Content Tagged As farmers

Tagged News

  • Farmers Insurance pulling out of state

    February 8, 2013 6:18 AM

    BATON ROUGE - State insurance regulators say Farmers Insurance Exchange, which has around 23,000 homeowner and 7,000 auto policies in Louisiana, is dropping those lines of business. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said Thursday that the company cited substantial losses as a major reason for pulling out of the state's homeowner's... more »
  • La. farmers plant more soybeans, less cotton

    July 10, 2012 2:21 PM

    NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Department of Agriculture says Louisiana farmers are planting more soybeans than they have in 14 years but may tie a record low for cotton. Changing weather patterns appeared to be a factor as the wet early spring gave way to a drier pattern. So farmers... more »
  • Sugarcane farmers use program to hire workers Play Video

    May 22, 2012 5:35 PM

    BATON ROUGE- Bobby Morris knows a thing or two about sugarcane farming. "I grew up on the farm, I'm a fourth-generation farmer," he told News 2. Morris Farms has about 1600 acres of sugarcanes, and a lot of hard work comes with that. That's made it difficult for... more »
  • Farmers markets getting money to take food stamps

    May 9, 2012 7:55 AM

    RALEIGH, N.C. - The federal government is spending $4 million to help hook up farmers and low-income customers. Currently, fewer than a quarter of the nation's roughly 7,100 farmers markets are set up to use the Electronic Benefit Transfer system, or food stamps. But Kathleen Merrigan, deputy secretary of agriculture,... more »
  • Warm weather giving La. strawberry farmers a sunny outlook Play Video

    January 24, 2012 6:53 PM

    BATON ROUGE - Winter is well on its way out, and strawberry farmers in south Louisiana couldn't be happier. Eric Morrow said today the warm January weather has created the best beginning to a season he's seen in years. "The berries are uncovered. We have sunshine and it's... more »
  • Bayer extends GM rice settlement deadline to Nov.

    October 25, 2011 4:17 PM

    NEW ORLEANS - Rice farmers have nearly a month to file for part of a $750 million settlement to claims they lost money because Bayer CropScience inadvertently allowed genetically modified rice seed onto the market in the United States. The original deadline was Oct. 10, but Bayer extended it... more »
  • Sugarcane farmers fight damage from Lee

    September 7, 2011 5:25 PM

    WEST BATON ROUGE-- Sugarcane farmers are dealing with a handful. Many of them own farms covered in plants that are completely bent over and matted close to the ground, thanks to gusts from Tropical Storm Lee. Heath Morris estimates all of his plants are downed, some worse than others.... more »
  • Frustrated farmers vent as rivers rise

    May 19, 2011 5:16 PM

    VIDALIA - An overflow crowd turned out Thursday for a meeting in Vidalia with state and federal agricultural officials. Farmers are suffering from the Mississippi River flood, even though flooding of fields is minimal. A drought, deer being driven into their fields by the rising river, and seepage... more »
  • River tops levee, floods north LA farmland

    May 12, 2011 10:08 AM

    BUNCHE'S BEND, La.- The Mississippi River has topped a levee north of Lake Providence in extreme northeast Louisiana, flooding croplands as an effort by farmers to shore up the 100-year-old structure was thwarted by the rising river. About 12,000 acres behind the 18-mile-long levee, mostly planted in corn and soybeans,... more »
  • Cold good for peaches, strawberries protected

    February 4, 2011 3:02 PM

    BATON ROUGE - Louisiana farmers say this week's cold is good for peaches in north Louisiana - and, farther south, strawberries covered against the cold should be fine. Joe Mitcham of Ruston says his peaches need 850 to 1,000 hours of temperatures below 45 degrees to produce a good crop.... more »
  • Strawberry farmers battle cold temperatures

    December 6, 2010 5:04 PM

    PONCHATOULA - Strawberry farmers said today they're not too concerned about the freezing temperatures predicted for this week, and that they believe sunny skies and warmer weather during the day should offer their crops enough protection. Pontchatoula farmer Eric Morrow says production in 2010 has been much better than... more »
  • La. Farmers: 1 Week for 2009 Aid Applications

    December 2, 2010 10:29 AM

    BATON ROUGE - Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain reminds Louisiana farmers they have a week left to apply for federal help for crop losses from last year's soggy weather. The deadline for Crop Assistance Program applications is close of business on Dec. 9.Fifty-four parishes were among 953 counties in 34... more »
  • LSU Ag Center budget moves considered

    December 2, 2010 10:25 AM

    LSU System President John Lombardi says it may be time to separate the LSU Ag System from higher ed. Lombardi gave that response during budget talks with the Louisiana Board of Regents. The ag centers help many farmers and ranchers with testing, research and other valuable information. ... more »
  • Eight parishes declared disaster areas

    November 24, 2010 3:39 PM

    BATON ROUGE- The U.S. Agriculture Department has declared eight Louisiana parishes and all of Arkansas disaster areas because of the drought that has been ongoing since April. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says Bossier, Claiborne, Morehouse, Webster, Caddo, East Carroll, Union, and West Carroll parishes are secondary disaster areas... more »
  • Senate approves $4.6B for black farmers, Indians

    November 19, 2010 3:44 PM

    WASHINGTON - The Senate has approved almost $4.6 billion to settle longstanding claims brought by American Indians and black farmers against the government. The money has been held up for months in the Senate as Democrats and Republicans squabbled over how to pay for it. Both of the class action... more »
  • La. farmers sign up for wetlands program

