Ag Commissioner Mike Strain Suggests Importing Eggs to Lower Prices
There isn't anybody who's been in the grocery store in the past few months that hasn't dealt with the exorbitant cost of eggs. Or maybe it's the 'eggsorbitant' cost of eggs. Sorry, trying to inject a little humor into a basically humorless situation.
But the crisis hasn't gone unnoticed by Louisiana state officials. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain recently met with Brooke Rollins, Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture, about how to get a handle on egg prices, and what to do about the effects of Bird Influenza.
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Crawfish Theft: An Ongoing Challenge For Acadiana Farmers
Louisiana farmers work very hard during crawfish season to gather their crop to bring to market, so when a thief comes along to steal sacks of crawfish, it takes money straight out of the hands of that farmer.
Law enforcement officials say that since the start of crawfish season, there have been various reports of crawfish thefts at ponds all across south Louisiana.
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Cattle Festival had a Float, Queen in Bacchus Parade in New Orleans
The Louisiana Cattle Festival took park in the Krewe of Bacchus Parade held Sunday in New Orleans.
The Louisiana Cattle Festival joined two dozen spectacular floats that will bring to life iconic regional events such as the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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U.S. Senators Introduce Bill to Protect Louisiana Rice from India, China
U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Boozman (R-AR), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced the Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act to protect the Louisiana rice industry against dumping of cheap produce into U.S. markets from India and China.
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Bankston Built on Farm Bureau Family Foundation
Farm Bureau means family for Henry County’s Emmanuel Bankston.
A passion for agriculture and heart for service set the foundation for Farm Bureau involvement that’s spanned three states — and three State Young Farmers Committees.
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Husband-and-wife-run Fullness Farm Celebrates 10 years of Local, Organic Produce
Perched at the south entrance of the Saturday Red Stick Farmers Market, the Fullness Farm booth holds tidy, tiered arrangements of colorful organic veggies.
There are tender ready-to-eat lettuces and leafy greens, carefully washed and portioned in clear bags. There are bundles of carrots and radishes, raw materials for recipes or snacking. Broccoli and cauliflower make an appearance in cooler months, while plump tomatoes, eggplant and scads of different peppers beckon spring and summer regulars.
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Moving Up Rice Planting Dates in South Louisiana
That might seem like an impossible dream for most of the U.S. Rice Belt, but it’s getting closer to reality as rice farmers in south Louisiana plant more of their acres using minimum-till or no-till practices.
The key seems to be doing any needed field preparation in the fall and spraying a burndown herbicide to kill winter vegetation prior to planting, according to Ronnie Levy, Extension rice specialist for Louisiana with the LSU AgCenter.
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Louisiana Commercial Poultry Untouched by Bird Flu, Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain Says
As the nation combats high egg prices due to viral chicken deaths, Louisiana officials say the state's poultry farmers remain unaffected. The virus is in the state, killing wild bird populations. The key, experts say, may be Louisiana cattle.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is spending $1 billion in a five-pronged approach to combat this year's predicted 40% increase in egg prices.
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The Farmer's Forecast: Mardi Gras Wind and Rain
A potent, fast moving storm system will move across Louisiana on Fat Tuesday. The main story with this system will be the threat for severe storms, and widespread strong, gusty wind.
This is going to be an incredibly strong storm system. Pressures are going to fall into the 978-981 millibar range over Missouri as this low pressure deepens.
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A Tale Of Two Freezes: The Impact Of Snow And Frigid Temps On The '25 Sugarcane Crop
Louisiana’s sugarcane farmers are once again assessing the impact of extreme winter weather on their fields. The most recent freeze, which brought frigid temperatures but no snowfall, raised concerns about potential damage to the 2025 crop. Unlike the historic snowstorm in early January, which provided an insulating layer of protection, this latest cold snap arrived with only rain, leaving crops without nature’s protective blanket.
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Louisiana Alert: Invasive Species Of Crab Spotted In State
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries says an invasive crab species is on the move and has been spotted in Louisiana.
The agency says that the Chinese Mitten Crab is here, and it is easy to identify by its fuzzy “mittens” on its claws and the lack of paddles on its rear legs.
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Optimum Soybean Planting Dates For The Louisiana Northeast, Central, And Southwest Regions
Data from soybean trials conducted between the 2013 – 2020 seasons in the Northeast, Central, and Southwest regions of Louisiana were used to publish an article in Agronomy Journal called “Soybean planting dates and maturity groups: Maximizing yield potential and decreasing risk in Louisiana" (Moseley et al., 2024). The data in this article suggest there are planting windows in each region that 99 - 100% of the max yield potential can be achieved.
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Louisiana Crops Newsletter: February, 2025
Soil organic matter improves soil chemical properties, which includes the increase of nutrient status, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and anion exchange capacity. Soil organic matter is also known for the slow release of nutrients to the plants, protects nutrients in available forms to the plants, and reduces nutrient leaching.
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USDA 1890 National Scholars Program
The USDA 1890s National Scholars Program application period has been reopened, and applications will be accepted through March 15th.
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Avoyelles Parish Native Elizabeth Williams Competes on Fox’s ‘The Floor’ Tonight
Louisiana native Elizabeth Williams is set to represent her home state tonight on FOX’s hit game show The Floor, hosted by Emmy Award nominee Rob Lowe.
As a JD lawyer based in Avoyelles Parish, Williams and her husband also run a family farm, continuing a six-generation agricultural legacy. Competing among 100 contestants—including reality TV stars, professional athletes, and cult-favorite actors—she relied on strategic preparation to face the show’s intense trivia challenges.
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