The USDA recently released its annual Acreage Report which provides markets with a more accurate idea of spring planting progress and what potential supply implications may be in store for the 2025 crop year. On the demand side, USDA also released its Quarterly Grain Stocks report which shows usage rates between March 1, 2025 and June 1, 2025. These changes in supply levels will impact 2024/25 ending stocks and 2025/256 beginning stock levels which will subsequently be reflected in the July report.
Read MoreThe American Farm Bureau Federation, with support from Farm Credit, is seeking applicants for the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence. The award recognizes U.S. military veterans or service members for excellence in farming or agriculture and positively impacting local communities.
The honoree will receive a $10,000 cash prize plus reimbursement in travel and other expenses incurred for him/her and one guest to attend the American Farm Bureau Convention in Anaheim, California, Jan. 9-14, 2026.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Agricultural Workforce Development Program (LAWDP) is now accepting applications for the 2025 – 2026 program year from qualified agricultural and forestry businesses interested in participating in the program.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for July 2025, which are effective July 1, 2025. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.
Read MoreIn 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.
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