LSU's Agriculture VP Matt Lee Will Serve as Interim President

Matt Lee, LSU's vice president for agriculture, will serve as the university's interim president starting July 1, the university said Monday.

He will serve as interim leader while the university conducts a national search for a permanent president. The announcement follows the news that LSU President William Tate IV will step down after June 30 to become president of Rutgers University in New Jersey.

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Fly-In Delegation Hits All the Hot Spots in Washington

Last Wednesday, during the USA Rice fly-in, attendees split into two groups to visit policymakers on Capitol Hill and the Trump Administration.

A separate delegation also met with Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to thank him for his continued support on issues in Iraq, Haiti, and other trade priorities.  As a Member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Cassidy is well positioned to represent the rice industry to the Administration’s various trade entities.

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RiceAvery Davidson
Louisiana Weekly Climate Summary: May 7-13, 2025

The 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. 

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Avery Davidson
Higgins Announces Army Corps Funding for South Louisiana Projects

Congressman 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.”

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Avery Davidson
Louisiana NRCS Announces Notice of Public Meeting and Opportunity to Comment on Lower Vermilion River Watershed Draft Plan and Environmental Assessment

The 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.

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USDAAvery Davidson
Louisiana CPRA Highlights 106 Active Coastal Projects at May Board Meeting

The 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.

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Avery Davidson
Loveland Products Wins AgExcellence Award For Grant That Supports Research, Professors

A 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.

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LDI Review of NAIC Data Shows Frequent Bodily Injury Claims and Excessive Litigation Drive High Auto Rates in Louisiana

Louisiana 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.

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Avery Davidson
What is Regenerative Agriculture?

This 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.

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Livestock Markets and Dealers Support Efforts to Prevent New World Screwworm

Livestock 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.

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