Melanie Netterville Beavers grew up riding horses on the land she now farms in southern Tensas Parish. That’s where the seed was planted for a future she once only dreamed about.
“And I always thought, you know, how cool would it be to be the farmer?” she said.
As a young girl, Melanie had no idea how to make that dream a reality.
Read MoreApril is a month where the cattle industry really gets busy, this year is no different, except, we have some exciting things happening. For example, price for slaughter steers and heifers (fat cattle) are setting new records and calf and yearling prices continue to set new highs.
Read MoreWhile it’s impossible to tell you individual impacts at each location, I did want to share this resource with you all regarding river and lake forecasts over the next few weeks. www.water.noaa.gov will be an excellent resource to track current levels, and forecast crests. Louisiana is covered in lots of water, and there will be significant flooding possible in areas like Spring Bayou in Avoyelles Parish, and on Saline and Larto.
Read MoreThe United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimates Louisiana farmers will plant 1.05 million acres of soybean in 2025. This estimate is down 5% from 2024.
By March 30th, farmers had planted 6% of the Louisiana soybean crop which is 2% more than the 5-year average, according to the USDA-NASS.
Read MoreUSDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the agency can’t yet quantify how farmers will be impacted by President Donald Trump’s latest tariffs. According to her, the full impact may not be known until late summer or even early fall, well after planting season.
Read MoreWhite House officials said that, beginning April 9, all Thai rice imports to the United States will face an additional tariff of 36%. The United States is the Western Hemisphere’s largest rice buyer, and since the mid-1980s Thailand has been the country’s leading foreign supplier of rice, especially aromatic varieties, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service.
Read MoreLouisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced that a harvested deer in Catahoula Parish was discovered to have been infected with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
LDWF said the details were shared with Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) members at a meeting on April 3.
Read MorePresident Donald Trump's new tariffs raise questions for farmers across Louisiana, many of whom are concerned about their livelihoods.
Trump's sweeping new tariffs announced Wednesday have left Louisiana farmers like Donald Schexnayder with some uncertainty on what comes next.
Read MoreIt looks like another round of severe weather for Louisiana on Saturday. We’ve had a few nasty storms over north Louisiana these last few days, while the rest of the state has been dealing with 30-50 mph wind gusts. There’s more wind on the way, and a cold snap thrown in. It’s not quite Easter, but I think this will go down as the Easter snap.
Read MoreSome farmers are feeling the effects of Trump’s freeze on programs under the farm bill.
“We should be at the top, not at the bottom, and right now we’re sold out by bad decisions our government has made,” said Matt Frey with Four Oaks Farms in Morganza.
Frey says the prices of everything today make it hard to be a farmer, one of Louisiana’s top industries.
Read MorePresident Trump’s newly instated tariffs have plenty of people scrambling for answers as to what industries might be impacted and how deeply. Consumers closer to home may feel the impacts simply by going to the grocery store.
Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain told WWL’s Tommy Tucker that financial pains will be felt across the board.
Read MoreCongressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) issued the following statement of support after President Trump announced new tariffs on imported goods, which will directly benefit America’s seafood and agricultural producers.
“We are taking strong action to put America First,” said Congressman Higgins. “Unrighteous trade practices have disrupted fair market conditions and threatened American industry. I have encouraged the White House to levy significant tariffs on imported seafood and rice, and I support President Trump’s efforts to level the playing field and protect America’s domestic industry. Yesterday’s trade actions are a necessary measure.”
Read MoreAs conversations around seed oils grow, U.S. soybean farmers can feel confident that their investment in the edible oils market is backed by strong, peer-reviewed science. Research continues to reaffirm the health benefits of seed oils, particularly soybean oil, emphasizing its value in the food industry and strengthening consumer trust in U.S. Soy.
Read MoreWednesday, President Trump announced that he’s invoking his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 and signing an Executive Order imposing reciprocal tariffs on nearly every country across the world. The Executive Order finds that underlying conditions, including both tariff and non-tariff barriers of foreign trading partners, have caused a threat to the national security and economy of the United States.
Read MoreSometimes I wonder why there is a need for one special day—Earth Day—to celebrate the bountiful natural resources surrounding us in Florida or anywhere else.
On my family’s farm we achieve Earth Day objectives throughout the year, guided by respect for the blessings natural resources provide. We must conserve and protect natural resources to grow food and sustain our farm for future generations.
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