Louisiana Farm Life

What does 40 years of Farm Bureau leadership look like? Former president Ronnie Anderson joins the podcast to share stories from his journey—from growing up on a dairy farm to leading the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation for over three decades. He opens up about how he was introduced to Louisiana Farm Bureau, the policy battles that shaped Louisiana agriculture and the enduring values that still guide the organization today.Show Notes:Watch the TWILA story Karl filmed with Ronnie in 2016 here.Watch the American Farm Bureau Founder's Award video honoring Ronnie Anderson.Find a Louisiana Farm Bureau office in your parish here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

What happens in Ohio doesn't stay in Ohio—at least not when it comes to rainfall. As waters rise on rivers in Louisiana and hurricane forecasts are published, Jay Grymes joins us to explain why Louisiana's weather future is shaped by forces far beyond our borders. This episode connects the dots between past disasters and present warnings, offering a clear-eyed outlook for the season ahead.

Tariffs are back— turning a lot more eyes to Louisiana agriculture and our customers worldwide. In this episode, Andy Brown joins Karl Wiggers to unpack how new trade actions are shaking the ag economy, from soybean prices to crop loans and farm bankruptcies. It's a wake-up call from the global chessboard to the fields of Louisiana, and farmers aren't flinching—they're planting through the chaos.

In this episode of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast, Beauregard Parish farmer and Farm Bureau Parish President David Smith shares his journey from a young, uncertain farmer to a confident grassroots leader. He and host Karl Wiggers discuss the power of community, leadership, and advocacy through Farm Bureau, and how connections—even in the most rural corners of Louisiana—can shape agriculture policy and build lifelong friendships.Watch the TWILA story with Mike Johnson's staff tour here.Find a Louisiana Farm Bureau office in your parish here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

In this episode of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast, we visit Tensas Parish to chat with Melanie Netterville Beavers about her journey in agriculture. From growing up surrounded by agriculture to her current role as a full-time farmer, Melanie shares her experiences, challenges, and the values that drive her passion for the industry. Whether it's balancing farm life, leadership roles, or community involvement, Melanie's story is a testament to the dedication of women in agriculture.Watch the TWILA story with Melanie and Kody here.Learn more about the LFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

In this episode of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast, host Allie Shipley sits down with Amelia Kent—a dynamic leader in Louisiana agriculture who's redefining what it means to be a modern farmer. Amelia opens up about her journey from early agricultural roots to taking on leadership roles, discussing the challenges and rewards of balancing family, community, and life on the farm. Her insights and passion for advancing agriculture in Louisiana provide both inspiration and practical advice for farmers and ag professionals alike.Find a Louisiana Farm Bureau office in your parish here.Learn more about the LFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee here.See one of Amelia's recent appearances on This Week In Louisiana Agriculture.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

In this episode of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast, we spotlight Raquel Manuel's inspiring journey from suburban life to becoming a passionate advocate and leader in Louisiana agriculture. Raquel shares how her background in communications and her love for agriculture shaped her family's farm, her leadership roles in the Farm Bureau, and her commitment to representing Louisiana farmers. This conversation dives deep into the challenges, values and community spirit that define modern farming life.Find a Louisiana Farm Bureau office in your parish here.Listen to the episode with Cade LeJeune here.Learn more about the LFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee here.Learn more about the Louisiana Ag in the Classroom here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

This week, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast begins our celebration of National Women's History Month, highlighting the impactful contributions of women in agriculture. Allie Shipley is stepping in to host some engaging conversations with women involved in Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. In this episode, LFBF Women's Leadership Committee Chair, Michele Simoneaux shares her journey into Louisiana Farm Bureau, how getting involved helped her grow in leadership, community involvement, and the importance of passing on the family farm tradition.Find a Louisiana Farm Bureau office in your parish here.Learn more about the LFBF Women's Leadership Committee here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

In this episode, Karl Wiggers sits down with Dr. Tara Smith, Director of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service at the LSU AgCenter. They explore how innovative extension programs—from youth initiatives and internships to the state livestock show and AgMagic—are shaping the future of Louisiana agriculture. Discover how these efforts are not only educating the next generation but also driving lasting impact across the state.See the story from the state livestock show here.Learn about AgMagic here.Learn more about the LSU Extension Internships here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

This week is National FFA Week. As part of the celebration, the Louisiana FFA state officer team came to visit Louisiana Farm Bureau to film an episode of This Week In Louisiana Agriculture. That's a tradition that started when Cade LeJeune, then the Executive Secretary of Louisiana FFA, began working with the team at Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation to promote the great work of the organization. This week, Karl Wiggers sits down with Cade to discuss his new job with Louisiana FFA and how he came to find his career in agriculture education.See the Louisiana FFA Takeover show on TWILA.Learn how to donate to Louisiana FFA here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

