Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast

Louisiana duck hunters have a new opportunity this October, and concerns from rice farmers helped move the conversation forward.On this episode of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast, Karl Wiggers visits with Vermilion Parish rice farmer Allen McLain, Louisiana Farm Bureau Commodity and Public Policy Director Andy Brown, and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Waterfowl Program Manager Jason Olszak. They explain how black-bellied whistling ducks damage young rice, why grain facilities have raised concerns of their own, and how farmers, researchers and wildlife officials have worked together to address the issue.The conversation covers Louisiana’s new experimental hunting season, why it took years of coordination and how hunter participation and reporting can help shape what comes next. The guests also discuss the connection between productive rice farms and healthy waterfowl habitat.Show Notes:LDWF: Special black-bellied whistling duck season announcement — Official announcement and season details.LDWF: Season information and free permit — Primary listener resource for participating.Louisiana Outdoors — Licensing portal mentioned in the episode. LSU AgCenter: Impacts of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks on the Louisiana Rice Industry — Producer survey relevant to Andy’s discussion, with the complete report available to download. Louisiana 2026–2027 Hunting and WMA Regulations — Full regulations.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

Louisiana is Sportsman’s Paradise, and Hunters for the Hungry Louisiana is giving hunters and fishermen another way to put that tradition to work.Host Avery Davidson sits down with Hunters for the Hungry Louisiana Executive Director Julie Grunewald to talk about how the organization turns donated deer, hogs, fish and other protein into meals for people in need. Julie explains the upcoming Clean Out Your Freezer Day, how hunters can donate freshly harvested game at participating processors at no cost to them, and how those donations are kept as local as possible to help feed neighbors in communities across Louisiana. Show Notes:Hunters for the Hungry Louisiana - https://www.h4hla.org/Clean Out Your Freezer Day — Aug. 23, 2026 - https://www.h4hla.org/freezer-dayFind a participating deer or hog processor - https://www.h4hla.org/processorsFind a Louisiana Farm Bureau office in your parish here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

When a member of U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s staff asked to learn more about Louisiana cattle production, Louisiana Farm Bureau knew exactly where to take him. Then Johnson noticed the visit on his calendar and asked to come along.In this episode, Karl Wiggers talks with Andy Brown, director of Commodity and Public Policy at the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, about the resulting roundtable at Marty Wooldridge’s farm near Oil City. Brown explains how farmers used the opportunity to discuss high input costs, difficult commodity markets, trade, forestry, poultry, livestock disaster programs and the stalled farm bill.The conversation also offers a behind-the-scenes look at grassroots advocacy and why relationships built long before a major policy vote can give Louisiana farmers a meaningful seat at the table.Show Notes:Watch the related TWILA story about Speaker Johnson’s farm visit here.Read Andy Brown’s USA Rice Daily article about the meeting.Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers hereFind a Louisiana Farm Bureau office in your parish here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.

Before Jean Treas ever stepped onto a convention stage, she was folding produce boxes, helping customers at her family’s roadside market and learning the work behind a fifth-generation farm.Now, the 19-year-old Tangipahoa Parish native is carrying that agricultural experience into her new role as the 2026 Louisiana Farm Bureau Queen.Host Allie Shipley—herself a former Louisiana Farm Bureau queen—sits down with Jean to discuss growing up on a produce farm, working directly with consumers, studying occupational health and safety at Southeastern Louisiana University and preparing for a year of representing farmers and ranchers across the state.Jean also explains why the Louisiana Farm Bureau Queen’s Contest is about much more than dresses and a crown. For her, the title is an opportunity to advocate for agriculture, connect consumers with the people growing their food and help build a culture that supports local and generational farms.Jean will spend the coming year attending agricultural events and festivals across Louisiana and representing the state in Washington, D.C. The official contest includes agricultural and Farm Bureau interviews, a style show, an evening gown presentation and an onstage question. Follow the Louisiana Farm Bureau Queen on InstagramFollow the Louisiana Farm Bureau Queen on FacebookLearn more about the Louisiana Farm Bureau Queen’s ContestFollow Liuzza Family FarmWatch Jean’s TWILA profileSubscribe to Louisiana Farm Bureau on YouTubeLearn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation

Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot joins Karl Wiggers for a post-convention conversation following the 104th Annual Louisiana Farm Bureau Convention in New Orleans.Fresh off his reelection to a third term, Fontenot reflects on a convention marked by record attendance, strong energy, youth involvement, policy discussions and the multigenerational Farm Bureau family that continues to shape Louisiana agriculture. He shares what stood out from the week, from the great youth competitions to the lawmakers, USDA leaders and industry stakeholders who came to listen, learn and work alongside farmers.The conversation also turns to the serious challenges facing producers across the state, including flooding impacts in parts of central Louisiana, tight margins, input costs, labor concerns, the Farm Bill and the importance of strong agricultural policy. Through it all, Fontenot points back to the people, families and volunteers who make Louisiana Farm Bureau “the voice of Louisiana agriculture.”Show Notes:Learn more about Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers hereFind a Louisiana Farm Bureau office in your parish here.Become a member of Louisiana Farm Bureau today.