The LSU AgCenter Agricultural Leadership Development Program is now accepting applications for Class XX, which is scheduled to begin in January 2027 with a completion date of February 2029.
“Developing leaders is one of the most important things we can do to move agriculture forward, especially as we navigate finance, policy and regulatory challenges,” said Matt Lee, senior vice chancellor and dean of the College of Agriculture.
Read MoreNominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees. These committees make important decisions about how federal farm programs are administered locally. All nomination forms for the 2026 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 3, 2026.
Read MoreA federal court recently upheld the latest revised H-2A wage rule, but the Ag Wage Rate Coalition is pushing for Congress to codify the policy into law.
Michelle Grainger with the coalition said doing so would provide greater certainty for agricultural employers, though she acknowledged the current political environment could make that difficult.
Read MoreU.S. sugar producers face tighter domestic production prospects in 2026/27, while imports are expected to carry more of the supply load. LSU AgCenter economist Michael Deliberto says USDA’s first outlook projects domestic beet and cane sugar production at 8.810 million short tons, raw value.
Read MoreThe USDA has officially declared a number of parishes and counties in Louisiana and Arkansas disaster areas, and that impact is stretching into parts of Texas, too.
For farmers, it's been a tough stretch that started months ago. Many have been dealing with drought since last fall. On top of that, a winter storm hit making an already difficult situation even worse.
Read MoreI am beginning to see some southern corn leaf blight in the central region. Please find attached some pictures. The lesions are much smaller than northern corn leaf blight, The decision to apply a fungicide should be made on a field-by-field basis (disease resistant hybrid?, growth stage (beyond tasseling?), environmental conditions (disease favored by 68-90 F and high moisture).
Read MoreThis October, Louisiana waterfowl hunters will be able to enjoy a special nine day black-bellied whistling duck season, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced. The state-wide season will run from Oct. 3-11 in 2026.
Read MoreFarmer awareness of biological crop products remains high, and new research from Stratovation Group suggests the market is entering a more mature phase. Confidence is rising. Biofertilizer and biopesticide adoption is accelerating. And biologicals are becoming more deeply integrated into mainstream crop production decisions.
Read MoreSerious, flooding rain will be possible through at least Friday. As I write this late Monday afternoon there are wide ranging rainfall totals across the state. Some areas in the coastal marshes haven’t seen rain, and other areas have seen over 5 inches, with maximum radar estimates approaching 9 inches. This is a fast start to what will be a long term, and serious rain event across Louisiana.
Read MoreThanks to Buck Leonards and the staff at Louisiana Farm and Ranch for making the digital edition available here.
Read MoreC&C Forest Products will invest over $21 million to rebuild its Coushatta sawmill following a 2025 fire, the company said Thursday in a news release.
The company is expected to create 77 direct new jobs with an average annual salary of $65,260, which is 34% above the average Red River Parish wage, while retaining 27 current positions.
Read MoreThe Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance (BREADA) has announced a new Summer Culinary Series, sparked by growing community interest in interactive food experiences that highlight local agriculture, culinary learning, and meaningful connection.
Featuring chef-led classes, demonstrations, and tastings designed to showcase the freshest seasonal ingredients available at the Red Stick Farmers Market, the Summer Culinary Series will be hosted inside The Teaching Kitchen at Main Street Market.
Read MoreThe Louisiana ATV/UTV Safety Task Force held their statewide kickoff event at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) headquarters building in Baton Rouge on June 10. The ATV/UTV Safety Task Force will highlight the growing need for youth ATV/UTV safety education and injury prevention efforts across the state.
Read MoreThe beef is safe to eat. Local livestock and pets aren't yet at risk. A reemerged pest hasn't yet found its way to the Ark-La-Tex.
But the concerns are mounting. If its flesh-eating babies appear in northwest Louisiana, an important piece of the local economy is at risk.
Read MoreThe New World screwworm has arrived in the United States.
For years, ranchers across Southern states have prepared for a potential invasion of the flesh-eating parasite that can wreak havoc on livestock, pets and even humans.
Though the United States went decades without a confirmed case of the invasive pest, it’s now made its way across the U.S.-Mexico border.
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