For generations, agriculture has helped shape the economy, landscape and culture of Vermilion Parish. Rice fields, crawfish ponds and sugarcane farms stretch across the parish toward Louisiana’s Gulf Coast.

Now, another industry is preparing to put down roots alongside them.

An extended period of heat can easily become a bit too much to manage when work is done outdoors.

Robert Duncan, a fourth-generation farmer, manages crops like soybeans, wheat, livestock, and more on his land in Boyce. He is the owner and operator of R&R Duncan Cattle.

You’ve likely heard the term “flash drought” being thrown around over the last week. We saw this in 2023, but that was a special case, and we were already seeing extreme to exceptional drought by late August. In this case, we range from abnormally dry to moderate drought, but 100 degree days, and little forecasted rain means we will likely see a quick surge upward in drought intensity and coverage. 

When 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.

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.

Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Secretary-Treasurer Mike Melancon was recognized Saturday evening as one of Sugar Journal’s 2026 Sugar Notables, an international honor celebrating individuals whose careers have made lasting contributions to the global sugar industry.

A tropical system is moving toward Louisiana, and my concern level is pretty low. This system has had a hard time organizing, and it looks like the track will be further north. That means this system will have less time over water, and any sort of Louisiana impact will likely be minor.

A crown may distinguish the young woman chosen to serve as Louisiana Farm Bureau Queen, but it is her commitment to agriculture, her passion for people and her willingness to share the stories of Louisiana’s farmers and ranchers that define her role.  

Beyond the sash and title is a year of service travelling across the state to represent the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation at agricultural events, community celebrations and educational programs.

The Richland Parish Farm Bureau Board discussed the growing controversy surrounding carbon capture projects, including eminent domain concerns, during its July 7 meeting.

Burch Pierce, second vice president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Board of Directors, said carbon capture first appeared in Louisiana legislation in 2009, but interest increased significantly after additional legislation was introduced in 2020.

It looks like Louisiana is about to get a taste of the dog days of summer. Drier air is moving in as an upper level low drifts westward over Texas, and brings our organized rain threat along with it. Dangerous flooding will impact parts of the Texas Hill Country toward the Rio Grande River. For us, it'll be all about how hot things get. I expect highs to get close to 100 over a good chunk of Louisiana by early next week.

Floodwaters that swept through Avoyelles and St. Landry parishes devastated hay fields, leaving farmers to contend with rotting crops, mounting disposal costs, and a hay shortage that could strain cattle producers across the region.

The rain fell hardest in Avoyelles Parish, but as water moved south, farmers in northern St. Landry Parish watched fields, roads, and yards change by the day.

Thanks to Buck Leonards and the staff at Louisiana Farm & Ranch for making the digital edition available here.

Farming requires significant capital. Producers pay for seed, fertilizer, feed, fuel and other inputs months and sometimes years before crops are harvested or livestock are sold. Buying farmland, machinery and other long-term assets often require even more financing.

Those needs are growing. USDA projects total production costs for major field crops to reach new highs in 2027.

Credit is an essential part of agriculture, helping farmers manage costs and invest in their operations. But as borrowing costs rise, what does increased reliance on credit say about the overall health of the farm economy? American Farm Bureau Economist Faith Parum breaks it down.

USDA's September 2026 net farm income forecast, released Sept. 3, projects that net farm income, a broad measure of farm sector profitability, will decline to $158.4 billion in 2026. That is $4.3 billion, or 2.6%, below the newly revised 2025 estimate of approximately $162.7 billion. After adjusting for inflation, the decline becomes considerably larger at $9.1 billion, or 5.5%.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement regarding small refinery exemptions, which impact biofuel demand by exempting refineries from blending renewable fuel as required under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

The beef production cycle is a long-term process that takes several years to complete.

Cattle farmers' daily decisions affect the beef supply and prices for years to come.

America's beef cattle herd is at its lowest level since the 1970s, reflecting the years of depressed prices, high input costs and persistent drought conditions ranchers have faced.

American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall commented today on the breakdown of trade talks between the United States and Canada, and the imposition of additional damaging tariffs.

“Canada has been one of the most important trading partners for U.S. agriculture since our first free trade agreement in 1989.“

Blockchain technology is used for securely recording and sharing information. Instead of one company, bank or government maintaining the official ledger of record, debits, credits, etc., blockchain networks distribute control and maintenance across a network of computers that make up a decentralized, digital ledger.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on President Trump’s plan to import an additional 300,000 metric tons of beef in addition to already record-high beef imports.

“Farmers and ranchers are extremely disappointed to learn that President Trump plans to flood the American market with hundreds of millions of pounds of foreign-raised beef. The U.S. is already importing beef at record levels. This decision would be an unprecedented move and would translate to nearly an additional 60% increase in imports over the next 90 days.”

Fresh 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.

U.S. farmers and ranchers are closely watching the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement negotiations. Virginia Houston, the senior director of congressional affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said Mexico and Canada as trading partners are vital to the success of U.S. farmers and ranchers.

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.

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.