In Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, fifth-generation farmer Eddie Drew Lewis III grows sugarcane with his brothers Jordan and Hunter on over 2,000 acres.
Their farm is a symbol of hard work and family history. From a young age, Eddie’s grandfather taught him one key rule—always have crop insurance.
Read MoreA third generation cattle farmer from Lacassine took home the top prize at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Talk Meet Contest in New Orleans.
Last year Camille Sonnier, 18, was in second place in the competition but this time around she won the whole competition, beating out 15 other contestants.
Read MoreLike many other agricultural sectors, there has been consolidation in United States (US) farm-level sugar production. Sugar is a unique commodity because about 56% of the domestic production of sugar originates from sugarbeets and 44% originates from sugarcane.
The US domestic production of sugar has increased from 8.02 million short tons raw value (STRV) in 1997 to 9.31 million STRV in 2024, an increase of 16%.
Read MoreCourtney Gerace nurtures land, cattle and five children in Melville, a lifestyle she never knew she wanted until marrying her husband, Nicholas.
But now Gerace, who was named Louisiana's top young woman farmer during the annual Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention in New Orleans, can't image doing anything else.
Read MoreFor the past seven years, the LSU AgCenter has been sponsoring Seeds to Success: The Louisiana Farm to School Program, which works directly with teachers and educates them on how to grow a garden at school. The program, open to teachers of all grades and ages, prepares them to integrate their gardens into their lesson plans.
Read MoreWaterfowl and waterfowl hunters will benefit greatly from recent conservation measures supported by Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and the state Legislature.
During the recently completed 2025 legislative session, $29 million was secured to fund levee restoration at the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in Vermilion Parish.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation (LFBF) hosted its 103rd Annual Convention here this weekend with record breaking participation and key discussions around critical challenges and opportunities for Louisiana agriculture. A longtime rice farmer and agricultural leader from Evangeline Parish, Richard Fontenot, was re-elected as the LFBF president for 2025 and presided over the convention.
Read MoreHundreds of growers and industry representatives took to rice fields around southwest Louisiana this week to hear the latest in research, crop assessment, acreage estimates, the impacts of recent wild weather, and more.
At the HorizonAg Field Day at the Richard Family Farm in Kaplan, the theme was collaboration and partnership. As Director of Sales Jason Satterfield said in opening remarks, “our success as a company is your success as growers.”
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter will hold a watermelon field day on Wednesday, July 2, at the Sugar Research Station, 5755 LSU Ag Road in St. Gabriel.
AgCenter agriculture and natural resources, 4-H and nutrition and community health agents will be present at booths with garden, cooking and activity demonstrations. They will be available to answer any questions you may have about growing and preparing the delicious summertime treat.
Read MoreFor the sixth straight year, the Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau captured the President’s Award, the highest honor given by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation during the organization’s Annual Awards night at the 103rd Annual Convention.
The President’s Award recognizes the parish Farm Bureau excelling in membership, advocacy and communications over the past year. Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot presented the award to Vermilion Parish Farm Bureau President Bryan Simon Thursday night at the New Orleans Marriott.
Read MoreLouisiana has among the most biodiverse ecosystems in the United States. From vast wetlands, swamps to coastal habitats, our ecosystems truly make Louisiana beautiful. One big problem our ecosystems are facing are invasive species that disrupt their balance and destroy what makes them beautiful.
Invasive species are plants, animals or other organisms that are not native to a specific area and cause harm to the environment, economy or human health when they spread.
Read MoreFor the third consecutive year, the Louisiana State University (LSU) Les Voyageurs club earned the top prize in the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2024 College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship program. During the nine-week program, club members host 10 College Aggies events to inform students and community members about agriculture.
Read MoreA new bill was introduced on Capitol Hill this week that would provide funding for farmers who experience losses as a result of the ongoing tariff negotiations.
“This bill would actually create a separate fund for the secretary of agriculture to have complete control to use, using the tariffs that are coming in,” said Rep. Julia Letlow, (R-LA), who crafted the legislation.
Read MoreAs rice harvesting in south Louisiana gears up for mid-July, experts are weighing in on the outlook for Acadiana farmers. Despite challenges like excessive rain and political influences, there is optimism in the air.
Peter Bachmann from the USA Rice Federation believes Louisiana's rice industry remains healthy. Ronnie Levy, a Louisiana rice specialist with the LSU AgCenter, echoed this sentiment, stating, "The rice crop looks good."
Read MoreIn Louisiana, sugarcane isn’t just a crop, it is part of who we are. And this summer, the people who grow it, grind it and study it will come together once again for a tradition that keeps this industry strong: field days.
Hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture, LSU AgCenter, and the American Sugar Cane League, these gatherings give growers a chance to visit research farms, hear the latest updates and talk directly with the scientists working on their behalf. It is where new ideas are shared, old ones are tested and the future of Louisiana sugarcane takes shape.
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