Louisiana again has a voice on the national stage. Racheal Duncan of Rapides Parish grows cut flowers, helps her husband, Robert, on their soybean and cattle farm and is a mother to three daughters. She is now on the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee. Karl Wiggers sat down with Duncan at the recent AFBF Annual Convention in San Antonio to discuss this big step and how serving in Louisiana Farm Bureau opened doors for her to grow in leadership.See a story from TWILA about Robert and Rachel Duncan.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau YF&R today!Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

The weather is warming up and so is crawfish production in Louisiana! This week, Karl Wiggers  visits with rice and crawfish farmer Dylan Benoit at his field in Jeff Davis Parish. They discuss the outlook on this year's crawfish season, Benoit being raised on the farm, as well as what works and what doesn't in crawfish economics.See a story from TWILA about the 2025 crawfish season.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

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.See a story from TWILA about the need for a new Farm Bill and supplemental assistance.Hear more podcast episodes about this need here.Read articles about the Farm Bill, supplemental assistance, and disaster relief here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

Leadership 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.This is where you can follow along with blog posts from the Class XVIII international trip to Belgium and the Netherlands.Here is an interview with Dr. Soileau in 2024 about the value of the LSU Ag Leadership program.Here is the episode of TWILA from Southeast Asia in 2020.Here is the episode of TWILA from Costa Rica and Panama in 2023.Learn more about the LSU Ag Leadership Program here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

This 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.See the story from TWILA highlighting the need for assistance and a new farm bill.Read more about the Continuing Resolution and its aid for farmers.Read about a new bill filed by Congresswoman Letlow to strengthen funding for farmers and ranchers.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

In 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.Here are some stories Neil Melancon brought back from Cuba in 2017 -- Part 1 and Part 2.Here's a playlist of more TWILA stories from Cuba over the years.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

Louisiana 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.See the story from TWILA about this trip.Visit https://lafarmbureau.org/farmbill to have your voice heard.See TikToks about how the farm economy looks in Louisiana here or here or here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

Louisiana 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. Learn more about Louisiana AITC at their website here.See stories about past winners of the Louisiana AITC Teachers of the Year.Learn more about Louisiana AITC Teacher of the Year here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

The 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.See the current U.S. Drought Monitor Map here.Submit photos and conditions from your farm or pastures here.Share your pictures on this Facebook post also!See the story Avery produced about Jay Grymes on TWILA.See the story Josh Meeks produced about the Mesonet Program at ULM on TWILA.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

There 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.Start the conversation with a Louisiana Farm Bureau agent today here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. 

In 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. See the Road To Leadership video about Marty Wooldridge.See a story from This Week In Louisiana Agriculture featuring Marty and his family.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

In 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.See the story from a proud Louisiana Farm Bureau Marketing customer here.  Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

In 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.Get engaged with Louisiana Farm Bureau for a new Farm Bill today!Learn more about the Farm Bill here.Louisiana Farm Bureau News updates can be found here.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

This 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.See more about the Gerace family here.Learn more about LFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers here.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

Every President since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944 has proclaimed the third week in September be National Farm Safety & Health Week 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.Find webinars and more resources from AgriSafe here.Learn more about the grain bin rescue tube locations and last year's grain bin safety workshops.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

This 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.Louisiana Farm Bureau News: The Time is Now to Pass a Farm BillArticle: Congress is Failing America's FarmersThe latest news on the Farm Bill can be found here.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

During 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.Here is the video from convention Madison talks about.Here is the story from the Staffer Tour to Beauregard and Evangeline parishes.Here is the story with Michael Fruge in this week's episode of TWILA.Learn more about the latest news on the Farm Bill.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

In 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. To learn more about Richard Fontenot, check out this video.Read about Richard Fontenot here or here.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

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.Learn more about crawfish news here.Find crawfish prices near you using the Crawfish App!Learn more about the tough year for crawfish farmers in Louisiana in this video.Follow the Louisiana Crawfish Promotion and Research Board on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

In 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. See a story from This Week In Louisiana Agriculture featuring Marty and his family.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

It's National Safe Digging Month and Brent Saltzman from Louisiana 811 is on the podcast talking about why it's so important for everyone to "Call before you dig!" While everyone should make it a normal practice to dial 811 before doing yard work, construction projects, or any other types of digging, there are some exceptions for farmers and others in agriculture, and Brent explains those in this episode.Visit Louisiana811.com to learn more.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

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.Joe's recent article about a constitutional convention on Louisiana Farm Bureau News.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. News about the new bill filed about constitutional convention.Sign up for Voter Voice and learn more about the legislative work happening at Louisiana Farm Bureau.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

