Farmland values remain at record highs even as growth slows. Average farm real estate values rose 3.4% to $4,500 per acre in 2026, marking a sixth consecutive annual increase and a nearly 44% gain since 2020.
Read MoreDomestic processors used more corn and soybeans in June than a year earlier, strengthening demand beyond export markets. USDA’s Grains Crushings and Co-Products Report for Aug. 3 shows ethanol plants consumed 467 million bushels of corn, up 4 percent from June 2025.
Read MoreIf you farm through an LLC or an S corporation, USDA just handed you a bigger payment limit and a September deadline to lock it in.
Read MoreLast week, Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King offered investors a sobering report on beef prices: "Beef hasn't performed the way we expected," King said during an earnings presentation, "and we're not pretending otherwise."
Read MoreCorn harvest is rolling across Louisiana, but for Kam Harper, getting a combine into the field this year took two plantings and months of uncertainty.
Read MoreThe 89th International Rice Festival proudly recognizes Jarrod Breaux as the 2026 Farmer of the Year. His 17-year-old son, Bryce Breaux, is recognized as the 2026 Junior Farmer of the Year.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline for farmers to apply for Stages 1 and 2 of the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) to Sept. 30, 2026. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is providing greater flexibility for farmers who experienced quality losses on eligible crops.
Read MoreDry conditions remain the biggest dividing line across U.S. agriculture, affecting not only row crops but grazing, hay supplies, livestock water and late-summer fieldwork.
Read MoreH-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) for 2026-2027 are set to increase across the country, with a handful of exceptions. Released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Foreign Labor Certification, AEWRs represent the federally mandated minimum wage for H-2A guestworkers in each state. Notably, this set of AEWRs is the first full-year iteration of wages based on DOL’s new Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, as stipulated by the department’s Interim Final Rule (IFR) issued in October 2025. While these wage rates are a significant improvement from the previous wage structure, congressional action is still needed to ensure farm and ranchers can continue to grow the nutritious food our country depends on for our health and well-being.
Read MoreEarly last year, the Trump administration ended two Biden-era programs that gave state and tribal governments federal funding to purchase food for food banks and schools from local farmers.
Read MoreNational Farmers Market Week is being observed this week as the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognizes the impact local growers have on their regional food systems. The West Monroe Farmers Market at Seventh Square is highlighting its role in supporting the Northeast Louisiana economy through its network of farmers and small businesses.
Read MoreAmerican Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall today expressed deep disappointment in the failure of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to advance a farm bill. He called on senators to return to the negotiating table for the sake of rural communities across America.
Read MoreThe Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry met on Thursday to consider the Agricultural Act of 2026. While the committee failed to report the bill out of committee by a vote of 10-11, they may reconvene after the August recess if an agreement can be reached.
Read MoreThe LSU AgCenter recently co-hosted the second Louisiana Food Is Medicine Convening in Baton Rouge in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health’s Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Healthcare Access, also known as Well-Ahead Louisiana.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture is reminding farmers that deadlines to purchase or make changes to crop insurance coverage for fall-planted crops are approaching. The next major sales closing dates are September 1 and September 30, although deadlines vary by crop and location.
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