China dominated new-crop U.S. soybean buying last week, providing an important demand signal for growers approaching harvest. USDA reports 2026/27 soybean sales reached about 64.7 million bushels, with China purchasing roughly 53.1 million bushels.
Read MoreCattle producers know everything there is to know about their cows: what they eat, where they lay, where the little white mark on their hip is and even who their grandmother was. But once an animal leaves the ranch and enters the beef supply chain, cattle producers are left in the dark.
Read MoreMore farmers are opting to repair old tractors, combines and other machinery instead of buying new upgrades. A tough farm economy and historically-high equipment prices are at least partly to blame.
Read MoreSugarcane diseases are managed primarily through varietal resistance, which is an inherent trait that is selected by breeders with the help of plant pathologists. Resistance can be described as the ability that a variety has to fight diseases. Our sugarcane varieties in Louisiana were selected over the years to resist diseases, however, sometimes pathogens change and are able to overcome these resistant traits. Additionally, some of our varieties cannot completely resist diseases, therefore, we need to manage these diseases in an integrated way, by incorporating new management strategies in our farms.
Read MoreIn mid-June, Avoyelles Parish saw some of the most destructive flooding the parish has ever faced following Tropical Storm Arthur. In its aftermath, farmers are reaping whatever harvest they can, however meager.
Farmers we spoke to say that hundreds of acres of crops were completely unsavable. Soybeans may have looked green and healthy on the outside, but were rendered unusable on the inside by floodwaters.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Louisiana is hosting a State Technical Committee meeting on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at the Louisiana State Office, Building B at 3727 Government Street in Alexandria, LA.
State Technical Committees serve in an advisory capacity to NRCS and other USDA agencies on the implementation of the natural resources conservation provisions of Farm Bill legislation.
Read MoreWhen it comes to corn and soybeans, states such as Illinois and Iowa are certain to be production juggernauts season after season. The sheer number of acres dedicated to these crops means that all eyes -- and the markets -- tend to focus their attention on these states, including the 2026 DTN Digital Yield Tour.
Yet, living on the buckle of the Corn Belt isn't a prerequisite for growing successful, and often high-yielding, crops, as this year's tour estimates reveal.
Read MoreSmith Family Farms is using rising beef prices and supply challenges as an opportunity to help local families in need.
The farm partnered with several local restaurants in July to support the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana. For every burger purchased at Gullo's, Mae & Co. or Marilynn's Place during the promotion, Smith Family Farms donated hamburger meat to the food bank. The total came out to about 500 pounds of beef.
Read MoreCongressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) announced that he will hold a town hall meeting in New Iberia on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at Magnolia Square. Congressman Higgins will answer questions and discuss his work in Congress and issues facing South Louisiana. The event is open to the public.
Read MoreFresh produce markets run on strict timing. Fruits and vegetables are highly perishable, harvest windows are often short, and growers generally cannot store a crop while waiting for prices to improve. A few weeks of excess supply can determine whether a season ends in profit or loss.
Imports are an essential part of this system. They fill seasonal production gaps, support year-round consumer demand, and strengthen integrated supply chains.
Read MoreTaking the lectern at the Louisiana 4-H Hall of Fame ceremony, state office honoree Robert F. Richard recalled a time from the late 1980s where he met a St. Martin Parish youth who wanted to show a lamb at a livestock show like her older brother had done.
Read MoreThe stumpage prices below are the statewide averages and are intended to demonstrate the general trends in the market. The current value of timber can differ greatly across parishes, species, tree quality, market access, and other factors. Forest landowners considering a timber sale are encouraged to contact a consulting forester for assistance.
Read MoreUSDA says a Texas facility designed to produce sterile flies for New World Screwworm control will open in spring 2027, earlier than previously expected. The facility is expected to produce 100 million sterile flies per week by the end of 2027, increasing to as many as 300 million weekly by the end of 2028.
Read MoreThis month’s 2026/27 U.S. corn outlook is for lower supplies, unchanged domestic use, larger exports, and smaller ending stocks. Corn production is forecast at 16.0 billion bushels, up just 13 million from last month with a 1.2-million acre increase in harvested area that was largely offset by a reduced yield forecast. This would be the second largest U.S. corn harvest on record.
Read MoreSince the war in Iran started in February, diesel prices have skyrocketed, deepening the financial strain on farmers’ bottom lines. In January 2026, diesel prices were $3.52 per gallon. By August, prices surged to $5.34 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The Joint Economic Committee (JDC) shares that farmers in America have spent $1.4 billion more on diesel during the conflict.
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