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.Josh's recent crawfish story on This Week In Louisiana Agriculture.Avery's recent story about crawfish season for This Week In Louisiana Agriculture.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

This week is National Grain Bin Safety Week. Joining us on this episode of the podcast are Wendell Miley and Matt Sirgo of Louisiana Farm Bureau. They are here to talk about the upcoming grain bin safety workshops and the story behind why they started these programs over a decade ago. The first workshop will be held Tuesday, Feb. 27 in Acadia ParishThe next workshop is Wednesday, Feb. 28 in St. Landry Parish The final workshop is Thursday, Feb. 29 in Catahoula ParishThe event is free to attend, but registering ahead is recommended! A meal will be served at 5:30 p.m. with the classroom portion beginning at 6 p.m.. The entire program will last approximately two and a half to three hours. See a YouTube playlist of past coverage of Grain Bin Safety Workshops.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

Labor: it's a constant need on farms across the nation. In many cases, farmers will bring labor in through foreign worker programs to fill jobs that they're unable to fill locally. That's a lot easier said than done, thanks to constantly changing policies and requirements for farmers to bring these valuable workers to their farms. That's why the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation hosts the Mid-South Ag Labor Seminar -- it's an opportunity to get up-to-date on all things labor policy, law, and best practices.Register for the seminar here.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

A new year in Louisiana means a few things... king cake, gumbo weather, and crawfish! On this week's episode, Avery Davidson chats with Andy Brown and Bill Pizzolato about the affects weather has had on this year's crawfish crop and how that's making the crustacean quite expensive and hard to get for consumers. Find crawfish prices near you using the Crawfish App!Learn more about crawfish news here.Plan your visit to Tony's Seafood here.Follow the Louisiana Crawfish Promotion and Research Board on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

Welcome to a new year of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast! We return with a great conversation with Robert and Rachel Duncan, young farmers from central Louisiana. Along with raising their children, soybeans, flowers and cattle, they chair the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers committee. They are also the winner of this year's YF&R Achievement Award. This week they are heading to the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual meeting to represent Louisiana in the national competition. That's among the many topics we cover in this episode of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau YF&R here. Learn more about Robert and Rachel in this video.Follow along with their trip to AFBF Convention on Facebook and Instagram.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here. Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

The primary function of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is to ensure farmers can continue to feed a growing world. One of the ways it does that is by helping move agricultural products through the Louisiana Farm Bureau Marketing Association. In this episode, Karl Wiggers sits down with grain marketing specialists Greg Fox and Grayson Close to talk about the company and how they help farmers across Louisiana sell their crops at the best price at the best time. See the story from a proud Louisiana Farm Bureau Marketing customer here.   Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here.  Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

You have probably heard us say “we are more than just insurance” a time or two on this podcast. But truth is, access to Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance is one of the biggest benefits offered to Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation members.  In this episode, Avery Davidson sits down with Kirk Hendry, Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance Vice President of Sales, to discuss the unique structure of the company, his personal career and the difficult times the insurance industry is facing in Louisiana.   See the story from Louisiana Farm Bureau Agents on the farm.   Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance. Learn more about Farm Bureau Bank. Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here.  Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.  

This week, Karl has Avery and Neil join the podcast to discuss the 2023 American Farm Bureau Thanksgiving Dinner Survey. The short of it, the cost for the average Thanksgiving Dinner is down from last year. This week, Neil Melancon tells us more about the survey's findings and what it means for consumers when it's time to head to the grocery store.See Neil's story on TWILA.See the American Farm Bureau survey results here.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

In this episode, Karl sits down with Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation 3rd Vice President, Richard Fontenot. They discuss how he originally got introduced to the Farm Bureau family as a child, and then again in the Young Farmers and Ranchers program. They also discuss his crops this year, his involvement in 4-H and FFA as a youth and still today, and why he loves to serve in leadership at Louisiana Farm Bureau.See the story from Richard's farm tour with Evangeline Reimagine Academy.Learn more about Louisiana 4H and Louisiana FFA.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

This week, Wendell Miley and Matt Sirgo join the podcast to discuss the 2023 Louisiana Farm Bureau Holiday Shop. We discuss the history of the program, changes to this year's lineup of items, and how you can place an order and get some incredible Louisiana items in time to host your family this holiday season.Learn more about the Holiday Shop.See This Week In Louisiana Agriculture stories from the past couple of years featuring the Holiday Shop. - 2023 Holiday Shop Preview- 2022 Feasting On Agriculture: Holiday Shop- 2020 Holiday Shop PreviewLearn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau member benefits here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

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.

