Congressmen Carter, Higgins, Fields Introduce CRAW Act
Congressmen Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA), Clay Higgins (R-LA), and Cleo Fields (D-LA) introduced the bipartisan Crawfish Reclassification for Agricultural Workforce (CRAW) Act. This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to explicitly classify crawfish‑processing work—such as washing, sorting, grading, whole‑boiling, peeling, and transporting—as “agricultural labor or services.” By recognizing these tasks as agricultural, the legislation makes crawfish‑processing employers eligible to use the H‑2A visa program, which is designed for temporary agricultural labor and is not subject to the annual caps that restrict the H‑2B program.
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Tropical Storm Arthur Will Not Dampen 104th Annual Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention
The 104th Annual Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention at the New Orleans Marriott will go on as scheduled despite the formation of Tropical Storm Arthur. The event will take place June 17-21.
“Farmers and ranchers show up and do the hard work no matter the weather,” said Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot.
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Seafood Processors Who Mix Domestic, Imported Seafood and Sell It as Local to be Penalized
Starting Aug. 1, there will be stricter penalties for businesses caught mixing domestic and foreign seafood and selling it as locally sourced.
The law's author, State Representative Timothy Kerner (R-Lafitte), says that the law, signed by Governor Jeff Landry a week ago, will help out the Louisiana seafood industry.
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USDA Allots $105 Million for New Efforts to Fight Screwworm
USDA is investing $105 million in 40 projects intended to combat the spread of New World screwworm. Those projects will receive funding through its “New World Screwworm Grand Challenge.”
The initiative, overseen by the agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, offered financial support for projects aimed at fighting the spread of New World screwworm.
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Arthur's Short Tropical Life Will Still Produce Significant Rains
The threat for active storms is not over for Louisiana ... but concerns for any widespread severe weather and tropical impacts are on a slow decline for the Bayou State.
Arthur appears to have already moved inland and is expected to remain inland for the rest of 'his' brief journey.
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Applications Open For 2027 Veteran Farmer Award Of Excellence
The American Farm Bureau Federation, with support from Farm Credit, is seeking applicants for the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence. The award recognizes U.S. military veterans or service members for excellence in farming or agriculture and positively impacting local communities.
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Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program
The CFPCGP projects are to be designed to require a one-time contribution of Federal assistance to become self-reliant and meet short- and long-term goals. Applicants are required to address at least one short-term and one long-term CFPCGP goals that best fit the plan or project being proposed to ensure a comprehensive and enduring approach to resolving food and nutrition security and hunger.
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Market Update for Corn, Soybeans, Rice, and Cotton: June 2026
The 2026/27 U.S. corn outlook remains virtually unchanged relative to last month. June’s WASDE report calls for fractionally higher beginning and ending stocks for 2026/27, reflective of mostly offsetting trade and domestic use changes for 2025/26 with adjustments to imports, corn used for ethanol, and exports based on data to date. The 2026/27 season-average farm price received by producers is unchanged at $4.40 per bushel.
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Soybean Planting Surge Signals Big Stakes for the 2026 Farm Economy
The USDA reported on June 15 that Louisiana farmers have completed soybean planting, while 95% of U.S. soybean acreage was planted as of June 14 across the top producing states. The update matters because faster planting, stronger emergence and improving crop ratings could shape 2026 yield expectations, commodity prices, crop insurance decisions and farm income across the U.S. grain sector.
The 11th USDA Crop Progress report of the 2026 growing season showed generally solid momentum for row crops.
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Farmers in This State Are Done Planting Soybeans, USDA Says
As of June 14, 95% of the soybean crop in the nation’s top 18 soybean-growing states was in the ground. That’s ahead of the five-year average of 93%.
Farmers in Louisiana are done planting soybeans.
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The Agency That Helps Farmers Protect the Environment Lost a Third of Its Staff Last Year
River Queen Greens, as the name suggests, lies just outside of the levee blocking the Mississippi River, a 20-minute drive from downtown New Orleans. The farm produces certified naturally grown vegetables to sell to local restaurants and at farmers markets.
But summer is the farm’s off-season, which means it’s time for cover crops. One of the fields has already grown a lush crop of sunflowers that reach shoulder height.
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Louisiana Expands Labeling Rules for Emerging Foods
Louisiana has enacted a pair of new laws requiring additional disclosures on foods produced through emerging technologies, as state lawmakers push for greater transparency in how products are made and marketed to consumers.
Gov. Jeff Landry signed House Bill 783, now Act 783, on June 8. The law requires products made with dairy proteins produced through microbial fermentation to carry a disclosure stating the product was produced through microbial fermentation and not derived from mammalian lactation.
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“Dr. Joe” Willis, First Louisianan Ever to Win National Garden Club’s Top Award
LSU AgCenter horticulturist Joe Willis, also known as “Dr. Joe,” loves helping people grow plants. And the number of awards he’s won this year attests to how good he is at it.
Willis most recently won the National Garden Club’s Award of Excellence, their highest honor, in May, at the annual convention in St. Louis, Missouri.
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LSU AgCenter Opens Application Process For Its Leadership Class
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.
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Nominations Now Open For Farmers & Ranchers To Serve On USDA Farm Service Agency County Committees
Nominations 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.
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