The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host a saddle microchipping event on Friday, April 24, from 9 A.M. to 12 P.M. It will be held at the LSU AgCenter’s DeSoto Parish Extension Office, located at 10117 Highway 171 in Grand Cane, Louisiana.
Read MoreU.S. corn farmers are growing increasingly concerned about fertilizer affordability and availability, with worries extending beyond the current planting season. That’s according to new survey results released by the National Corn Growers Association. Surveys conducted in late March show that while many growers secured fertilizer for the 2026 crop, anxiety is rising sharply for 2027. For every farmer concerned about 2026, nearly two report greater concern for the following year. “Fertilizer prices were high even before the war in Iran began,” said NCGA President Jed Bower. “Market stress has only intensified the situation.” Prices have climbed amid the Middle East conflict and shipping disruptions, while lower corn prices have hampered affordability. Farmers now need a record 185 bushels of corn to buy one ton of urea. Ongoing trade disputes and tightening global supplies are adding further uncertainty, shaping decisions for future growing seasons.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced the 2026 Marketing Assistance Loan rates.
Read MoreU.S. farmers are wasting little time getting the 2026 crop in the ground, with corn planting already underway in nine states and running slightly ahead of the typical pace, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first Crop Progress report of the season.
Read MoreU.S. farmer sentiment improved in March despite fuel and fertilizer cost increases due to the Iran war, according to the newest Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index.
Read MoreSouth Louisiana’s spring is starting off bone dry. The latest drought map shows extreme conditions tightening their grip on Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, leaving farmers, marsh managers and coastal communities staring down a serious water shortage just as planting season and the seafood hustle kick into gear.
Read MoreUSDA’s Research, Education, and Economics Under Secretary Dr. Scott Hutchins today announced the launch of the USDA National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech (NPG-Ag), a nationwide initiative designed to rigorously evaluate agricultural technologies under real-world U.S. farming and ranching conditions.
Read MoreOyster farmers in Terrebonne Parish are questioning the state's decision to reopen bays following a February oil spill, saying oil remains visible in their harvest areas.
Read MoreRice delphacid struck hard and fast in 2025 amid an already challenging season. The tiny leafhoppers struck midseason, and farmers had no strategy for control, with delphacid being one of the few insects a pyrethroid application incites rather than ignites.
Read MoreIt’s a new day in Melville as the St. Landry Parish community is overhauling its 60-year-old water system. The city’s outgoing water system was built on deteriorating pipes and a single overworked well, and Mayor Caretta Robertson says it was costing the town lots of money to keep it suitable for consumption.
Read MoreUSA Rice extends condolences to the family and friends of Catherine Soileau Sylvester who passed away on April 5, at the age of 65.
Read MoreUSDA’s latest crop progress report – out Monday afternoon and covering the week through April 5 – marks the first of these reports for the 2026 season. Traders will increasingly have more data points to fold into their decision-making process in the coming weeks.
Read MoreThe crawfish industry that Louisiana depends on today didn’t just grow organically—it was built, in large part, through decades of LSU research. Now, as new challenges emerge—from extreme weather to evolving biological threats—that same institution is helping shape what comes next.
Read MoreA pollinator training day geared toward professionals will be held on Saturday, April 25, on LSU’s main campus in Baton Rouge.
Read MoreLast Friday at the White House, President Trump and I stood shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of farmers to celebrate the greatness of American agriculture. Every day, patriots across rural America pour every fiber of their being into the vital work of feeding, fueling, and clothing America and the rest of the world, and they deserve our gratitude.
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