You've heard the phrase, "Farm To Table." It's really not that new to most. Generations ago, everyone raised their own food in the garden and cooked it for dinner. Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation is creating a space for those farmers who market directly to consumers to support each other, solve problems, and help continue feeding their neighbors. In this episode, Karl visits with two of those farmers, Kacie Luckett and Grant Estrade.Learn more about Grant & Kate Estrade here.Learn more about Kacie & Derek Luckett here and here. Learn more about their farm.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

This week, Avery Davidson sits down with LSU Vice President of Agriculture, Dr. Matt Lee. They discuss the importance of youth development programs, like 4-H and Louisiana FFA, and the value they bring to Louisiana agriculture and it's future. They also talk about the LSU AgCenter and how its many research stations across the state are improving the Louisiana farming community. Learn more about Louisiana 4H and Louisiana FFA.Learn more about the LSU College of Agriculture and the LSU AgCenter.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

This week, Avery Davidson has a conversation with Louisiana Farm Bureau President, Jim Harper. They discuss sugarcane harvest and the affects the drought has had on the crop in Louisiana. They also discuss the Drought Assistance Improvement Act, a bill from Louisiana 5th District Congresswoman, Julia Letlow. Learn more about Louisiana sugarcane impacted by drought.Learn more about Congresswoman Letlow's bill and Louisiana Farm Bureau's praise of the bill.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

In this episode, we discuss the significance of H.R. 5691, the Drought Assistance Improvement Act, with our guest Andy Brown, National Affairs Coordinator of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation. This bill, introduced by Louisiana's 5th District Congresswoman Julia Letlow, holds the potential to bring relief to crawfish farmers and cattle ranchers impacted by drought in our state. We'll examine the bill's key provisions, grassroots efforts to promote change, and its impact on Louisiana's farming and ranching community.Learn more about the bill here -> https://lafarmbureaunews.com/news/2023/9/27/congresswoman-julia-letlow-introduces-the-drought-assistance-improvement-actRead the bill here -> https://mcusercontent.com/bd4e2aaf572d9723e64e78fd0/files/840d5143-e2a8-f0ca-5efa-5cca461505fd/H.R.5691.pdf

In this episode, we tackle the pressing issue of drought in Louisiana. We speak with agricultural experts Andy Brown and Madison Plaisance from the Louisiana Farm Bureau about the challenges faced by farmers and ranchers due to the recent drought. We also cover the impact of the grassroots efforts led by the Farm Bureau to influence the drought monitor and bring about change. Tune in to learn about the initiatives making waves in our state, find inspiration in the stories of farmers overcoming adversity, and gain a greater appreciation for the vital role agriculture plays in our lives.Report drought conditions on your farm here -> https://droughtimpacts.unl.edu/Tools/ConditionMonitoringObservations.aspxhttps://lafarmbureau.org/

This week, we dive into the wellbeing of those who feed our nation. Join us as we explore the critical topic of farm safety, featuring Wendell Miley and Matt Sirgo from the Louisiana Farm Bureau. In this episode, we examine essential aspects of safety, from equipment precautions to health and wellness practices, and discuss how these elements impact the agricultural community.Whether you're a farmer seeking practical tips or simply curious about the efforts dedicated to keeping our farmers safe, this episode is a valuable resource. We spotlight the work done by the Louisiana Farm Bureau to prioritize safety in agriculture, emphasizing that safety isn't just a priority—it's a commitment. Tune in for an informative conversation that underscores the importance of safety in farming and ranching.To learn more about National Farm Safety and Health Week, visit https://www.agrisafe.org/nfshw/Want to attend? AgriSafe will host two webinars each day. Schedule of Webinars Click on each individual webinar for a detailed description and to find the registration link!For resources about mental health, visit https://lafarmbureau.org/mentalhealth or https://www.fb.org/initiative/farm-state-of-mind

In this episode of the Louisiana Fam Bureau Podcast, we're learning all about the "Louisiana Agriculture in the Classroom" program and the upcoming workshops that are sowing the seeds of agricultural education across our great state.Louisiana Ag in the Classroom provides free resources, like ag-themed lessons that support core subjects and align with Louisiana Student Standard, and training for teachers where Certificates for Continuing Learning Units (CLUs) are provided. Our host, Karl Wiggers sits down with Lynda Danos, Ag in the Classroom State Coordinator, as she explains how Louisiana educators can bring agriculture in their classrooms and why students will love it when they do! https://aitcla.org/

In this episode, Avery Davidson continues our coverage of the upcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for October 14th. Davidson  interviews Louisiana Treasurer, John Schroder. In this interview, Schroder shares his background in law enforcement, military service, and business and how he found his way into a political career. Watch the video of the interview here.Learn more about John Schroder's campaign here.To sign up for the Grassroots Government e-newsletter and Voter Voice, visit this link.To become a member and have your voice heard, visit Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation here.Find more headlines at Louisiana Farm Bureau News.