TWILA — September 26, 2025

From sugar mills in New Iberia to city gardens in New Orleans, it’s a pretty sweet episode of TWILA! We take a look at how drought conditions are tightening their grip on the state and how Louisiana Farm Bureau is connecting lawmakers and farmers ahead of the special session. We’ll tour the historic M.A. Patout sugar mill, share harvest road safety tips, and see how SPROUT NOLA is growing fresh food in the heart of the city. Plus, we visit Liuzza Land for some fall fun, stop by the first-ever Livestock Connection event, and join Farm Bureau as they give back through Pat’s Coats for Kids.  Links: Watch the latest episode of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast with State Climatologist Jay Grymes: https://youtu.be/IV8-2LsO_aI  Listen to the latest episode of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcast with State Climatologist Jay Grymes: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f32fa2c5  Learn more about Slow Food North Louisiana: https://www.slowfoodnorthla.org/  Learn more about Liuzza Land,https://www.liuzzalandllc.com/  Learn more about Pat’s Coats for Kids: https://www.wbrz.com/pages/pats-coats-for-kids/📰 Sign up for the Daily Voice newsletter: https://lafarmbureaunews.com/subscribe🎧 Listen to our Podcasts:TWILA Podcast: https://feeds.transistor.fm/twila-after-showLouisiana Farm Bureau Podcasts: https://feeds.transistor.fm/louisiana-farm-bureau-podcast📲 Connect with Us on Social MediaTWILAhttps://www.facebook.com/TWILATV/https://www.instagram.com/twila_tv/https://twitter.com/TWILATVhttps://www.tiktok.com/@twilatvLouisiana Farm Bureauhttps://www.facebook.com/LaFarmBureau/https://www.instagram.com/lafarmbureau/https://twitter.com/LaFarmBureauhttps://www.tiktok.com/@lafarmbureau

From the classroom to the countryside, this week’s TWILA dives into the stories shaping Louisiana agriculture.  Farmers are feeling the pinch from record-low cotton acres, a federal shutdown, and shifting global trade. Meanwhile, students across the state are getting a firsthand look at where their food comes from through Farm City Day and the Farm to School Conference. We’ll also explore Louisiana’s forestry roots in Longleaf and stop by Champagne’s Marché for a taste of Cajun tradition. Links:Learn more about Seeds to Success: https://seedstosuccess.com/  Learn more about the Southern Forest Heritage Museum: https://forestheritagemuseum.org/

National 4-H Week is October 5-11, and we’re celebrating with a special TWILA takeover from the Louisiana 4-H state officers!  From launching businesses to chasing careers, these stories highlight the big dreams, hard work, and heart of 4-H members across the state. Whether in the barn, the boardroom, or even the cockpit, these students are proving they’re beyond ready for whatever comes next.  Watch this week’s show to see why 4-H is more than just a program—it’s a launchpad. 🔗 SHOW LINKSLearn more about Louisiana 4-HLearn more about National 4-H Week📰 Sign up for the Daily Voice newsletter: https://lafarmbureaunews.com/subscribe🎧 Listen to our Podcasts:TWILA Podcast: https://feeds.transistor.fm/twila-after-showLouisiana Farm Bureau Podcasts: https://feeds.transistor.fm/louisiana-farm-bureau-podcast📲 Connect with Us on Social MediaTWILAhttps://www.facebook.com/TWILATV/https://www.instagram.com/twila_tv/https://twitter.com/TWILATVhttps://www.tiktok.com/@twilatvLouisiana Farm Bureauhttps://www.facebook.com/LaFarmBureau/https://www.instagram.com/lafarmbureau/https://twitter.com/LaFarmBureauhttps://www.tiktok.com/@lafarmbureau

We’re going from the fields of West Carroll to the peppers of Avery Island in this week’s TWILA!  We show you how farmers in West Carroll Parish came together to harvest for a neighbor after an injury. You’ll also meet Chris Roussel, a jeweler and rancher who used his experience of running a family jewelry business to build 12-Star Ranch and launch a custom beef label. We’ll highlight traditions old and new, see how teachers are bringing agriculture into the classroom, and visit Avery Island for a closer look at the peppers behind a world-famous hot sauce. Plus, this week’s TWILA Boost features a pro quarterback giving back to farmers during harvest.  Links: Learn more about 12 Star Ranch: https://www.12starangus.com  Learn more about the Louisiana Cattle Festival: https://louisianacattlefestival.org/ Learn more about Louisiana Ag in the Classroom: https://aitcla.org/  Learn more about upcoming Louisiana Ag in the Classroom Workshops: https://aitcla.org/workshops  

