The 2025 USA Rice Outlook Conference, now less than 10 weeks away, strives to offer relevant and timely programming that will improve the sustainability and viability of the U.S. rice industry. To that end, and to live up to the line “If rice is your business, this is your conference,” five export market panels and a session on gene editing in agriculture have been added to the schedule.
Read MoreAn animal health company says the first and only approved treatment against New World Screwworm is a significant step forward for the livestock industry.
Mike Lormore, director of cattle and pork technical services with, says the company’s latest injectable drug – Dectomax – CA 1 – provides producers and veterinarians with another tool in the fight against the pest. “It is a big deal. Producers across the country seem to be breathing a little easier the past couple of days.”
Read MoreShoppers preparing for upcoming fall holidays, including Thanksgiving, should brace for higher turkey prices this year. New analysis from the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Market Intel series says economic factors as well as disease challenges have driven wholesale turkey prices up about 40%. While prices may be higher, the analysis shows there will be enough birds to meet consumer demand and Thanksgiving specials are likely to be offered by retailers.
Read MoreThe National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) encourages college students pursuing careers in the beef industry to apply for the 2026 CME Group Beef Industry Scholarship. Ten scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded.
Introduced in 1989 and sponsored by CME Group, the scholarship identifies and encourages talented students who play a vital role in the future of food production. Students studying education, communication, production, research or other areas related to the beef industry are eligible to apply for the annual scholarship program.
Read MoreA new wage rate rule for agricultural guestworkers takes a much-needed step towards reforming regulations that have put labor out of reach for many of America’s farmers. The Department of Labor announced its new Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) Methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in Non-Range Occupations in the United States. The new rule revises agriculture wage rates for all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Read MoreSome Louisiana high schoolers traded their books for boots today, learning firsthand how cattle are raised and what it takes to bring beef to the table.
The Vernon Parish Cattlemen’s Association held its 12th annual event today to show teens where beef really comes from. Their classroom for the day was Porter Ranch, a working cattle ranch spread over 800 acres.
Read MoreA Leesville man must pay restitution for violations made while deer hunting in Vernon Parish.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) cited William Decker, 34, for hunting deer during illegal hours using an illegal weapon.
In the early morning of Sept. 29, a complaint came in of shots fired, according to Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Read MoreA Texas man was cited after Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agents seized thousands of pounds of shrimp off the Cameron Parish coast.
On Sept. 29, LDWF agents were patrolling in the Gulf when they saw a boat actively shrimping.
Read MoreIt looks like more of the same is on the way for a large part of Louisiana, with one glaring exception. While 80-90% of the state will likely stay pretty dry in the next week, southeast Louisiana, including New Orleans, Houma, Thibodeaux, and Grand Isle could see some heavy rain, and breezy conditions. I know that can be a bit off putting to hear this time of year, but I don’t see any sort of significant tropical threat. I can’t rule out something weak developing very near land late this weekend, or early next week, but it appears that this would be weak, and the rain would be primarily east of this weak area of low pressure.
Read MoreThe Southern University Ag Center and the College of Agricultural, Human and Environmental Sciences (CAHES) will host the 4th Annual Vino on the Bluff Wine Tasting Fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2025 at the Leon R. Tarver II Cultural and Heritage Center, 8320 G. Leon Netterville Dr., on the Southern University campus.
Read MoreThe Southern University Ag Center’s free virtual counseling program “Rural Connections for Rural Resilience,” has reopened for enrollment.
The program, which is open to adults, aims to combat alarming mental health trends by providing free teletherapy services to rural communities where access to mental health services is often limited due to geographical barriers.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has awarded the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) over $386,000 in Fiscal Year 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funding.
Read MoreThe 71st Louisiana Cotton Festival kicks off October 6 and runs through the 12th in Ville Platte, presided over by Queen Chloe Guilbeau from Rayne. King Cotton this year is Bob Manuel from Ville Platte.
Katelyn Calhoun, Festival Media Coordinator, says organizers have gotten the local 4-H and FFA members more involved in the activities through a student market, which will be held Saturday, October 11, from 10-2.
Read MoreThis past weekend, the last in National Rice Month, included several events, some tried and true and one that revives an old tradition in a new rivalry.
In Crowley, at the 88th International Rice Festival (IRF) Rice and Gravy Cook Off, IRF Farmer of the Year Eric Unkel competed for the coveted prize of best rice and gravy dish against a host of teams, all while promoting the annual donation to Second Harvest Food Banks of southwest Louisiana. Crowley Mayor Chad Monceaux joined Unkel at the presentation made possible by Falcon Rice Mill, Farmers Rice Mill, Supreme Rice Mill, and the Louisiana Rice Growers Association (LARGA).
Read MoreRice is one of the world’s most important cereal crops. Cereal crops are members of the grass family (Gramineae or Poaceae) grown for their edible starchy seeds. The term “cereal” is derived from the Greek goddess, Ceres or “giver of grain.” Rice and wheat are two of the most important cereal crops and together make up the majority of the world’s source of calories. They feed the world.
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