agriculture

South Africa is unleashing weevils imported from Louisiana in a bid to fight off the sprouting growth of Salvinia minima, an alien species of aquatic plant native to South America that is choking up dams and rivers.

Exploring the details of the Certified Naturally Grown certification, how it compares to USDA Organic, and why some farmers are pursuing it for their operations.

For the past few decades, the trees that grow in the Mississippi River floodplain, known as floodplain forests, have been struggling. Although they're named for their ability to withstand the river's seasonal flooding, they've recently been overwhelmed by higher water and longer-lasting floods. Government agencies and nonprofits are attempting to reverse the forestland decline by planting new trees and volunteers are key to the effort.

"It's one of the most dramatic changes on the upper Mississippi," Larson said. "It's everywhere."

The 80-year-old bill requires updates from Congress every five years to account for inflation and shifting welfare and agricultural policies. While some conservative circles argue the subsidies distort free markets, the omnibus bill has traditionally enjoyed broad bipartisan support. Urban and rural constituencies depend on its programs, while policymakers view a stable food source as imperative to national security.

Lincoln University in Missouri is heading a USDA-funded project researching the commodity, but its prohibition created high hurdles for getting the crop off the ground.

Today on Louisiana Considered, we learn about research on the impacts of climate change on rice. Plus, the often-overlooked story of Johnny Wright, the New Orleans native who almost became the first Black pitcher in Major League Baseball.

Climate-smart agriculture is getting a “once-in-a-generation” investment of $20 billion. Louisiana farmers show what a successful rollout could look like.

After nearly a week of freezing temperatures, farmers in Mississippi and Louisiana have suffered big losses in livestock and crops, and some of the...

Rice is one of Louisiana's signature agricultural products. But it’s more than just the base for gumbos and étouffées - it’s an economic driver across the…