USDA Reminds Louisiana Producers to File Crop Acreage Reports
After spring planting is complete, agricultural producers in Louisiana should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office to complete crop acreage reports before the applicable deadline.
“In order to receive many USDA program benefits, producers should file an accurate crop acreage report by the applicable deadline,” said SED Craig McCain, Executive Director in Louisiana. “Call your local FSA office to make an appointment after planting is complete to report your acreage and take care of any other FSA-related business.”
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Cow Country Reporter: June 2025
The cattle market continues to move higher. Slaughter steer and heifers coming out of the feed yards brought $235.00 cwt. in Iowa and Nebraska, the last week in May.
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New U-Pick Blackberry Farm Opens in Frierson
Nestled in the heart of berry country, ODK Farms is bursting with flavor — and it's not just the fruit.
Owned by Chip Killian, the farm is home to 575 flourishing blackberry plants, each one hand-planted with care just three years ago.
Visitors to ODK Farms don’t just pick berries — they enjoy a full sensory experience.
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Farmer’s Forecast: Scattered Storms Ahead, but No Tropical Trouble
I learned long ago to give the weather forecast, and in most cases, avoid qualifying rain as “much needed”. The more I spoke with farmers, the more I realized that some of you may need rain, while others may need to get out and get some work done in the fields. With that said, rain is on the way, and I hope you need it!
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Make America Healthy Again Legislation in Louisiana. See the Nutrition and Ingredient Changes
Louisiana legislators have passed Senate Bill 14 (SB14), which is a measure aimed at reforming how schools, food manufacturers and restaurants label nutrition and ingredients.
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Bill Cassidy Joins Other u.s. Senators in Bid To Make Rum Tax Cover Permanent
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), joined by Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), reintroduced a bill Wednesday to modify the revenue distribution to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, referred to as the "rum cover over," derived from excise taxes on rum produced in or imported into the United States from these two territories.
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Strain: Inflation Jacking up Food Prices, Especially Beef
Chances are you've noticed your grocery bill has drastically increased lately. According to Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain, grocery prices are not going to get any cheaper anytime soon.
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Virtual Reality Game Puts Moviegoers in Mexico in the Combine Seat
USA Rice is bringing rice to the big screen—and beyond—through an innovative virtual reality (VR) experience now captivating thousands of moviegoers in Mexico. The interactive game, Harvest Rush, is currently running at Cinépolis movie theaters in Luna Park and Perisur in Mexico City, offering an immersive way for consumers of all ages to connect with U.S.-grown rice.
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USA Rice Joins U.S.-Mexico Ag Trade Talks
Nearly 50 individuals participated here in an Executive Roundtable on U.S.-Mexico Agricultural Trade and Transportation. The newly arrived U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ron Johnson, marked his first public event by opening up the meeting and Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Julio Berdegué Sacristá, highlighted the interdependent nature of both countries noting how they complement, rather than compete with one another.
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Testimony as Prepared for Zippy Duvall to the Senate Special Committee on Aging
Testimony as Prepared for Zippy Duvall President, American Farm Bureau Federation To the Senate Special Committee on Aging June 4, 2025.
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Despite New Locale, Port Vincent’s ‘Watermelon Man’ Still Selling Produce Along La. 42 After Decade
After more than a decade of selling produce along the highway, James Harrison, known as the "Watermelon Man," is no longer at his regular spot in Port Vincent after a sudden change forced him to relocate.
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LSU AgCenter To Hold Rice Field Day June 24
The event will give visitors a chance to hear from AgCenter experts about their work to improve rice production and see station research plots firsthand. Field tours, which will be offered from 7 to 8:30 a.m., will cover variety breeding, pest management and agronomic issues.
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Louisiana Bill Aims To Turn Gypsum Waste Into Valuable Farm Resource
A new Louisiana bill could turn gypsum, a fertilizer byproduct, into a valuable farm resource. It aims to remove liability, allowing farmers to use it as a sulfur-rich soil amendment.
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Meet the 2025 Sugar Notables
On July 19, 2025, the Sugar Journal staff will celebrate the 2025 Sugar Notables winners. “We have so many outstanding individuals in our sugar industry that have done so much to improve and move the industry forward that we felt we should celebrate the ‘best of the best’ that were selected,” said Romney Richard, publisher, and editor of Sugar Journal.
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Arclin contributes $500,000 to Forest Products Innovation Center
Arclin, a leading material science company, has committed to a $500,000 contribution to Louisiana Tech University in support of the new Forest Products Innovation Center. The center is set to become a cornerstone of research and development for sustainable forest product technologies and will play a critical role in Louisiana Tech’s broader education and innovation goals.
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