State officials will temporarily expand the number of red snapper recreational anglers can take home in Louisiana for the Fourth of July holiday.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will allow those fishing in state coastal waters for red snapper to take home five fish per person per day, increased from the typical four-fish limit, Thursday through Sunday.

Lafayette chef Kris Allen was named the new King of Louisiana Seafood at this year’s Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off earlier this week. To win the crown, Allen used modern techniques to highlight a classic crab-stuffed flounder. Allen says seafood has always been part of his life.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) is improving the sugarcane crop insurance program for Louisiana sugarcane farmers.

These improvements include separating irrigated and non-irrigated practices in parishes with a history of irrigation to recognize the different risks to sugarcane under both production practices.

The American Soybean Association and Corteva Agriscience are inviting applications for the 2027 Young Leaders Program. This program helps soybean farmers build leadership skills and connect with industry experts. It is designed for individuals who want to grow and take active roles in agriculture. 

The program will be held in two phases. The first session is scheduled from November 30 to December 3 at Corteva’s Global Business Center in Johnston, Iowa. The second session will take place from March 1 to 4, 2027, in New Orleans, Louisiana, during the Commodity Classic Convention and Trade Show. 

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and several of her colleagues endorsed a request made by the U.S. farm-raised catfish industry for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help the industry by purchasing surplus catfish products.

In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the senators asked her to approve a request to purchase U.S. farm-raised catfish products through the Agricultural Marketing Service Section 32 Program.

Earlier this week, a group of central Louisiana farmers met with state officials to discuss the recent flooding caused by Tropical Storm Arthur, which set a new record for 24 hours of rainfall in the state with just over 29 inches.  The impacts of the storm are still being felt as water slowly recedes downstream, causing issues for low lying areas of cropland south of central Louisiana.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced the launch of the $500 million Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-Term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) Program, a new initiative administered through USDA Rural Development to expand domestic fertilizer manufacturing, strengthen America’s fertilizer supply chain, and improve long-term affordability for American farmers.

In Karuna Kharel’s LSU AgCenter food microbiology lab, pecans are better protected, freeze-dried strawberries are safer and smoked and canned oysters are safely on the menu. The researcher focuses on improving the safety and quality of Louisiana commodities, with particular attention to low-moisture foods like nuts and freeze-dried products.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for July 2026, which are effective July 1, 2026. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs.           

Sugarcane field days have long been a summer tradition across Louisiana’s cane belt, providing growers an opportunity to see research firsthand and hear directly from scientists, extension specialists and fellow farmers.

America’s farmers are facing a labor crisis. Continued agriculture workforce shortages threaten farmers’ ability to grow the food families rely on. Many labor challenges are addressed in new legislation introduced by House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson. The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026 builds on recommendations of the bipartisan Agricultural Labor Working Group and modernizes the H-2A visa program by expanding access to a year-round workforce and eliminating unpredictable swings in wage rates, among other changes.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented today on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalizing the registrations of new pesticide products that provide farmers with additional tools to protect their crops.

USDA’s much-anticipated Acreage Report was released on June 30th. Corn acreage stayed large, but lower-than-expected corn and wheat stocks gave traders enough demand support to trigger relief buying and short-covering after a sharp June selloff.

Grain markets treated the Acreage and Grain Stocks reports as less bearish than the headline corn acreage number first suggested. USDA pegged corn planted area at 95.343 million acres, above the average pre-report trade estimate near 94.99 million acres, with harvested area for grain forecast at 87.434 million acres.

After spring planting is complete, agricultural producers in Louisiana should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) parish office to complete crop acreage reports before the applicable deadline.

Crews are working to contain a four to five acre brush fire on Cox Road near Fairview Alpha, according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

NPSO said the fire possibly began due to a downed power line in the area. About 75% of the fire has been contained as of Tuesday afternoon.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) Tuesday announced that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program for crop year 2025, which runs from Oct. 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2026. 

Last week, Louisiana rice farmer Fred Zaunbrecher, who serves as chair of the USA Rice Farmers Board of Directors, joined Arkansas rice farmers Tim and Robin Ralston and other agricultural leaders from across the country for dinner at the White House Rose Garden Club hosted by President Trump.  

It is difficult to sit in the chair today, with December futures trading at 75-76 cents. I have procrastinated as long as I can in trying to get the market above 80 cents. I again suggest growers seek protection on any movement above the 79-80 cent level.

Louisiana's agriculture commissioner met with flood-affected farmers in Opelousas on Monday, urging them to meticulously document their losses as crop damage from catastrophic flooding in Avoyelles and St. Landry parishes climbs into the millions of dollars.

Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain traveled to Opelousas to outline the steps farmers must take to access state and federal assistance following flooding that inundated miles of farm fields and forced livestock to seek higher ground about a week and a half ago.

The Southern University System continued to advance its growing international partnership with the Federation of St.Kitts and Nevis during an official visit to the Caribbean nation, where Interim President Orlando F. McMeans met on June 25 with Prime Minister, the Honorable Dr. Terrance Michael Drew, to discuss expanding collaboration in higher education, agriculture, research, and workforce development.

Sugar Journal is happy to announce the 2026 Sugar Notables – the 5th year to celebrate the careers of several sugar technologists in the global sugar industry. 

President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation temporarily suspending countervailing duties (CVDs) on certain phosphate fertilizer imports, providing immediate relief to American farmers while advancing the Administration’s broader strategy to strengthen America’s fertilizer supply chain.

The temporary suspension will increase phosphate fertilizer availability, improve competition, and help lower one of agriculture’s largest production expenses while supporting a stable and reliable fertilizer supply ahead of future planting seasons.