The afternoon session of this week’s USA Rice Trade Fly-in sparked excellent conversation and policy analysis and debate from attendees and distinguished guests.
Staff from the U.S. Department of State’s Iraq desk and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) staff responsible for Iraq shared the U.S. government’s view towards the U.S.-Iraq relationship, in which normal and growing trade and U.S. rice play a major role today and going forward.
Read MoreThe House Agriculture Committee voted to advance legislation that would make significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as part of the effort to institute federal spending cuts to pay for President Trump’s legislative agenda.
The legislation directs states to cover a portion of SNAP benefit costs, narrows eligibility requirements for the program, and aims to prevent the federal government from being able to increase monthly benefits in the future.
Read MoreSecond Harvest Food Bank is the largest of its kind in Southeast Louisiana, distributing more than 38 million meals throughout this region last year alone.
But this year, the food bank’s chief strategy officer John Sillars says he’s worried about the help the organization can provide to needy families.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Drought Team (LDT), in coordination with the national USDM authors, agreed to “status-quo” across the state this week. Thus, D0 “abnormally dry” coverage was maintained but not expanded across portions of Cameron and Vermilion parishes.
Several periods of rain during the 7-day monitoring period resulted in street/nuisance flooding in some areas, saturated or over-saturated soils, and rivers and streams rising to near or above flood stage. Moisture demands will be increasing as we move later through spring and into summer, but right now moisture reserves are more than sufficient to meet that increase.
Read MoreThe Insurance Council of Louisiana (ICL) commends lawmakers and Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) Commissioner, Tim Temple, for their collective work this Session on a legislative package aimed at providing meaningful change to the state’s insurance market.
Read MoreLow-income households frequently encounter significant barriers in accessing safe and affordable opportunities for physical activity. Many neighborhoods lack parks, recreational facilities and safe walking paths, making it difficult for families to engage in regular exercise. Interestingly, many zoos in the United States are situated in low-income areas, presenting a unique opportunity to address the lack of accessible recreational spaces.
Read MoreConsuming soybeans can greatly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and heart disease.
St. Francis Medical Group Nutritionist Jen Avis stopped by Good Morning ArkLaMiss to discuss the benefits of eating soybeans.
According to Healthline, soybeans are one of the best sources of plant-based protein.
Read MoreFeral hogs are causing a problem for many in Southwest Louisiana, and not just hunters and landowners.
These hogs impact wildlife, uproot plants, and can even increase erosion, according to experts. They typically travel in packs, making their way through the wilderness with little regard to what stands in the way.
Read MoreThanks to Buck Leonards and the staff at Louisiana Farm & Ranch for providing the digital edition.
Read MoreHouse Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15) issued the following statement after the committee passed its portion of H. Con. Res. 14 Title 2001(b)(1):
"Our section of the One Big, Beautiful Bill restores integrity to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides relief to farmers, invests in the future of rural America, and prevents the largest tax increase on American families.”
Read MoreA sugar refinery in St. James Parish that produces more than 1.2 million tons of granulated sugars and molasses annually is seeking to renew its air permit with the state Department of Environmental Quality.
Louisiana Sugar Refining LLC in Gramercy handles roughly two-thirds of the sugar cane crop grown in Louisiana. It receives raw sugar from eight mills that process sugar from 800 farmers in the state.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Commissioner Mike Strain, DVM, applauds the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to close the United States’ southern border to shipments of cattle, bison, and horses, due to the continued and rapid northward movement of New World Screwworm (NWS, Cochliomyia hominivorax) in Mexico.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced $26.5 million in grant funding available through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP) to help local and regional food entities develop, coordinate, and expand producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets, and local food enterprises. LAMP includes the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), and the Regional Food System Partnerships (RFSP). USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is accepting applications for the grant programs until June 27, 2025.
Read MoreA man from Echo was arrested after a local farmer reported crawfish thefts, according to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office.
RPSO received the first complaint from the Cheneyville/Echo area on April 26, stating multiple traps were emptied from the previous night and the suspect appeared to have used the farmer’s boat.
Read MoreCentral Louisiana bee farmers are calling for more eyes on what is being labeled as a ‘concerning’ increase in bee deaths nationwide.
A Louisiana native and multi-generational bee farmer, Dalton Lemoine, is the owner of Lemoine’s Honey in Deville. His business has seen several hardships throughout its lifetime, with Dalton noting Louisiana’s bout with drought conditions in 2023, substantially lowering profits.
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