    November 13, 2010 11:06 AM

    NEW ORLEANS - U.S. agriculture officials say a record number of Louisiana farmers signed up this year for a program to turn little-used farm land into wetlands. In Louisiana, 22,544 acres were included in the Wetlands Reserve Program, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Across the United States, more... more »
  • Fund set up for LA farmers with 2009 losses

    September 20, 2010 2:17 PM

    Some Louisiana cotton, rice, soybean and sweet potato farmers have a chance to help recover their losses from last year’s flooded harvest. The state Department of Agriculture and Forestry announced today that a $550 million disaster relief program has been created to help farmers that had at least a five... more »
  • Spewing oil covers sugarcane

    August 23, 2010 6:14 PM

    Between 600 and 700 acres of sugarcane in Assumption Parish have fallen victim to spewing oil and saltwater in Assumption Parish, according to LSU sugar researchers. Oil could choke out the plant, preventing it from transpiring, or breathing, according to Dr. Kenneth Gravois of LSU's Sugar Research Station. If... more »
  • Feds, farmers create habitats for migrating birds

    July 29, 2010 4:51 AM

    The government is doling out $20 million to farmers in eight states to create habitats for migratory birds whose usual Gulf wintering spots may be covered in oil. The farmers are being paid to keep their rice, crawfish and soybean fields flooded for months longer than usual. Biologists with the... more »
  • Feds could pay farmers for wildlife habitat

    July 20, 2010 5:25 AM

    A new program could compensate farmers for agricultural practices that provide habitat to wildlife. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service says the program could pay farmers for creating mud flats in their fields, pumping water onto fields and holding water. State conservationist Kevin Norton says the same... more »
  • Federal plan wants landowners to help protect birds

    July 6, 2010 5:57 PM

    A federal plan wants Louisiana landowners to help protect migrating birds from the oil leak. It's designed to offer alternative wintering grounds for birds whose natural habitat could be slimed with crude. As News 2's Luke Margolis reports, some worry the plan may miss the target. more »
  • LSU AgCenter joins produce promotion website

    June 30, 2010 5:55 AM

    The LSU AgCenter has a new way for farmers and people in the food business to market products. Louisiana's Market Maker website is taking registrations now, and should be searchable by Aug. 15. Sellers get free accounts. Businesses must be agriculture-related - for instance, agritourism would qualify. Buyers don't need... more »
  • ULM relying on land to help raise cash

    June 6, 2010 6:39 PM

    The University of Louisiana at Monroe is leasing land it owns to farmers and horse breeders. That's according to a report in the Monroe News Star. ULM Foundation Director Don Skelton says the leases are are part of an effort to create revenue and increase the long term value of... more »
  • Deadline for 2008 hurricane agribusiness loans

    May 19, 2010 5:34 AM

    Agribusiness owners affected by hurricanes Gustav and Ike have until May 28 to apply for low-interest loans through the Agribusiness Recovery Loan Program. Finished applications must be delivered and date stamped by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture by that date. The program provides low-interest loans to businesses such as aerial... more »
  • New sugarcane variety available

    May 7, 2010 5:51 AM

    The LSU Agcenter announced a new variety of sugar cane that produces significantly more sugar than the one most widely grown in Louisiana last year. "Seed cane" will be available from both the Agcenter and the Sugar Cane league. Farmers plant whole stalks, and buds along the stalks grow into... more »
  • Grasshopper outlook strikes fear on Western range

    March 29, 2010 9:48 AM

    Parts of Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Idaho may be in store for costly grasshopper infestations this summer. Federal surveys predict at least 48 million acres of outbreak-level infestation this summer. U.S. Agriculture officials said some states may see the most severe grasshopper outbreaks in... more »
  • Landrieu wants funds approved for black farmers

    March 25, 2010 6:05 AM

    U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu is calling on Congress to approve a $1.15 billion deal with black farmers that could end a years-long stalemate over alleged racial discrimination by the Agriculture Department. Landrieu says the settlement isn't "just about correcting past wrongs - it is about ensuring future prosperity." She said... more »
  • Chilled mudbugs off to slow start

    March 3, 2010 8:09 AM

    The crawfish season is off to a slow start because of cold weather. Crawfish get less active in the cold, so they're less likely to be attracted by bait in traps. Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Association Director Stephen Minvielle says some crawfish farmers who also grow rice have been draining... more »
  • Farmers protect crops from cold

    January 4, 2010 5:21 PM

    With freezing temperatures on the way to south Louisiana, farmers are trying their hardest to protect their crops. In Ponchatoula, strawberry farmers like Eric Morrow have covered their rows of plants with huge tarps. The tarps won't do much if temperatures reach record lows for too long, but it's... more »
  • Gustav, Ike farm aid begins to flow

    December 9, 2009 9:09 AM

    Money has started to flow to farmers and ranchers who applied for a share of a $45 million grant and low-interest loan program to help them in their recovery from last year's storms. A spokeswoman for the Louisiana Recovery Authority said 812 grant and loan recipients have received the... more »
  • Louisiana and 4 others states get disaster declaration for farm losses

    November 18, 2009 7:51 AM

    Federal agriculture authorities have declared disaster areas in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee due to crop losses from a combination of severe spring and fall flooding and summer drought. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the declaration will "provide help to hundreds of farmers who suffered significant... more »

Top Stories