The 2025 soybean planting season in Louisiana began favorably, with 80% of the crop planted by May 4th, significantly ahead of the 5-year average of 54%. However, recent heavy rainfall has introduced concerns. Late April storms caused flooding in some fields, necessitating replanting in certain areas.
Read MoreDr. Raquel Square Ayles has been named the Associate Vice Chancellor for Extension and Outreach at the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center. The announcement was made during the Southern University Board of Supervisors meeting on May 8, 2025.
Read MoreDr. Tiffany Franklin has been named the Vice Chancellor for Extension and Outreach at the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center. The announcement was made during the Southern University Board of Supervisors meeting on May 8, 2025. She will assume the position on June 1, 2025.
Read MoreThree bills aimed at leveling the playing field for Louisiana landowners facing carbon capture pipelines and underground injection plans made it out of a legislative committee on Wednesday, but they may face a tough road ahead.
A fourth bill that would direct revenues from those projects to a limited group of parish governments also made it out of the House committee.
Read MoreHurricane season begins June 1, but the National Weather Service face serious staffing challenges. Since the start of President Trump’s second term, nearly 1000 employees have left, leaving key offices in cities like Lake Charles, Houston, and Tampa understaffed. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim warns that this could delay critical weather alerts or spread inaccurate information.
Read MoreLouisiana’s state income tax was lowered to three percent at the beginning of the year and House Republicans would like to lower it again. The lower chamber has approved a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to lower the state income tax from 3-percent to 2.75 percent beginning January 1st, 2027.
Read MoreU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today held the inaugural Farmers First roundtable at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Secretary Rollins hosted Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, the Board of Directors for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), and over 20 farmers and ranchers from 11 states who run smaller-scale, independent, family-owned operations. These operations are at the heart of American agriculture and their continued success is critical for the economic viability of the industry.
Read MoreThe Secretary of Agriculture says it’s a new day for trade negotiations in America.
USDA’s Brooke Rollins says members of the Trump administration have been working around the clock to finalize new trade deals. “What normally would take 2 years to reach a trade agreement, we’re doing in the course of 30, 60, and 90 days,” she says.
Read MoreToday, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for President Donald Trump’s trade agreement-in-principle with the United Kingdom (U.K.). Most importantly, the agreement includes market access for beef. This announcement follows years of NCBA’s hard work building the foundation for a trade deal with the U.K., including numerous meetings with British industry stakeholders, Members of Parliament, the British Embassy, the U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and other top British authorities.
Read MoreThe American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2025 Communications Award winners named at this year’s Communications Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, include 16 standout states. The competition recognizes state Farm Bureau professionals from across the country for their exceptional work in communications.
Read MoreAmerican Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the announced trade deal between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Read MoreSen. John Kennedy (R-La), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today reintroduced the Crawfish Recovery Assistance from Weather Disasters and Droughts (CRAWDAD) Act. The bill would support Louisiana crawfish jobs when severe weather puts strain on the industry.
Read MorePolicy decisions in Washington, D.C., at on the state level affect everyone, but maybe agriculture more than most. From major efforts like the farm bill to more niche topics such as nutrition assistance, conservation, and rural development, policies play a huge role in agriculture and on the way our food system operates.
It’s incredibly important that ag has a presence in the making of these decisions. We need to have a seat at the table, not just spend our time producing food for the table.
Read MoreWhile 56% of farmers say they believe the ongoing trade disputes with China and other countries will hurt them financially this year, 70% say they believe the U.S. and agriculture specifically will benefit in the long-term. Willing to endure short-term pain for long-term gain might best describe U.S. farmers’ current sentiment regarding ongoing trade and tariff troubles with China and other countries.
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