Former Vidalia Mills, Fruit of the Loom to Be Deeded to Credit Union
The former Fruit of the Loom that once housed Vidalia Mills now belongs to a credit union that is reportedly owed millions in unpaid loans, officials said. The property, including the 900,000 square foot building and 81.87 acres of land a that was purchased from the Town of Vidalia in 2017, had been advertised for a sheriff’s sale that took place Aug. 6. In Louisiana, sheriff’s sales are public auctions conducted by the Sheriff’s Office to sell property that has been seized by court order, typically to recover unpaid debts.
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Louisiana Inspects Cotton Harvest Equipment to Prevent Boll Weevil Return
Restrictions are being applied for all cotton harvest equipment traveling into Louisiana to avoid the reintroduction of an invasive pest.
The boll weevil was declared eradicated from Louisiana in 2012. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) said there is a risk for the pest to be reintroduced from equipment traveling through the state as the harvest season starts.
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Louisiana Farmers Await Demand After Trump Calls for Sugarcane-Sweetened Coke
It’s planting season for sugarcane farmers in Louisiana as they replenish fields that are older than three years and no longer yielding as much sugar.
When President Donald Trump said he wanted Coca-Cola to use sugarcane in its signature drink, instead of high-fructose corn syrup, it brought a lot of attention to the industry.
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Louisiana Farm to School Conference set for Oct. 8 in Baton Rouge
The Louisiana Farm to School Conference is back for its ninth year, bringing together educators, farmers, school nutrition staff, administrators and community leaders from across the state. Hosted by the LSU AgCenter Seeds to Success: Louisiana Farm to School Program, the event will be held Tuesday, October 8, at Pennington Biomedical Conference Center in Baton Rouge from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Ultra-Low Gossypol Cottonseed Takes Next Step Toward Humanitarian Use
Texas A&M AgriLife Research has reached a major milestone in increasing the value of cotton, marking the initial step toward commercial adoption of food-ingredient cottonseed.
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The Cotton Board Holds Annual Meeting And Approves Cotton Incorporated’s 2026 $85.1 Million Budget
The Cotton Board recently held its 2025 Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, along with Cotton Incorporated’s Board of Directors. During this meeting, board members serving the Cotton Research and Promotion Program (the Program) reviewed, analyzed, and voted to recommend Cotton Incorporated’s 2026 budget of $85.1 million to the Secretary of Agriculture.
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Louisiana Expands Deer Disease Control Zone After Sick Deer Found
Louisiana wildlife officials are expanding the area where special rules apply to help stop the spread of a deadly deer disease called Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This comes after a sick deer was found in Catahoula Parish.
Now, parts of Caldwell, Richland and LaSalle parishes are included in the CWD control zone. In these areas, hunters will have to follow stricter rules, like not feeding wild deer and being careful about how they move deer carcasses.
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4-H Hall Of Fame Ceremony Highlights Dedication To Youth Development
Rosy Williams Bromell said if she can do something well, she probably learned it in 4-H. Bromell was one of 12 honorees inducted into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony held Aug. 9 at the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center in Pollock, Louisiana.
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An Oral History of the LSU AgCenter's Response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
A pair of natural disasters stunned south Louisiana in 2005.
When Hurricane Katrina hit the coast on Aug. 29 and Hurricane Rita followed on Sept. 24, much of south Louisiana sustained tremendous damage. The storms caused more than 1,100 deaths, according to the Louisiana Department of Health; displaced several communities; and led to $108 billion in damage, according to the National Weather Service. LSU AgCenter economists estimated that the state’s agricultural sectors sustained nearly $1.6 billion in losses from the storms.
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The Surprising Role of Oil & Gas in Sustaining Louisiana’s Rice Industry
Chevron has a longstanding partnership with Ducks Unlimited. Chevron's initial $175,000 investment in 2013 helped launch the Rice Stewardship Program and fuel its expansion across all six rice-growing states: Louisiana, Arkansas, California, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas. To date, Chevron has invested over half a million dollars, and the program has impacted more than 800,000 acres across 1,000 farms, including in 11 Louisiana parishes: Beauregard, Allen, Evangeline, St. Landry, St. Martin, Lafayette, Acadia, Jefferson Davis, Calcasieu, Cameron and Vermilion.
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Which States Won and Lost in the Latest USDA Crop Progress Report?
Based on the most recent condition ratings for corn and soybeans reported by USDA, there are clear “winners,” or states with the highest rated crops, and “losers,” or states with the lowest rated crops.
Three top soybean-growing states reported that more than 80% of their crop was in good or excellent shape, but one of them dominated. USDA reported that 92% of Louisiana’s soybean crop was in good/excellent condition.
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4-H Hall of Fame Ceremony Highlights Dedication to Youth Development
Rosy Williams Bromell said if she can do something well, she probably learned it in 4-H. Bromell was one of 12 honorees inducted into the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame during a ceremony held Aug. 9 at the Grant Walker 4-H Educational Center in Pollock, Louisiana.
“I learned how to sew a little, how to cook, how to judge livestock, how to show cows and pigs and how to speak,” Bromell said. “I think the biggest thing that 4-H gave to me was my ability to be a leader.”
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Moving Cotton Harvest Equipment Into Louisiana Is Restricted Without Proper Inspection
As Louisiana cotton producers move into cotton harvest season, Louisianians will see an influx of cotton harvest equipment moving into and through the state. To protect our cotton producers from the reintroduction of boll weevils, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) implements restrictions for all cotton harvest equipment entering the state.
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Farmers Applaud Common-Sense Approach To Diesel Engines
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement that it will revise Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) guidelines for manufacturers of heavy trucks and off-road equipment. Manufacturers will be directed to update software in equipment that uses DEF to prevent them from losing power.
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Louisiana Beekeepers Association Meets August 22-23 In Pineville
The Louisiana Beekeepers Association (LBA) will have their 63rd Annual Convention at the Country Inn & Suites, Pineville, LA - August 22-23, 2025. The event will begin Friday morning at 9 a.m. and conclude Saturday at 3 p.m. Doors open at 8 a.m.
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