2025 Sugarcane Variety Performance
Sugarcane varieties are the lifeblood of the Louisiana sugar industry. Therefore, variety selection is one of the most important decisions on the farm — a decision with long-term consequences. The goal is to maximize profitability on every acre of the farm for each year of a long crop cycle.
Sugarcane variety choices for planting in 2025 are many. L 01-299 and HoCP 14-885 will continue to be widely planted by producers across the Louisiana sugar industry. L 15-306 and HoL 15-508, new variety releases from 2022, should occupy a moderate portion of your planting acreage because of excellent stubbling ability and yield potential.
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Why Louisiana Is Seeing More Black Bear Sightings Than Ever Before
Louisiana’s woods and bayous are buzzing with excitement as black bear sightings reach record numbers across the state.
Once teetering on the brink of extinction, these magnificent creatures are making a remarkable comeback in their native range. Wildlife officials and residents alike are adjusting to this new reality where encountering a Louisiana black bear is becoming increasingly common.
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Louisiana Forage Farmer: Summer 2025
Winter annual forages are adapted for grazing, green chop, hay, and silage production in Louisiana. Each year, scientists at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center conduct performance trials to evaluate the forage production of annual ryegrass, small grain forage, and legume forage varieties. Trials are conducted at various Louisiana State University Agricultural Center research stations throughout the state to provide information on the performance of varieties under varying soil and climatic conditions.
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Heart of Louisiana: Louisiana Watermelons
The watermelon picking starts at sunrise. The idea is to pick the ripe melons before the day gets too hot. It’s a summer job for several young men who walk through knee-deep vines looking for ripe melons. Caleb Mathews has been picking watermelons for the past six years.
“This brown spot, we call that a cue. Now two of them are dead. You pick it, plus hear that sound. That sound’s a good spot. And it’s got this sun spot on it as well. Another indicator that it’s ready,” said Mathews.
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Zaunbrecher Takes Over As USA Rice Farmers Board Of Directors Chair
With their two-year terms ending later this month, the chairs of two USA Rice governing boards handed their gavels to colleagues from other rice growing states. Fred Zaunbrecher, a rice and crawfish farmer from Acadia Parish in Louisiana was unanimously elected to serve as the new chair of the USA Rice Farmers Board of Directors, taking over from Texas’s LG Raun, and California rice farmer Josh Sheppard handed the reins of the USA Rice Council Board of Directors to Mississippi’s Carter Murrell who farms in Washington County.
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Congress Passes Reconciliation Bill With Long-Awaited Farm Safety Net Improvements For Rice Farmers
After more than 24 hours of non-stop action in the U.S. House of Representatives, Speaker Mike Johnson and White House leadership helped secure passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) by a vote of 218-214.
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Kennedy Supports Trump Administration's Engagement on Agricultural Trade Priorities
Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) led 54 of their colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. The letter commends the Trump administration for ongoing efforts in trade negotiations and advocates for robust market access on behalf of American farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers.
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LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station To Host Horticulture Field Day July 18
The LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station will host its annual horticulture field day July 18.
Visitors will hear from experts about their research endeavors and have the chance to see an array of plants during a tour of the station’s sprawling trial gardens.
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Cow Country Reporter: July 2025
Don’t forget to send in your CPL dues for fiscal year 2025-2026. Thank you for your support. If you didn’t receive a renewal notice with a form in the mail, please contact me.
The first week in July the bulk of the auction markets will be closed in the U.S. this includes the Louisiana and Mississippi auctions.
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Rice Leadership Development Program Now Accepting Applications
The Rice Leadership Development Program gives future leaders a comprehensive understanding of the rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication skills. The class attends four one-week sessions over a two-year period that encompasses studies of all aspects of the rice industry through firsthand observations. They also attend seminars and workshops designed to strengthen leadership skills.
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Louisiana Farm Bureau Names Sun Newspaper Of Year
The Franklin Sun was named Louisiana Farm Bureau Newspaper Of The Year on June 26.
Joe Curtis, The Sun editor, accepted the award on behalf of the staff at the 103rd annual Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention held at the New Orleans Marriott.
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Science, Service and Simulations: Soldiers Inspire Students at Louisiana FFA Convention
Curious crowds gathered around swabs, microscopes and a simulated military working dog as two young Soldiers stationed at Fort Johnson offered a hands-on glimpse into Army veterinary careers during the 96th Louisiana National FFA Organization Convention, held June 2–3 at the Randolph Riverfront Center and the historic Hotel Bentley.
Assigned to the Fort Cavazos Veterinary Branch with duty at Fort Johnson, Pfc. Bailey Senften and Pfc. Amanda Rivera Miranda spent two days sharing their Army experiences with hundreds of agriculture and science students from FFA chapters across Louisiana.
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NCBA Stands With USDA On Measured Plan To Reopen Key Ports Of Entry
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) plan to strategically reopen key ports of entry to shipments of live cattle, bison, and horses. This decision was made by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins following a New World screwworm assessment by USDA staff in Mexico and ongoing conversations between Secretary Rollins and the Mexican Secretary of Agriculture.
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USDA Report Pegs 10.1 Million Total Planted Cotton Acres For 2025
USDA’s Planted Acres report issued on June 30 showed that U.S. cotton growers have planted an estimated 10.1 million acres of upland and Pima cotton in 2025 – down 10% from 2024’s final acreage figures.
The report reflects a 2.3% acreage increase from USDA’s Prospective Plantings estimate of 9.87 million acres on March 31.
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Louisiana 4-H Shooting Sports Wins Third Consecutive National Championship
For the third year in a row, members of the Louisiana 4-H Shooting Sports Team are reigning national champions after defeating competitors from across the United States.
The team has placed first in five out of the past six national competitions, including 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024 with a second-place finish in 2022 and the 2020 event being canceled due to COVID restrictions.
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