Summer break is just around the corner. If you’re involved in 4-H or FFA or Community Club and need help financing your ag income producing project, reach out to your local FSA office to apply. Youth loans are for qualified applicants ages of 10-21. The maximum loan amount is $10,000 with a term of up to seven years.
Read MoreDespite some limited reforms, the Louisiana insurance market is still extremely challenging for consumers, local businesses, and insurers. Legal system abuse continues to worsen the situation by driving up the cost of insurance and imposing a “tort tax” on all Louisianans.
Read MoreSpring is in full swing as producers work to get any remaining cool season forages off pastures to allow for warm season forages to make their way through. Remember that forages, such as our winter annuals, can easily shade out summer perennials like bermudagrass. Your local extension agent can help you develop a plan to ensure maximum production of warm season forages on your operation.
Read MoreWarm-season perennial grasses such as bahiagrass, bermudagrass, and dallisgrass make up most of the acres of improved pasture in Louisiana. They also produce most of the grass hay harvested in the state. These grasses, if properly managed, are capable of remaining productive for many years after establishment, but initial establishment costs can be high.
Read MoreVariety selection is an important decision that producers must make when establishing forages in pastures. Many varieties of forage crops are marketed in Louisiana and scientists with the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center periodically conduct variety trials with warm-season forages. This information is used to make suggestions each year concerning warm-season forages for producers to consider utilizing.
Read MoreU.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the CRAWDAD Act to support Louisiana crawfish producers through severe weather challenges by making them eligible for Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) funding on a permanent basis, ensuring that they have access to the emergency support they need without bureaucratic delays. The bill would also classify a drought as a weather event that the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture could declare as an emergency.
Read MoreU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the suspension of live cattle, horse, and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border due to the continued and rapid northward spread of New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico, effective immediately. NWS has been recently detected in remote farms with minimal cattle movement as far north as Oaxaca and Veracruz, about 700 miles away from the U.S. border.
Read MoreThe fight between the rural parishes and the industries supporting carbon capture and sequestration is not over.
On Monday, Allen Parish approved an ordinance establishing regulations for carbon storage wells.
Read MoreThe 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.
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