Farmers and Cattle Producers Endure Summer 2023
This morning we begin with the ordeal farmers and cattle producers endured a summer-long ordeal in our listening area -- in what will no doubt go down as one of the toughest in recent memory. "Just about, I’d say 99 percent of the cattle producers around here have reduced their numbers,” Explains Joshua Salley. He’s with the LSU Ag Center and describes the very difficult conditions for the thousands of farmers and cattle producers in this area facing extreme odds.
That’s because of the rain stopping in late spring to early summer, followed soon after by several dozen days of triple digit temperatures. Salley says those conditions led to extreme drought conditions. It also forced farmers and cattle producers to make some very tough choices. “They’ve either had to reduce their herd numbers or sellout completely due to sheer lack of grass. Hay is in very short supply. Hay yields have been as great as 50 percent than they normally would be.”
Salley says because of the severe drought many farmers and cattle producers in west Louisiana have qualified for federal assistance available through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.
Louisiana Realtors Converge on Shreveport-Bossier
Hundreds of Louisiana realtors have converged on Shreveport-bossier this week. A member–based trade association – Louisiana realtors – is unveiling results of their “Getting to Home” study on market developments statewide.
The group’s president, Tony Cornner says there are some good things happening statewide, as well as some challenges, which include interest rates. “Still, today’s rates are at seven percent or seven and a quarter. But that is a challenging thing. And then there’s not enough houses on the market in some areas. Supply is not up.”
Cornner says more than a dozen candidates for statewide office are coming together at the Louisiana Realtors’ Fall Governance meeting. It’s all taking place at the Shreveport Convention Center on this Tuesday [September 19] from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., with the gathering continuing into Wednesday.
Organizers say the event is also the only Louisiana stop for the Riding with The Brand national bus tour, which will feature discussions on issues impacting Louisiana homeowners.
Arkansas Highway Renamed for Madison Murphy
A 100-mile stretch of Highway 167 in Arkansas is getting a new name. It is a ceremony in honor of Madison Murphy. Murphy served on the Arkansas Highway Commission for 10 years, from 2003 to 2013, and played a key role in promoting the 2012 temporary half-cent sales tax that funded the project.
Murphy says he is humbled by the honor of recognition for his efforts in helping expand Highway 167 into a 4-lane connection between south and central Arkansas. “Frankly, for south Arkansas it’s huge. It’s part of, you know, what we would call the backbone of the Arkansas primary highway network.”The ceremony was scheduled to take place at 1:00 p.m. at the Welcome Center near El Dorado, Arkansas. That nearly 100-mile stretch of Highway 167 runs from Saline County to Union County and will be named the “Madison Murphy Highway.”
