The 2025 USA Rice Outlook Conference, the largest rice conference in North America, returned to the Crescent City this week with a grand opening reception welcoming farmers, millers, merchants, end-users, exporters, academics, government officials, and special guests.
Read MoreCorn acreage increased while cotton and soybean acres declined.
In Louisiana, corn acres increased by 330,000 acres (+75%) from 2024 to 2025. Most producers favored corn over cotton (and, to a lesser extent, soybeans) due to grain price competitiveness. Overall, yields were near the previous four-year average of 176 bushels per acre.
Read MorePresident Donald J. Trump alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (AR), Senator Deb Fischer (NE), Senator John Hoeven (ND), Representative Austin Scott (GA), and farmers from Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make $12 billion available in one time bridge payments to American farmers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs that are still impacting farmers following four years of disastrous Biden Administration policies that resulted in record high input prices and zero new trade deals. These bridge payments are intended in part to aid farmers until historic investments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), including reference prices which are set to increase between 10-21% for major covered commodities such as soybeans, corn, and wheat and will reach eligible farmers on October 1, 2026.
Read MoreThe Trump administration announced $12 billion in one-time payments to farmers in the wake of this year's tariff hikes on Monday, primarily targeting farmers who grow crops such as soybeans and corn.
The move was outlined during a White House roundtable event, featuring farmers affected as well as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Read MoreAmerican Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on USDA’s announcement to provide financial relief and an economic bridge for America’s farmers and ranchers until benefits from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reach the farm.
Read MoreCaddo Parish has gone to the hogs.
The feral hog problem in Caddo isn't exactly new, but it is getting worse, according to the parish administrator. The parish and state can't keep up with the hogs on their own, and Caddo now is planning on bringing in outside help to hunt down the wild pigs tearing up people's properties and causing a dangerous nuisance.
Read MoreLouisiana sweet potato growers celebrate a near-record harvest, while Mississippi farmers face challenges from extreme weather and low yields.
Read MoreThe Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation says the USDA is delivering on its promise to help farmers impacted by natural disasters.
Read MoreU.S. President Donald Trump will unveil a $12 billion aid package for American farmers affected by his trade policies on Monday, two White House officials said.
Farm groups and Republican farm-state lawmakers have sought the aid in part to support farmers with purchases of seeds, fertilizer and other expenses for next year's growing season. U.S. farmers have been saddled this year with record harvests and lost billions of dollars in soybean sales to China when the nation turned to South American suppliers this fall during stalled trade talks.
Read MoreTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent says China is making progress on its commitment to buy U.S. soybeans, hitting the “correct cadence,” with purchases expected to wrap by February 2026 — underscoring ongoing trade commitments and support for farmers.
Read MoreRow crop producers across the South faced another difficult year in 2025. Weather challenges led to wide yield variability across much of the region. Even where yields were strong, low commodity prices and persistently high input costs kept margins tight, leaving many operations near or below breakeven for a third straight year. Shifts in acreage were common, with corn gaining ground at the expense of cotton and, in some areas, soybeans.
Read MoreIf you’ve got a craving for crawfish before spring rolls around, there’s hope on the horizon. According to Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain, after a long stretch of drought conditions, recent rains mean good news for crawfish lovers across the state as Christmas draws near.
Read MoreAs farmers face historic headwinds and market hardships, calls to the national Farm Aid hotline and the Iowa Concern hotline — where farmers can get support in times of mental health crisis or need — are increasing.
Read MoreAbout four inches of clear water pools around Mike Wagner's rubber boots as he wades into one of his rice fields in northwestern Mississippi on a rainy late summer morning.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is looking for the person who shot and killed a black bear last weekend in Concordia Parish.
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