USA Rice staff traveled across the Mississippi Delta last week to participate in industry meetings and field days that highlighted the research, promotion, and policy work underway to strengthen the U.S. rice industry.
Read More
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., says pay close attention to the Federal Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) warnings pertaining to crops exposed to flood waters as a result of Tropical Storm Arthur. The FDA’s information can be accessed at Guidance for Industry: Evaluating the Safety of Flood-affected Food Crops for Human Consumption | FDA.
Read More
Farms and ranches who employ workers under the H2-A program now have their federally mandated minimum wage under the new Adverse Effect Wage Rate. Cameron Castillo, an associate economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, says wages are set to increase almost entirely across the board.
Read More
Corn and soybean yields came in a bit lower than analyst expectations while harvested area for both crops came in higher according to USDA’s August World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report out on Wednesday.
Read More
Data-center expansion is adding a new source of round-the-clock natural gas demand across Texas and the Gulf region. The growth could increase competition for fuel used by fertilizer plants, food processors, irrigation systems, cotton gins, and rural electric utilities.
Read More
Last year’s August WASDE report was a shock to the market—with USDA’s record 188.8 bu. per acre corn yield estimate on top of higher acreage by two million acres. This year, the yield debate heading into the August report centers on NDVI models showing above-trendline yields, while row crop ratings are well below 2025. This leaves many in the trade expecting lower yields. Still, there could be surprises on acreage or demand.
Read More
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 More
Domestic 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 More
If 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 More
Last 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 More
Corn 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 More
The 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 More
The 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 More
Dry 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 More
H-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 More