The mammoth Domino Sugar Chalmette Refinery in Arabi has shaped St. Bernard Parish for more than half of its 117-year history, surviving fires, a deadly explosion and devastating flooding.
Read MoreAn investigation by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission led to the arrest of 26-year-old Cortland C. Smith on a warrant for two counts of theft of livestock. Smith was arrested by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office on October 11, 2026.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) will receive $461,475.63 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to support nine projects focused on marketing, consumer education and outreach, and research benefiting Louisiana's specialty crop industries.
Read MoreThe USDA’s October Rice Outlook examines the latest developments in the U.S. rice industry, including production forecasts, crop conditions, supply and demand, trade and market prices. The report offers an updated look at the factors shaping the rice market and provides valuable insight for Louisiana rice producers as they navigate the current growing season and look ahead to the next marketing year.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) today announced the launch of the Export Inspection and Weighing Dashboard, a new public facing visualization tool that modernizes how official U.S. export grain inspection volumes are reported to industry and the public.
Read MoreRising diesel prices are putting financial pressure on Louisiana's agriculture and forestry industries, while invasive pests and efforts to expand international markets remain key concerns for the state's producers. In a Q&A with LaPolitics, Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain discusses the impact of fuel costs on farmers, opportunities to expand exports of Louisiana commodities, the response to pasture mealybug and the threat of New World screwworm.
Read MoreThroughout the month of September, USA Rice celebrated 2026 National Rice Month (NRM) by highlighting U.S.-grown rice and celebrating the men and women behind the grain through consumer outreach, social media, recipes, chain partnerships, and events promoting the U.S.-rice industry.
Read MoreLouisiana will receive more than $461,000 in federal funding to help strengthen specialty crop production across the state, supporting industries ranging from honey and pecans to citrus and mayhaw.
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, which is distributing $86.6 million nationwide for projects aimed at improving the competitiveness of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticultural products and other specialty crops.
Read MoreFor Eli Graham, farming has always been about more than being the next generation in his family to farm. It is about raising a family, working alongside people who have become like family and learning to take life as it comes.
Read MoreThe US Food and Drug Administration refused 11 shrimp entry lines in September 2026 for banned veterinary drug residues, taking the year-to-date total for antibiotic-related shrimp refusals to 67 entry lines, according to an analysis of agency refusal data by the Southern Shrimp Alliance reported by The Houma Times.
Read MoreOn October 13, 2026, EPA announced a proposed rule to revise the existing 2026 and 2027 small refinery exemption reallocation volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard program in response to a higher volume of 2025 SREs than previously projected when the Agency set the renewable fuel volumes and percentage standards on April 1, 2026. One approach would reallocate the additional 2025 SRE volume equally between the 2026 and 2027 SRE reallocation volumes, while the other approach would reallocate all the additional 2025 SRE volume to the 2027 SRE reallocation volume. Additionally, given the proposed revision to the 2026 standards, this proposed action may extend the existing 2026 compliance reporting deadline of March 31, 2027.
Read MoreCommercial vessel owners and fishermen affected by hurricanes now have the opportunity to claim a part of $27 million allocated by the NOAA.
The $27 million was allocated to Louisiana by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for fisheries disaster assistance programs under NOAA Grant Number NA25NMFX477C0009.
Read MoreA Louisiana landowner planned to raise cattle and grow soybeans on his property. However, repeated flooding from the Boeuf River made farming difficult. Michael Liles, who runs the land-development business 5L Land Development, turned to wetland restoration with help from the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The project covers more than 300 acres in Franklin Parish. It includes restoring water movement across 9.2 acres and establishing 183 acres of bottomland hardwood forest in February 2026. The restored land connects existing wildlife corridors and is intended to benefit species such as the Louisiana black bear and the endangered northern long-eared bat.
Read MoreDowntown Crowley will welcome festivalgoers for four days of music, food, carnival rides and rice traditions when the 89th International Rice Festival returns Oct. 15-18.
Read MoreSpaceX is planning to build a massive maritime shipping complex on Louisiana's Gulf Coast, complete with docking facilities, access roads and extensive cargo-handling areas, according to state records detailing the company's expanding plans in Vermilion Parish.
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