Trump’s Tax-Exempt Diesel Draws Skepticism From Farmers, Eludes Others
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order this month to expand access to tax-exempt diesel as soaring prices frustrate voters ahead of midterm elections. But farmers say it is too risky to use the fuel on public roads, while some other drivers do not have access to it.
Trump has sought to lower prices and boost his sagging approval ratings through a series of actions focused on fuel, including an $8 billion financial support program he announced on Monday to offset diesel costs for farmers during the autumn harvest.
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Louisiana Farm Bureau and Agricultural Groups Urge Timely Release of Additional H-2B Visas
The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation joined Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain and other state agricultural organizations in urging federal officials to release the maximum allowable number of supplemental H-2B visas for fiscal year 2027 to help seasonal businesses address labor shortages.
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Who Harvests America’s Food? The Role of H-2A in U.S. Agriculture
Every harvest season, I get some version of the same question:
“Why don’t farmers hire Americans workers to harvest the sweet potatoes in Mississippi?”
The difficult reality is that, in many rural communities, a sufficiently large and dependable domestic seasonal workforce simply does not exist.
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Volunteers Remove 68 Tons of Trash From Louisiana Waterways
Thousands of volunteers across Louisiana helped remove 68 tons of trash and debris from the state’s rivers, lakes, bayous and shorelines during a month-long cleanup effort.
Keep Louisiana Beautiful reported that over 4,300 volunteers took part in 327 cleanup events. These events happened in 51 parishes throughout September.
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All Because of Rice
The 89th International Rice Festival (IRF) was held here last weekend and once again, the mighty grain, and the men and women who raise it, mill it, and send it around the world, were celebrated in typical Louisiana fashion on two enormous soundstages and around the community.
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USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Louisiana Announces Regional Conservation Partnership Program 2027 Signup Dates
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) in Louisiana announced that it is opening an application period for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Arkansas-Louisiana Conservation Delivery Network (AR-LA CDN) Open Pine Landscape Restoration #2 Project. Louisiana farmers and landowners have until November 20, 2026, to submit applications to be considered for 2027 funding.
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Drought Intensifying Across Louisiana
No significant rain in the outlook for the next 7-10 days means additional drying for Louisiana.
Drought continues to plague most of Louisiana and has markedly intensified in parts of the state over the past 30-60 days. A wholesale lack of rainfall coupled with continued above-normal temperatures have maintained elevated ET rates over the past two months or more.
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Farm Bureau Appreciates $8 Billion in Harvest Fuel Relief For Farmers
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on President Trump’s announcement to provide $8 billion in relief for farmers facing higher diesel prices this fall.
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FSA Pathways Internship Announcements Are Open
The Farm Service Agency's FY27 Fall Pathways internship announcements are open now through Tuesday, November 17, 2026. We would appreciate your help sharing them with students at your institution.
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U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Releases First Measured Outcomes For U.S. Regen Cotton
Field-level data shows lower greenhouse gas emissions and soil loss, greater soil carbon sequestration, and improved water-use efficiency, as U.S. Regen brings measurable, traceable regenerative cotton to brands at scale
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Trump Administration Announces $8 Billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program
President Donald J. Trump, alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make $8 billion available for one-time payments to American farmers this harvest season to provide relief during temporary market disruptions and increased input costs.
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ATVs to Deer Stands - Safety Precautions Urged as Hunting Season Begins
Hunting season has arrived, and experts are urging hunters to take safety precautions.
Many hunting injuries come from ATV accidents. Most ATVs allow only one rider and have specific weight and age limits. They can fall and collapse on hunters as well, causing brain trauma and breathing issues.
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Agricultural Policy And Market Situation Newsletter: October 2026
China has purchased more cargoes of US soybeans, extending a buying spree this week that marks its first acquisitions since the two leaders of the two countries held a summit in late September.” “State-owned companies have booked at least 20 soybean shipments that will be delivered from the US Gulf and Pacific West, according to people familiar with the matter, equivalent to around 1.3 million tons,” Bloomberg reported.
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USDA Secretary Builds On Great American Cotton Plan
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins visited Giesenschlag Farms in Caldwell, Texas, where she announced two new actions under the Great American Cotton Plan to strengthen support for American cotton producers.
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Oh, What A Tangled Webb We Weave.....
The 89th International Rice Festival, held here this past weekend, was a grand time per usual – full of parading, live music, dancing, socializing, and, of course, eating rice. But this year, the USA Rice family had extra cause to celebrate. Ahead of the festival, Kane Webb, USA Rice director of field services, was selected as this year’s honoree.
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