Over the next several weeks, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the June Agricultural Survey. The agency will contact nearly 92,000 producers across the nation to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1, 2025.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Drought Team (LDT), in coordination with the national USDM authors, agreed to eliminate the swath of D0 (“abnormally dry”) across southern Cameron and Vermilion parishes, leaving the entire state free of any drought classifications for the first time since the March 11 depiction.
After an approximately two-week period of dryness in April, Louisiana has seemingly been hit with round after round of rain. While these periods of rain have prevented drought conditions from developing, they have resulting in flooding and left soils saturated in many sections of the state. The bright spot is Louisiana is in good shape to meet increasing hydrological demands as we move towards summer.
Read MoreCongressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) announced that South Louisiana waterway projects will receive robust funding in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers FY 2025 Army Civil Work Plan.
“Maintaining our ports and waterways is an investment in our future,” said Congressman Higgins. “My office will continue to work closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local stakeholders to prioritize funding for dredging and waterway projects in South Louisiana.”
Read MoreBaton Rouge native and new LSU graduate Janice Pearson has always been passionate about Louisiana’s wild spaces. With a natural resource and ecology management degree, she’s turning that passion into purpose as she steps into a new role with LSU’s School of Renewable Natural Resources as a wildlife research technician.
Read MoreThe USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in Louisiana along with the Vermilion Soil and Water Conservation District (VSWCD) have announced a watershed plan and environmental assessment for the Lower Vermilion River Watershed (LVRW) and offer the public an opportunity to comment on the plan via a public meeting and/or in written comments.
Local residents, agricultural producers and the VSWCD have been developing a plan to manage water issues in the LVRW since conceptual ideas were formulated in a 1964 plan.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) reported at its May 2025 board meeting that it currently has 106 active projects underway across the coast, with a focus on hurricane protection, marsh creation, and ecosystem restoration.
The CPRA’s update detailed that out of the 106 total projects, 39 are in construction, 63 are in the engineering and design phase, and four are in planning.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host its next saddle microchipping event on Friday, May 30, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. It will be held at the Burton Complex located at 7001 Gulf Highway in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in conjunction with the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association.
Read MoreA seven-year collaboration between Loveland Products, Inc., and the LSU AgCenter is driving innovation in rice breeding and agricultural research. Through the LPI Research Station Support Fund, Loveland has provided critical resources that have enabled the AgCenter to expand its rice breeding program, launch impactful grant writing initiatives and support early-stage research projects.
Read MoreLouisiana has a higher rate of bodily injury claims and insured losses compared to most of its neighboring states, according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
“The numbers overwhelmingly show that Louisiana’s bodily injury claims environment is unsustainable compared to national and regional markets,” said Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple.
Read MoreThis is the first in a series of columns featuring conversations with state Farm Bureau presidents about current issues in agriculture. Joe Newland is president of Kansas Farm Bureau. He and his wife, Dana, farm 4,000 acres of wheat, corn, soybeans and hay, in addition to managing a 450-head cow-calf beef cattle herd.
Read MoreLivestock markets and dealers strongly support recent efforts to stop the spread of the New World Screwworm (NWS) into the U.S.
The introduction of the bipartisan and bicameral Strengthening Tactics to Obstruct the Population of Screwworms (STOP Screwworms) Act, which would authorize funds for and direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to begin construction on a new sterile fly production facility to combat the growing NWS outbreak, was welcomed by livestock marketers and dealers.
Read MoreThe 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.
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