In December, Congress passed the American Relief Act, a continuing resolution to fund the government and provide immediate economic relief to American farmers. The appropriations for supplemental assistance and disaster relief added up to nearly $31 Billion dollars -- a massive win for agriculture. In this episode, Karl Wiggers and Andy Brown sit down with some friends from Tensas parish, Kellon Lee and Josh Copes, to see what this relief is going to mean to them.
Read MoreLeadership at home often means seeing the big picture and the place Louisiana agriculture has on the global scale. LSU Agricultural Leadership Development Program Class XVIII is gaining that global perspective right now visiting farms and businesses in The Netherlands and Belgium. Avery Davidson speaks with LSU Ag Leadership Director Dr. Bobby Soileau in this episode of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast to find out why that world perspective provides clarity on the local level.
Read MoreThis year is growing in the right direction for Louisiana farmers. As Christmas approached, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution, the American Relief Act, to fund the government through March. In addition to avoiding a government shutdown, there is major supplemental assistance for farmers and aid for those affected by natural disasters over the past couple of years. The Act also extended the existing farm bill for another year. On this episode of the podcast, Louisiana Farm Bureau President, Richard Fontenot reflects on that huge win for his friends and neighbors in agriculture and wants to build on that momentum to a new Farm Bill.
Read MoreIn this episode of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast, we explore a recent trade mission to Cuba, led by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The trip brought together a Louisiana delegation, including Commissioner Mike Strain, elected officials, and LSU AgCenter personnel, to discuss trade opportunities and foster diplomatic relations. Joining the conversation are Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot and Second Vice President Burch Pierce, who share their firsthand experiences from the trip.
Read MoreLouisiana Farm Bureau volunteer leaders recently traveled to the nation's capitol to advocate for some much needed relief for Louisiana farmers and ranchers. Their message was clear -- it's time for a new farm bill, but that's not enough. Congress' failure to pass a 5 year safety net has created the need for immediate supplemental assistance so farmers can keep farming. The group of leaders discuss the trip and what you can do to make a difference.
Read MoreLouisiana Ag In The Classroom is a fantastic resource for teachers to incorporate, you guessed it, agriculture into lessons in the classroom. Louisiana AITC State Coordinator Lynda Danos joins Karl Wiggers in the studio this week to discuss those amazing resources and how AITC is continuing to find new ways to support and partner with teachers across the state.
Read MoreThe past couple months have been dry in Louisiana, with the exception of a couple pockets and a quick tropical system that rolled through the state. Drought conditions are affecting farmers and ranchers across the state, but the tool used by USDA in determining financial assistance may not be keeping up with conditions on the ground. Avery Davidson sits down with Louisiana State Climatologist, Jay Grymes, and Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, Mike Strain, to discuss how you can help paint the picture of Louisiana's drought.
Read MoreThere are many things in life that are necessary, like food, water, clothes to wear, and education. We also need insurance. In this week's episode, Karl sits down with a couple insurance agents from Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance to discuss their field of work which is often misunderstood.
Read MoreIn this episode from the archives, Karl sits down with Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation 1st Vice President, Marty Wooldridge. They discuss how he first was introduced to the Farm Bureau as a young farmer. They also discuss how he found success in different areas in the organization's Young Farmers and Ranchers program that connected him to a network that reached across the country in American Farm Bureau.
Read MoreIn a time when the ag economy has razor thin margins, farmers are looking for any way to make an extra penny for their crops. In this episode, Karl Wiggers sits down with grain marketing specialists Greg Fox and Grayson Close to talk about the Louisiana Farm Bureau Grain Marketing Association and how they're helping farmers across Louisiana sell their crops at the best price at the best time.
Read MoreIn this episode of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast, Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot and Louisiana Farm Bureau Commodity and Public Policy Director Andy Brown discuss the critical need for a new Farm Bill. Fresh off a recent trip to Washington D.C., they share insights from their meetings with lawmakers, highlighting the essential risk management, nutrition, and conservation programs the Farm Bill provides for Louisiana's farmers and rural communities. With the future of agriculture at stake, they urge Congress to take swift action to ensure the stability and success of our state's farms.
Read MoreThis week, Nick and Courtney Gerace join Karl on the podcast to talk about their farm and how they found their way into Louisiana Farm Bureau. They're leading Louisiana Farm Bureau's Young Farmers and Ranchers state committee and they are looking for more young farmers like them to get plugged into Farm Bureau to benefit from the family they've found themselves in.
Read MoreEvery September, AgriSafe joins with partners across the US to raise awareness about the safety and health of people working agriculture. That is what this week's episode of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast is all about. Louisiana Farm Bureau Safety Managers, Wendell Miley and Matt Sirgo join the podcast to discuss the topics focused on this week and the important resources available to farmers, ranchers, and rural residents.
Read MoreThis week, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Commodity and Public Policy Director, Andy Brown sits down to discuss the top priority for Louisiana farmers and the Farm Bureau -- a new Farm Bill. Andy offers some history to help us understand why we still don't have a new Farm Bill and why there's such a sense of urgency now as we approach the end of September. We finish the episode with a little peak ahead to the coming weeks where Farm Bureau will be urging our members to engage and help bring Congress to action.
Read MoreDuring the August recess for Congress, Louisiana Farm Bureau hosted a number of visits for Congressional staff to get some hands-on experience in the field. Madison Plaisance from the LFBF Commodity and Public Policy department helped arrange these tours and joins us on the podcast today to discuss the value of that experience for the farmers and staff alike. Also, we get to know Matthew Waguespack, the newest member of the Commodity and Public Policy team at Louisiana Farm Bureau.
Read MoreIn this episode of the podcast, Karl Wiggers sits down with Richard Fontenot, the newly elected Louisiana Farm Bureau President and they discuss his busy first month in the new role.
Read MoreIn this episode, Karl sits down with Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation 1st Vice President, Marty Wooldridge. They discuss how he first was introduced to the Farm Bureau as a young farmer. They also discuss how he found success in different areas in the organization's Young Farmers and Ranchers program that connected him to a network that reached across the country in American Farm Bureau.
Read MoreFor 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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