Mexican Ranchers Struggle to Adapt as a Parasite Ravages Cattle Exports to the U.S.
The United States' suspension of live cattle imports from Mexico hit at the worst possible time for rancher Martín Ibarra Vargas, who after two years of severe drought had hoped to put his family on better footing selling his calves across the northern border.
Like his father and grandfather before him, Ibarra Vargas has raised cattle on the parched soil of Sonora, the state in northwestern Mexico that shares a long border with the United States, particularly Arizona.
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Farmers Seek Dry Weather for Corn Harvest
Farmers were attempting to return to the fields Monday after weekend weather events dumped one- to two-inches of rain on some parts of Concordia Parish, according to Kylie Miller, LSU AgCenter extension associate.
Unusual amounts of summer rain have helped corn during its growing period, but the harvest has been “stop and go, stop and go” due to continued afternoon and evening showers, Miller said.
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Local Corn Harvest Begins
Farmers are in their fields throughout Franklin Parish, busy harvesting their corn crop.
This year’s yields are expected to be good, barring any unforeseen weather events, according to LSU AgCenter Extension Agent Carol Pinnell-Alison.
“I think we are going to have a good year with both corn and soybeans,” she said.
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National Corn Growers Association Raises Alarm Over High Input Costs
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), along with 25 state-based corn grower groups, sent a letter to Trump administration officials today detailing the worsening economic situation caused by elevated prices for fertilizers and other inputs that are critical for growing corn.
The letter, sent to the U.S. trade representative, secretary of commerce and secretary of agriculture, painted a grim economic picture in the American countryside. Signatories pledged to work with the officials to help address concerns with input costs, implement new trade deals and remove trade barriers.
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Will Louisiana Get Slammed with Another Historic Snowstorm This Winter?
The Old Farmer's Almanac just released a sneak peek at what's shaping the upcoming winter, and while they haven't published specific snow predictions for Louisiana yet, the atmospheric setup looks intriguing for weather watchers.
The centuries-old weather guide won't reveal its full Winter 2025-2026 forecast until the 2026 edition hits shelves this fall. But the early indicators they've shared suggest Louisiana could see the type of atmospheric patterns that historically produce the state's most memorable winter storms.
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The First Meeting for LSU’s Presidential Search Committee is Set
The first meeting of LSU’s presidential search committee, which will select the university’s next president after former President William Tate IV departed earlier in the summer, will be Aug. 19.
The meeting will be held in the LSU Foundation Board Room at 9 a.m. It’ll kick off the process to select a new leader of Louisiana’s leading institution.
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Farm Bureau Announces Top 10 In Ag Innovation Challenge Including One from Louisiana
Ten innovation-driven enterprises will go head-to-head for the top prize of $100,000 in the 2026 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, continues to encourage agricultural innovation through the Challenge.
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Cassidy Announces $1.3 Million for Rural Broadband from His Infrastructure Law
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will award Louisiana $1,358,822.80 in rural broadband investments. The funding is supported by Cassidy’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which provided significant investment in the USDA Rural Development Broadband Technical Assistance Program.
“Access to high-speed internet sets a student up for success and helps a small business get off the ground,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Whether that student is in a rural parish or the city, I worked to make sure they have the tools they need.”
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Strengthened Partnership to Expand Local Food System Work Across Cenla, North Louisiana
Shreveport Green and Louisiana Central today announced the official transfer of Louisiana Central’s Farm & Food Division to Shreveport Green, effective July 31. This strategic move deepens a longstanding partnership between the two organizations and enhances the capacity to build cleaner, greener, healthier ecosystems throughout Louisiana.
The Farm & Food Division, recognized nationally for its innovative programming and leadership, will now operate under the umbrella of Shreveport Green.
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Better Business Bureau Warns Against Vehicle and Equipment Seller Scams
The Better Business Bureau’s Jo Ann Deal joined Good Morning ArkLaMiss to discuss vehicle and equipment seller scams.
Deal says fake tractors, skid steers and excavators are costing consumers thousands of dollars and threatening the reputation of a business in Connecticut.
Deal says a company called Case IH Agriculture Woodburry is using Woodbury Tractor’s physical address.
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LDWF Offering Discounted Hunting and Fishing Combo License for Veterans
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced honorably discharged military veteran residents can purchase a recreational hunting and fishing combination license for $20, an $80 discount for the Sportsman’s Paradise license. Republican Lafayette Senator Brach Myers authored the legislation that resulted in a big discount for military veterans.
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Shrimp Calling Making A Comeback
In about ten days or so, the area around Delcambre, Louisiana, will start to slowly shift from a "working port" to more of a "festive port". That's because those who make their living in the always exciting world of fishing and shrimping will be taking some time away from work to celebrate the bounty that nature has given.
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LSU AgCenter Researchers Develop "Living Reefs" To Prevent Land Loss, Promote Marine LIfe
Right past the dock on Calcasieu Lake, Megan La Peyre stared at an ominous rain cloud she and her team were driving straight into.
On this boat, La Peyre, an adjunct professor at the LSU AgCenter and unit leader of the U.S. Geological Survey Louisiana Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit, was joined by Seth Blitch, the director of conservation for the Nature Conservancy in Louisiana.
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USDA Opens Public Comment Period On Department Reorganization Plan
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the opening of a 30-day public comment period for stakeholders to provide feedback on the Department’s reorganization plan, as outlined in the Secretary’s memorandum issued on July 24, 2025.
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Ville Platte Woman Rebuilds Chicken Coop After Losing 26 Chickens To Roaming Dogs
Just a week ago, Sheri Bertrand’s chicken coop sat empty. A roaming pack of dogs had attacked, leaving 26 of her birds dead—replacing the usual clucks and fluttering feathers with silence and heartbreak.
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