U.S. cotton acres planted are expected to drop 14.5% this year according to the National Cotton Council’s survey. If realized, this would be the lowest acreage since 2015 and the sixth lowest going back all the way to 1975. Yet last week (Feb. 28), cotton prices (nearby old crop May 2025 futures) dropped to 65 cents – the lowest in roughly five years. New crop December 2025 stands at roughly 68 cents.
Read MoreAt the 90th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show, AgCenter vice president and dean of the College of Agriculture Matt Lee surprised and — by the sound of the applause from those in attendance — delighted the crowd when he named Todd Tarifa official associate director of youth development.
Read MoreFor the past two decades, dozens of researchers and scientists have come through the LSU AgCenter as a part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s collaborative research programs, including its Scientific Exchange Program. The program brings in scholars from around the world to become acclimated to agriculture research in the United States.
Read MoreFarmers and meat producers across the U.S. can expect the new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China and the retaliatory action from those countries to hurt their bottom lines by billions of dollars if they stay in place a while, and consumers could quickly see higher prices for produce and ground beef.
Read MoreSeveral days a week, students at Martial Billeaud Elementary School in Lafayette can be found outside in shifts, tending to a garden nestled in a small plot beside their school building, watering, weeding and debugging an array of vegetables.
Read MoreThe U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) helped introduce legislation to protect the rice industry against dumping of cheap produce into U.S. markets from India and China.
The Prioritizing Offensive Agricultural Disputes and Enforcement Act would establish a joint task force on agricultural trade enforcement led by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
Read MoreRice farmers will be the first to receive a much-anticipated new herbicide mode of action - the first for the industry in almost 40 years. FMC developed Dodhylex Active, the key ingredient in the newly named Keenali Complete - aiming for release in 2026 pending EPA approval.
Read MoreU.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy is calling on the Department of the Treasury to crack down on international financing that he says is actively harming the domestic shrimp industry.
In a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Cassidy warned that U.S. taxpayer dollars are indirectly funding foreign shrimp aquaculture expansion, putting American shrimpers at a severe disadvantage.
Read MoreThere 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.
Read MoreLouisiana 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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreU.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.
Read MoreFarm 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.
Read MorePerched 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.
Read MoreThat 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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