The Farmer's Forecast: It's Convention Time!
It’s Convention week! You know what that means. It’s going to be hot and humid with a chance of storms each day. I think I could recycle that sentence and use it for the next few months. The good news is, I don’t see a chance for tropical development in the next 10 days. In fact, The Climate Prediction Center shows below normal precipitation across the Caribbean over the first half of July. That’s one of the areas we look at for development, and I think we are all just fine with it looking quiet over the next few weeks.
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McMullen: North Louisiana’s Lost Apple
Several Southern apple varieties have origins in Louisiana. Apples such as Bossier Greening, Felt’s Strawberry, Louisiana, McMullen, Pride of the South, Terral and Woodland are all extinct, according to C. Lee Calhoun in his magnificent book, “Old Southern Apples.” If even one stands a chance of being rediscovered, it is the McMullen apple. It left a blazed trail for us to follow.
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Two DeRidder Cowgirls Saddle Up For National Rodeo Competitions
Back in April, KALB introduced you to three young cowgirls from DeRidder who are redefining the face of rodeo in Louisiana. Now, those same girls are taking their talents with breakaway roping to the national stage.
Before they saddled up and hit the highway, we caught up with two of them, Macie McBride and Ava Williams, who have been competing in the DeRidder rodeo scene since they were five years old. Their bond was built racing one barrel at a time, and now, their childhood dream is galloping into reality.
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Back Home in Louisiana - The Vital Role of Corn
Johnny Atkinson takes a look at the vital role that corn plays in the Pelican State, as well as the local Louisiana Corn Festival here in Cenla.
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"Heart Of Louisiana" Red River Farm
The sun is barely above the treetops on this Red River Parish farm, and workers have been in the field since daybreak, finding vegetables that are ready for the market. It’s a race against the clock each morning for Ed Lester, who helps fill the bins and bushel baskets of his roadside farmers’ market with more than 50 varieties of fruits and vegetables. Lester is the fourth generation to run this family farm.
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Middle East Tensions Threaten Global Farm Input Flows
Escalating tensions between Iran and Israel have reignited concerns about global energy and input flows through the Middle East, placing renewed geopolitical stress on one of the world’s most critical shipping routes: the Strait of Hormuz. On June 22, Iran’s parliament voted in favor of closing the strait following U.S. and Israeli military airstrikes. Although tensions appear to have temporarily eased, the situation remains volatile, and disruptions to petroleum and fertilizer shipments could resume with little warning.
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US Heading To Record Ag Trade Deficit
The U.S. agricultural trade deficit is widening in 2025, driven by shifting global trade dynamics and rising import demand. USDA's Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade: May 2025 report provides projections for exports and imports, offering insight into current trade trends. From January through April, the United States imported $78.2 billion in agricultural products while exporting just $58.5 billion. This $19.7 billion deficit is the largest ever recorded for the first four months of a year and signals that the 2025 deficit could surpass previous records.
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Louisiana Farm Bureau Set for Record-Breaking 103rd Annual Convention
The Louisiana Farm Bureau is gearing up for its largest annual convention ever, with over 1,500 farmers and their families registered to attend the four-day event in New Orleans.
The 103rd LFBF convention will take place from June 26-29 at the New Orleans Marriott on Canal St. High-profile elected officials, including 5th District Congressman Clay Higgins, are slated to attend. Members will also participate in officer elections, attend a wide variety of conferences, and witness the crowning of the next Louisiana Farm Bureau Queen.
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Mainland Rum – California and Louisiana
Seth Benhaim, known for his impactful entry into the spirits scene with Broken Barrel Whiskey, is now making waves with his latest venture under Badwater Brands: Mainland Rum. This innovative project aims to independently bottle rum distilled right here on the American mainland.
Mainland Rum launched in May 2025 with its inaugural releases, including a 10-year-old Mainland Rum Louisiana Single Cask and a 9-year-old Mainland Rum California Single Cask.
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Ruston Farmers Market Celebrates a Flavorful Tradition at the 2025 Peach Cookery Contest
The Ruston Farmers Market and Drew Jones Teaching Kitchen were full of energy and excitement on Thursday, June 5, as community members gathered for the annual Peach Cookery Contest, a beloved tradition held in conjunction with the Louisiana Peach Festival.
Sponsored by Park Haus, the event celebrated local culinary talent with a delicious array of pies and cobblers featuring the region’s favorite fruit, peaches.
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Letlow Files Bill Directing Tariff Revenue to Farmers
Congresswoman Julia Letlow has filed legislation to support American agricultural producers impacted by disruptions to the global trade market.
The bill would create a dedicated fund, administered by the Secretary of Agriculture, to provide a timely and targeted safety net for American farmers and producers.
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USDA Announces $26.5 Million In Grant Funding Available through The Local Agriculture Market Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 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.
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Hurricane Laura Still Affecting Hunters Due To Tree Debris, Feral Hogs
Hurricane Laura wreaked havoc in woodland areas, taking the tallest trees and turning them into nothing but stumps.
Those very trees not only provided habitat for many of Louisiana’s native animals, but it also served at the foundation for hunters’ tree stands.
Tree stands were abandoned in the debris.
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Crescent Soil Board Winner Erica Johnson Speaks Out After Controversial Election
For the first time since a highly controversial election stirred widespread public debate, the winning candidate for the Crescent Soil and Water Conservation District Board, Erica Johnson, is speaking out.
The district, established decades ago, held its first election this past Saturday, an event marred by reports of numerous voters being turned away at the polls and subsequent calls for a redo.
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LSU Kicks Off Search to Fill Presidency by Announcing Search Committee
LSU announced the members of its presidential search committee who’ll oversee the process for selecting a new university president after former President William Tate IV left for the same job at Rutgers in May.
The committee is made up of 19 members, many of them business leaders from around the state.
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