After decades of plunging prices and a dwindling workforce, Louisiana shrimpers are cheering President Donald Trump’s tariffs on countries supplying the U.S. with almost all of its shrimp.
The coastal industry has for years struggled to compete against cheap foreign imports and a pattern of fraudulent mislabeling at seafood restaurants.
Read MoreSince its inception over 24 years ago, over 4,100 agricultural producers and landowners have participated in at least one phase of the Louisiana Master Farmer Program, offered by the LSU AgCenter and other program partners. This program was developed for producers, regardless of commodity or size of operation, and focuses on helping them address environmental concerns and enhance production through Best Management Practices.
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 MoreThe H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station Annual Rice Field Day will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. This event is one of the most well attended events of its kind, routinely having over 400participants. It serves as a forum for scientists, industry members, farmers, and LSU AgCenter and Rice Industry leaders to come together to celebrate success and look towards the future.
Read MoreMelanie 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.
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