U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that USDA will be delivering any assistance it can for communities and agricultural producers affected by the weekend storms that cut a path of devastation through the South and Midwest.
These storms have sparked tornadoes, dust storms and wildfires that have engulfed hundreds of square miles, left hundreds of thousands of homes without power and taken dozens of lives.
Read MoreThese volunteers are trying to change the wooded landscape at this small nature preserve in Arnaudville.
“This acre back here has a lot of invasives, tallows, Chinese privet, honeysuckle. This could use some more diversity,” said Phyllis Grifford.
Read MoreThis month’s 2024/25 U.S. corn outlook remains unchanged relative to last month. The season-average corn price received by producers also remains unchanged at $4.35 per bushel. As with corn, U.S. 2024/25 soybean supply and use projections remain unchanged. The soybean oil balance sheet includes higher exports and lower soybean oil used for biofuel. But unlike corn, seasonaverage soybean price has been revised downward by 15 cents to $9.95 per bushel.
Read More“Eat your vegetables” is a refrain that children have heard, and often bristled at, for as long as there have been both children and vegetables. But a few innovative LSU AgCenter agents have developed a formula that eases youth into making healthier choices while also shining a spotlight on how their food is sourced.
Read MoreI used ChatGPT to see how they believe how a Louisiana crawfish boil should be executed and how it should look.
Here's what ChatGPT had to say: A Louisiana-style crawfish boil is packed with bold flavors, spices, and classic ingredients.
Read MoreDr. Mike Strain, Louisiana’s Agriculture Commissioner, discusses the impact of tariffs on the state’s agriculture and seafood industries. He emphasizes the importance of promoting local seafood, which is a significant part of Louisiana’s economy, contributing about $1.6 billion annually. Strain highlights the need to enjoy and support local seafood, such as crawfish, shrimp, and crabs, which are currently abundant and reasonably priced.
Read MoreNominations are underway for the 26th class of Peanut Efficiency Award winners. Farm Press is looking to recognize four peanut growers from across the peanut belt who produce high yields using regenerative practices.
"The awards are determined by the producer’s entire peanut operation rather than an individual farm or small plots, and the data submitted is kept confidential," says Farm Progress Senior Content Director Brad Haire.
Read MoreHoney production during 2024 from Louisiana producers with five or more colonies totaled 3.40 million pounds, up 48 percent from 2023. There were 68,000 honey producing colonies in 2024, up 17,000 colonies from previous year. Yield per colony averaged 50 pounds of honey, up 11 percent from 2023. Honey stocks held by producers on December 15, 2024, were 1,156,000 pounds, up 618 percent from a year earlier.
Read MoreSpring is near in Louisiana. The birds are singing, and flowers are beginning to blossom in our landscapes.
It’s a great time to be outdoors. Watch your step, though, or you might become a victim of another sign of the changing seasons: fire ants.
Read MoreThe latest trade dispute between the U.S. and the European Union is hitting close to home, as the EU moves forward with $28 billion in retaliatory tariffs in response to the Trump administration’s increase on steel and aluminum tariffs.
While international trade disputes may seem like a high-level game of economic chess, the reality is that Louisiana’s farmers, manufacturers, and exporters could be among the hardest hit.
Read MoreCraving seafood? Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says this is the time to get some crabs from your favorite local seafood spot … because they’re some of the BIGGEST he’s ever seen.
“I was in St. Bernard Parish at White Boot Warriors and he’s got some of the biggest crabs I’ve ever seen. I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve never crabs this fat,” Strain pointed out enthusiastically.
Read MoreCotton producers in Louisiana may be eligible for Loan Deficiency Payments (LDP) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). LDPs are payments made to producers who, although eligible to obtain a Marketing Assistance Loan, agree to forgo the loan in return for a payment on the eligible commodity. The deadline to apply for an LDP on 2024 crop-year cotton is May 31, 2025.
Read MoreWith the threat of tariffs being thrown left and right, many farmers here in Southwest Louisiana are feeling uncertain.
“It is indeed the biggest problem we are facing, the uncertainty of what is going to happen in the market, the tariffs are on, then the tariffs are off,” said local farmer Hilery Gobert
Read MoreLast week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS) released the 2025 Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD) allocations, with USA Rice receiving nearly $5 million, in addition to the $6.5 million in Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) funds allocated at the end of last year.
Read MoreIf you participate in USDA programs, including our farm loan and conservation programs, it’s time to start preparing for tax season. It is important to not overlook USDA payments when calculating your taxes. USDA issues documentation for your taxes, including 1098 forms for USDA farm loans and 1099 forms for program payments.
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