisiana Farm & Ranch for making the digital edition available.
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Rice Seed Availability Tightens Even More For 2025
Planted rice acreage that was once predictable has shifted patterns, with acres inching higher the past three consecutive years. That, in addition to hurricane weather, tightened seed supply for one of the largest players in the market.
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New Law Aims to Support La. Seafood Industry
A new law is now in affect across the state requiring restaurants to provide transparency on where they are sourcing their seafood.
Louisiana Law Act 148 became effective on Jan. 1, and requires restaurants that serve seafood to have the origins of their seafood listed on their menus.
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Provisia® Rice: Past Lessons Set Stage for Future Success
We hope to see you in Memphis, Tennessee on Jan. 27 at the Conservation System Cotton & Rice Conference at the Hilton Hotel East Memphis, where Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag CEO, will be leading two conference breakout sessions entitled Provisia Rice: Past Lessons Set Stage for Future Success. During these session, Dr. Walker will share key learnings from recent seasons that can help rice farmers best manage Provisia varieties and the Provisia Rice System for the 2025 season.
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US Cotton Growers: Enroll Now For Sustainability Programs
U.S. cotton growers can now enroll in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and apply for the Climate Smart Cotton Program for the 2025 crop year. Grower enrollment specialists are available to provide personalized, regional-specific support, answer questions, and guide producers through the process
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USDA Announces 2025 Enrollment Periods For Crop and Dairy Safety-Net Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the 2025 enrollment periods for key safety-net programs – Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) as well as Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC). Agricultural producers can submit applications to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) for ARC and PLC for the 2025 crop year from Jan. 21 to April 15 and for DMC for the 2025 coverage year from Jan. 29 to March 31.
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With Another Restoration Project, Environmentalists Say North America’s Largest River Swamp is Shrinking
On a warm Saturday in October, conservationist Dean Wilson guided his boat through a channel in the Atchafalaya Basin, pointing out hollowed-out Bald cypress trees where minks, raccoons and otters nest during high water.
The basin is the largest remaining contiguous track of wetland forest in North America — and a place Wilson knows well.
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The Farmer's Forecast: Cold Coming, But Don't Believe Everything You See on Social Media
Howdy folks! I had to come here to clear up some of the messaging going around social media, and regular media regarding the potential for Arctic air to move into Louisiana by late next weekend into the week after. Along with this cold, some models are showing the potential for wintry precipitation across Louisiana. Here’s the crazy thing. We just did this over the last 10 days.
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Louisiana Crop Production: January 2025
Louisiana corn area harvested is 440,000, down 35 percent from 2023. The average yield is estimated at 185 bushels per acre, up 10 bushels from last year. Production totaled 81.4 million bushels, down 32 percent from 2023.
Upland cotton harvested acres is 148,000, up 29 percent from 2023. The yield is expected to average 1,070 pound.
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Farm Business Management And Benchmarking Competitive Grants Program
The Farm Business Management and Benchmarking (FBMB) Competitive Grants Program provides funds for improving the farm management knowledge and skills of agricultural producers by maintaining and expanding a national, publicly available farm financial management database to support improved farm management.
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New USDA Borrower Aids Could Be Critical In 2025
More farmers may be seeking USDA Farm Service Agency direct and guaranteed loans this winter because of the financial situations they find themselves in due to multiple years of high input costs, low commodity prices and adverse weather conditions.
For that reason, they need to be aware that FSA administrators have launched several new programs aimed at improving the lending process, including a Farm Loan Assistance Tool designed to help guide them through USDA’s lending programs.
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