We’re going from the field to the tailgate in this special edition of TWILA! From cutting-edge AI tools to new farm labor rules, this week’s show highlights how innovation and policy are shaping Louisiana agriculture. We hear directly from leaders in Washington and Baton Rouge, check in on the soybean harvest, and wrap it all up at LSU game day—where rice takes the spotlight in a jambalaya that proves every tailgate starts with farmers. 🔗 SHOW LINKSLearn more about FarmSmarter.ai: https://farmsmarter.ai Find the recipe for the jambalaya Kristen and Mitch cooked here: https://www.twilatv.org/blog Learn more about the farmers behind your tailgate here: https://lafarmbureau.org/tailgate📰 Sign up for the Daily Voice newsletter: https://lafarmbureaunews.com/subscribe🎧 Listen to our Podcasts:TWILA Podcast: https://feeds.transistor.fm/twila-after-showLouisiana Farm Bureau Podcasts: https://feeds.transistor.fm/louisiana-farm-bureau-podcast📲 Connect with Us on Social MediaTWILAhttps://www.facebook.com/TWILATV/https://www.instagram.com/twila_tv/https://twitter.com/TWILATVhttps://www.tiktok.com/@twilatvLouisiana Farm Bureauhttps://www.facebook.com/LaFarmBureau/https://www.instagram.com/lafarmbureau/https://twitter.com/LaFarmBureauhttps://www.tiktok.com/@lafarmbureau

This special edition of This Week in Louisiana Agriculture reflects on 20 years since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, two storms that forever changed Louisiana’s coast and communities. From levee breaches in New Orleans to flooded farms in Cameron, we look back at how agriculture, fisheries, and families were impacted. Farmers, leaders, and neighbors share stories of loss and resilience—reminders of Louisiana’s enduring strength.🔗 SHOW LINKSSee more from Louisiana 4-H's Trip to Ireland: https://www.twilatv.org/bloghttps://lafarmbureau.smugmug.com/Louisiana4H-Ireland Learn more about Sommerview Farm: https://www.sommerview.com/📰 Sign up for the Daily Voice newsletter: https://lafarmbureaunews.com/subscribe🎧 Listen to our Podcasts:TWILA Podcast: https://feeds.transistor.fm/twila-after-showLouisiana Farm Bureau Podcasts: https://feeds.transistor.fm/louisiana-farm-bureau-podcast📲 Connect with Us on Social MediaTWILAhttps://www.facebook.com/TWILATV/https://www.instagram.com/twila_tv/https://twitter.com/TWILATVhttps://www.tiktok.com/@twilatvLouisiana Farm Bureauhttps://www.facebook.com/LaFarmBureau/https://www.instagram.com/lafarmbureau/https://twitter.com/LaFarmBureauhttps://www.tiktok.com/@lafarmbureau

This week on TWILA, we look at the Roseland fire, check in with farmers facing tight margins, and share how a court ruling brings relief to sugarcane growers. From an okra farm in Gonzales to Sommerview Farm in Iberville Parish, we see how agriculture inspires growth at home—and follow Louisiana 4-H students as they wrap up their journey in Ireland. Plus, we end with a few laughs in this week’s Boost!  🔗 SHOW LINKS See more from Louisiana 4-H's Trip to Ireland: https://www.twilatv.org/blog https://lafarmbureau.smugmug.com/Louisiana4H-Ireland  Learn more about Sommerview Farm: https://www.sommerview.com/ 📰 Sign up for the Daily Voice newsletter: https://lafarmbureaunews.com/subscribe 🎧 Listen to our Podcasts: TWILA Podcast: https://feeds.transistor.fm/twila-after-show Louisiana Farm Bureau Podcasts: https://feeds.transistor.fm/louisiana-farm-bureau-podcast 📲 Connect with Us on Social Media TWILA https://www.facebook.com/TWILATV/https://www.instagram.com/twila_tv/https://twitter.com/TWILATVhttps://www.tiktok.com/@twilatvLouisiana Farm Bureau https://www.facebook.com/LaFarmBureau/https://www.instagram.com/lafarmbureau/https://twitter.com/LaFarmBureauhttps://www.tiktok.com/@lafarmbureau

This week on TWILA, we follow the fight against invasive species threatening farms and forests and explore how agritourism is growing through pick-your-own experiences. Louisiana 4-H students travel to Ireland for lessons in farming abroad, while soybean buyers from North Africa visit West Baton Rouge to see American production firsthand. Plus, one tractor door gives farmers a run for their money in this week’s Boost! 

This week, we start in the Louisiana marsh with LSU’s interim president learning the hands-on process of collecting alligator eggs—a vital part of conservation and a $100 million industry. Then we head to Ireland with Louisiana 4-H to explore dairy farms, plant fresh produce, and see how farm-to-table works across the Atlantic. We hop back across the pond to follow Louisiana’s jasmine rice from research to harvest to a delicious crawfish sushi stack in Feasting on Agriculture. Links:See photos from the trip to Ireland here.See the first week of TWILA coverage here.Read blog posts from the trip here.See more episodes of TWILA here.

From Ruston to Washington, D.C., and all the way to Ireland, Louisiana agriculture is making waves.  In this week’s episode of TWILA, Speaker Mike Johnson hears directly from Louisiana farmers during a special town hall, while 4 Sisters Rice represents the state at a national celebration of farmers markets. Louisiana 4-H students journey overseas for an unforgettable ag adventure, and an innovative aquaponics facility in New Orleans shows what’s possible when tradition meets technology.🔗 SHOW LINKS  “One Big Beautiful Bill” Celebration Higgins Encourages Higher Tariffs On Rice ImportsAFBF Makes Policy Recommendations to MAHA Commission Coke Is Already Sweetening the Deal for LouisianaLearn more about Louisiana 4-H's Trip to Ireland: Visit the Irish National Stud & Gardens Read Josh's blog entry about all the love for the animals on the trip to Ireland.Read all the blog posts from the trip to Ireland.