Cattle Herd Hits Record Low, Prolonging High Beef Prices for Consumers
The latest U.S. cattle tally offered little relief for consumers paying record beef prices, even as the cycle of herd liquidation seems to be coming to an end.
There were about 94.2 million cattle and calves in the U.S. as of July 1, the lowest mid-year count on record in data going back to 1973, the Department of Agriculture said in a report. The number of animals placed in feedlots for weight gain before being sent to slaughter plunged to the lowest since 2017, the USDA said in a separate note.
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Market Calm Defies Heat Wave Memories as Traders Await Fed Decision
Agricultural markets maintain remarkable stability despite recent heat waves that stirred memories of past crop disasters. Investors across Wall Street to Main Street appear content with current conditions as volatility indexes reach year-long lows ahead of critical Federal Reserve announcements.
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Undercover Seafood Testers Find Most Houma-Area Restaurants Serving Local Shrimp
Genetic seafood testing at restaurants in the Houma area last week found one-third of the sampled businesses serving foreign shrimp, though most were upfront about it with their customers.
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United States Cattle Inventory Report
There were 94.2 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of July 1, 2025, according to the Cattle report published today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). This is the first July cattle inventory report since July 2023.
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Experts Say The July Heatwave Is Hotter Than Usual
As the clock ticks down the final days of July, thermometers will climb across much of the eastern half of the United States, creating a dangerous and long-lasting heat wave that will put millions at risk of heat stroke and other illnesses.
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Black Gold Farms Unveils New Team Accommodations To Boost Sweet Potato Production in North Louisiana
Every sweet potato season, a familiar group of skilled, hardworking individuals returns to Delhi to help bring in Louisiana’s sweet potato harvest. This season, they’re finding more than just a place to work—they’re finding a place to belong.
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Second Harvest Food Bank Facing Challenges as Food Shipments Are Canceled
Second Harvest Food Bank is facing mounting challenges as reduced food inventory and changes to federal food programs strain its ability to meet demand. Adding to the crisis, 37 truckloads of food expected in the second and third quarters of 2025—more than 600,000 pounds valued at over $1.1 million—have been canceled, the organization announced in May.
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Coca-Cola’s Cane Sugar Comeback Could Sweeten the Future for Louisiana Farmers
A major move from one of the world’s most iconic brands could mean big business for Louisiana’s sugarcane industry.
Coca-Cola recently announced a return to cane sugar in some of its product lines—a shift away from high-fructose corn syrup that has farmers across Louisiana buzzing with optimism.
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Reminder: LDWF to Hold Public Hearings July 26 and July 29 on CWD Control Area Expansion Notice of Intent
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will conduct public hearings for informational purposes July 26 in Columbia and July 29 in Jena on a notice of intent (NOI) that restricts supplemental feeding and deer carcass export from the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Control Area.
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Farmer Survey Response Decline a Growing Problem
Countless stakeholders including farmers, university Extension services, researchers and policymakers rely on the data USDA has collected for more than 150 years through agencies and programs including the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and the Economic Research Service (ERS).
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Do You Know This Horse?
The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in finding the owner of the horse seen in the pictures below.
NPSO said the horse was found on Wilson Basco Road between Derry and Gorum.
The horse is currently being held safely at the Natchitoches Detention Center.
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Ag-Powered Fuels: 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) made several important changes to the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z). Most notably, it extended the credit through 2029, providing biofuels producers with an additional two years of investment beyond the original 2027 expiration date. While the credit still has no requirements to pass through any of the credit to farmers and feedstock producers, the OBBBA clarified key provisions related to feedstock eligibility, emissions measurement and credit calculation, which are especially relevant for U.S. farmers. This Market Intel analyzes what the changes to 45Z mean for farmers.
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Senate Agriculture Committee Reviews Key USDA Nominees This Week
On Wednesday, July 23, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a confirmation hearing for Richard Fordyce, the nominee to serve as Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) mission area.
Fordyce, a Missouri farmer and former Administrator of the Farm Service Agency (FSA), is widely respected across the agriculture community for his leadership and hands-on experience in farm policy and conservation.
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USDA Water and Climate Update: July 24, 2025
Hazardous heat has impacted millions of residents in the Plains, Southeast, and Midwest regions this week after a heat dome formed from the Gulf Coast to the Plains on July 22. The sweltering conditions pushed into the Midwest between July 23-24, and are expected to impact the Northeast by July 25. High humidity from the weather pattern is raising overnight temperatures in the area, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses for residents. The oppressive heat is expected to linger in the Plains and Southeast through next week.
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Secretary Rollins Announces USDA Reorganization, Restoring the Department’s Core Mission of Supporting American Agriculture
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), refocusing its core operations to better align with its founding mission of supporting American farming, ranching, and forestry.
Over the last four years, USDA’s workforce grew by 8%, and employees’ salaries increased by 14.5% - including hiring thousands of employees with no sustainable way to pay them.
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