Posts in Grassroots Government
ELAP Update: Crawfish Assistance Has Arrived!!

For a while, we've been updating listeners about the crawfish season that has been a tough year for many who count on the mudbugs for a crucial part of their annual production. This week, we have exciting news for those hit hard by drought and excessive heat impacting production of crawfish on their farms. Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation has secured some assistance for Louisiana crawfish farmers in the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program with the help of Gov. Landry, Louisiana's Congressional delegation, the LSU AgCenter, and, most importantly, countless volunteer leaders. LFBF National Affairs Director, Andy Brown, joins the podcast this week to tell us how this happened and what it means for the Louisiana crawfish industry.

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Grassroots In Action: State Politics Update - April 1, 2024

In this episode, LFBF Lobbyist, Joe Mapes joins Avery and Karl to discuss what's been happening at the state capitol since a new crop of lawmakers were elected in the fall. Governor Landry and the legislature have been busy with multiple sessions and there is now a bill filed that calls for a constitutional convention. We also discuss the recent Young Farmers & Ranchers capitol day and the importance of those members learning how to participate and advocate on behalf of the issues that affect them back on their farms.

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Grassroots Leadership -- Louisiana YF&R Head to D.C.

This week, a handful of Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers headed to Washington D.C. to advocate on behalf of the ag industry and issues they face on their farms. In this episode, Karl visits with Andy Brown who's helping lead this trip to the Capitol, as well as Josh Meeks, who's going to help cover the trip for Farm Bureau. We cover the issues they're going to be addressing, the value of these trips, and what Josh can expect on his first trip to the nation's capitol.

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Speaker of the House is from Louisiana. Now what?

For the first time, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives is a Louisiana Congressman -- Mike Johnson from Louisiana's 4th District. In this episode, Brian Breaux and Andy Brown of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Commodity and Public Policy Department join us to share what this means for Louisiana farmers and ranchers and the issues important to Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, most importantly a new farm bill.

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How To Kill A Bill

New name, same content! This week, Andy and Joe join Avery and Karl in the studio to discuss how Louisiana Farm Bureau helped kill a bill that would harm the Louisiana dairy industry and some potential improvements to the way grain crops are graded at the elevators when they’re delivered to the market.

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Card-Carrying Farmers

This week, Avery and Karl chat with LFBF Lobbyist, Joe Mapes, about a few bills Farm Bureau is keeping a close watch on at the state's capitol this legislative session. One issue Mapes is excited to see through the process is a bill to help beginning farmers get their Farmer's Card so they can purchase crucial inputs for their farm or ranch, just like every other farmer who has already filed taxes at least once as a farmer. Listen to this episode to learn more about that small distinction.

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Speaker of the House, Clay Schexnayder

On this episode, the crew sits down with the Rep. Clay Schexnayder, the Speaker of the House in the Louisiana Legislature. They talk about the importance of the LSU AgCenter and protecting it in the state's budget, the ways lawmakers are hoping to attract new business and manufacturing to the state, and some other issues upcoming in the Legislature.

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