This report contains the results from the Crop Progress and Condition weekly survey. The survey is completed by parish extension agents’ visual observations and contact with producers in their parish.
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In USDA’s March 31 Prospective Plantings report, farmers said they intended to plant 9.87 million acres of cotton this year – down 12% from last year. Some industry observers expected as much as a 15% decline. I wonder now if, in fact, that’s where we’re headed. New crop prices (Dec.‘25 futures) haven’t helped.
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On May 1, West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 38-year-old Johnny L. Payne II of Port Allen in West Baton Rouge Parish regarding theft of livestock
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A flood watch is in effect from Rodessa to Venice, and Lake Providence to Johnson’s Bayou. If you’re keeping score, that means the entire state is under a flood watch, and most of the state is under that watch until Thursday afternoon. Northern parts of Louisiana should get more of a reprieve on Wednesday, so roughly north of a Hornbeck to Ferriday line, that watch expires Wednesday morning.
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More than 15,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture employees have taken one of the Trump administration’s two financial incentive offers to leave the agency, according to a readout from a USDA briefing with congressional staff seen by Reuters.
The sum represents about 15% of the USDA’s total workforce.
President Donald Trump’s administration has offered federal employees several months of pay and benefits if they opt to leave their jobs as part of his effort with billionaire ally Elon Musk to shrink the federal workforce.
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The stakes are high with the latest trade war. While the risks of losing more market share into China are a concern, the upside potential of a trade deal with China could be monumental.
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The University of Louisiana Monroe hosted semifinalist interviews on April 30 as part of the ongoing search for its next president. The three candidates—Dr. Jonathan Ambrose, Mr. Chris Broadwater, and Dr. Carrie Castille participated in public interviews held at Bayou Pointe, where faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members had the opportunity to engage and hear directly from each candidate.
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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today announced the latest slate of presidential appointments for key Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Rural Development (RD) State Director roles.
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In late 2024 and into early 2025, headlines were everywhere— discussing the potential dangers of H5N1, otherwise known as avian influenza, or more simply, the bird flu. Hundreds of millions of birds, including millions of egg-laying hens, needed to be culled, resulting in a massive egg shortage that caused the price of a dozen eggs to skyrocket. One variant was later found in dairy cows, leading the U.S. government to implement a national milk testing strategy. Several humans (mostly dairy or farm workers) were also infected, including a Louisiana farmer who died after contracting it from his backyard flock.
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Brazilian rice exports to Central America are keeping expectations high and are a formidable incentive for southern Brazilian states’ farmers to prepare for another crop year, according to Fedearroz, the industry’s strong lobby.
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The 2025 Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival has officially come to a close — but not without one last celebration of Cajun culture, crawfish creativity, and community spirit.
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The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host a saddle microchipping event on Friday, May 16, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. It will be held at the LSU AgCenter’s West Feliciana Parish office located at 10032 West Feliciana Parkway in St. Francisville.
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Southern University Ag Center's livestock program hosted the Jaguar Jackpot Roping on Sunday.
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It’s a tiny insect with a massive impact, but in 2025, honeybee populations in Louisiana are facing their worst decline on record.
Beekeepers across the state are raising the alarm after reporting an estimated 60% loss of honeybee colonies this year alone. Experts warn the collapse of these vital pollinators could ripple far beyond the hive—impacting everything from crop production to grocery prices.
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Now is the time to get your crawfish, as average prices for live and boiled crawfish are at the lowest they have been all season, The Crawfish App reported Friday.
The cost of live crawfish is around $2.60 per pound, while boiled crawfish dropped around 10 cents to $4.89 per pound for the first weekend of May.
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