American Sugar Cane League Announces New Variety Highlighting Successful Research Partnership
The American Sugar Cane League, in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the LSU AgCenter, has announced the release of USDS ARS HoCP 18-803, another new variety for Louisiana sugarcane farmers to utilize.
This milestone is the latest result of more than five decades of collaboration between the League and its research partners. It also stands as a clear example of what sustained investment and industry-wide commitment can deliver.
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Bill Expanding Port Authority Advances in Louisiana Legislature
A bill moving through the Louisiana Legislature is raising interest and expectations in Northeast Louisiana, as Senate Bill 146 aims to reshape the region’s transportation infrastructure.
“I feel like we can help our farmers build more and strengthen Louisiana’s overall economy,” said Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews.
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Louisiana Bull Rider Recovering Well After Taking Horn to the Neck
It’s been three months since Louisiana native Zach Naegele experienced first-hand just how dangerous riding rodeo can be. It was a ride that nearly killed him, sending him on a downward spiral.
“The first month was extremely hard,” said Naegele. “I fell into depression, couldn’t eat, got extremely skinny, just not talking to nobody. Just staying at the house and seeing this every time I looked in the mirror, it was not a good feeling.”
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Greaux the Good is Cultivating Community Across North Louisiana by Doubling Shoppers’ Food Funds
Every summer across North Louisiana farmers’ markets open their doors and invite community members to check off their grocery lists as they fill their baskets with nutritious produce, meats, and more. Farmers’ markets, farm stands, and other similar food businesses have become a staple food source for many residents in North Louisiana, and the food access they provide to residents in the region has been purposefully expanded through partnership with Greaux the Good, a program that doubles shoppers’ benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and/or the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP).
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CENLA Agriculture Teacher Gains National Recognition For Teaching Excellence
A core part of the economy in Central Louisiana, which includes Avoyelles Parish, comes from agriculture. It is why third-grade agriculture teacher Chantelle Hataway from Lafargue Elementary School is exposing her classes to what agriculture is, and how it is an integral part of society and grows the local economy.
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Farm Bureau: Flawed Process = Flawed Report
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the flawed process that led to a flawed White House report issued by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission.
“When I came to Washington to serve as president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, I was surprised by the multiple layers of public review and public comment behind government-issued regulations and reports. In time, I came to appreciate the credibility that results from careful vetting, thorough review and transparency.”
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The Rising Tide Of Costs For Louisiana Sugarcane Farmers
Louisiana sugarcane grower Travis Medine approached the 101st annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C., with mixed feelings. “It’s difficult to leave because you’re always thinking about what you could be doing,” he admitted, citing a constant mental list of unfinished tasks.
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Thompson, Hill, and Bipartisan Leaders Release Digital Asset Market Structure Legislation
House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill (AR-02) today introduced the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act. The legislation is the product of the committees' historic partnership to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets in the United States and builds upon H.R. 4763, the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, which passed the House on a bipartisan basis in the 118th Congress.
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USDA Invests $200M to Expand Timber Production, Strengthen Rural Economies, Secure American Industry
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced a bold $200 million investment to implement the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service’s National Active Forest Management Strategy (PDF, 24.7 MB), a key initiative to increase timber harvest, improve forest health and productivity, reduce wildfire risk, and support rural prosperity in forest communities.
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Congress Shouldn't Cut Federal Conservation Funds That Help Local Farmers
I am a second-generation farmer from Eunice, and we produce rice, soybeans and crawfish.
Farmers can respond to market changes, and we support our leaders to re-balance global trade and eliminate waste in federal spending. But, as Congress begins work on budget reconciliation and a new Farm Bill, I am concerned that potential cuts to agricultural conservation programs could have unintended consequences for American farmers and our nation’s food independence.
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USDA To Provide $1B To Livestock Producers Impacted By Drought Or Wildfire In '23 & '24
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the release of Congressionally mandated Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) payments to cover grazing losses due to eligible drought or wildfire events in 2023 and/or 2024. Secretary Rollins committed on May 7 to release these emergency payments by May 30, and today she is delivering on that commitment ahead of schedule.
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Cattlemen Thank USDA For Prioritizing Disaster Recovery
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) thanked Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins following an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the agency would quickly be sending Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) payments to cattle producers who suffered losses from drought and wildfire.
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U.S. Rice Sales to Iraq Stay Consistent
Another rice sale to Iraq has hit the books, with 44,000 MT of U.S. long grain aiming to set sail later this fall. This brings the total U.S. rice sales to Iraq to 220,000 MT contracted for 2025 deliveries.
Iraq is consistently a top ten export market for U.S. rice and the second largest market for long grain milled rice, however, changes in financing there had caused delays in Iraq’s rice purchases for a time.
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Trump Administration Appoints Craig McCain to Serve as State Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Louisiana
The Trump Administration recently appointed Craig McCain as the new State Executive Director (SED) for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Louisiana. McCain joined the Louisiana FSA team on May 5, 2025.
“When America’s farming communities prosper, the entire nation thrives. This new group of USDA appointees will ensure President Trump’s America First agenda is a reality in rural areas across the country. I am grateful for the leadership of these new state directors and look forward to their work reorienting the agency to put Farmers First again,” said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
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Louisiana Crop Progress and Condition: May 27, 2025
According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Louisiana, there were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday, May 25, 2025. Topsoil moisture supplies were 0 percent very short, 11 percent short, 70 percent adequate, and 19 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture supplies were 0 percent very short, 8 percent short, 81 percent adequate, and 11 percent surplus.
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