Louisiana

Louisiana farm feeling the pain as war-driven diesel spike hits hard

Published

4 months ago

March 24, 2026

Louisiana farm feeling the pain as war-driven diesel spike hits hard

TANGIPAHOA PARISH, La. (WVUE) – Liuzza Family Farm is more than 7,000 miles from Iran, but the war in the region is still hitting home in Tangipahoa Parish.

The farm says the sharp rise in diesel prices is forcing it to conserve fuel and rethink future plans as energy costs climb. AAA listed Louisiana’s average diesel price at $5.009 a gallon on March 24, up from $4.735 a week earlier and $3.251 a month earlier.

“This is not a speed bump. This is a roadblock because fuel drives our whole production. Everything we do, every tractor uses diesel. Every truck uses diesel or gasoline,” said Joey Liuzza, co-owner of Liuzza Family Farm.

Joey Liuzza and his wife, Nichole, started their farm in 2022. They say farming is a constant balancing act, but right now, fuel costs are at the top of the list.

The farm usually spends between $3,000 and $5,000 a month on diesel. The Liuzzas estimate the higher cost of energy will raise the cost of producing strawberries and vegetables by 15% to 25% in the coming months.

“We do appreciate all the business we get from our local consumers, and we hope that they find a couple extra dollars in their budget for us,” said Nichole Liuzza, co-owner of Liuzza Family Farm.

Read more: Louisiana’s LNG industry could help fill natural gas gap amid war with Iran

The price pressure goes beyond diesel. The Associated Press reported that farmers across the United States are bracing for higher fertilizer prices and possible shortages because shipping disruptions tied to the Iran war are affecting supply.

AP also reported that the Strait of Hormuz has become a major pressure point in the conflict, with shipping traffic and energy flows disrupted as the war escalated. More than one-fifth of the world’s oil typically moves through that waterway.

Liuzza Family Farm says it is also dealing with rising fertilizer costs as those global disruptions ripple into Louisiana.

“Our crops are planted. Our planting is done. Our prices have been set. So, there’s no way for a farmer to go back and say, hey, we need you to pay more because of fuel costs,” Joey Liuzza said.

The farm said adding an energy surcharge, like some restaurants once did with eggs, is not a realistic option.

“In a perfect world if every farmer would say, we’re putting on a fuel surcharge, then the customers would pay it. The customers are about the bottom-line price and whoever is the cheapest that’s who gets the business,” Liuzza said.

The Liuzzas said they had hoped to expand next year, but those plans could be delayed if energy prices remain high.

“We’re still a fairly new farm, and it will be a significant hit on us. We really need to crunch the numbers and buckle down and see are we going to be able to expand next year,” Nichole Liuzza said.

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Louisiana

DeRidder man found dead in Sabine River

Published

12 hours ago

July 12, 2026

Press Room

NEWTON COUNTY, Texas. (KPLC) – A DeRidder man reported missing was found dead in the Sabine River Sunday morning, according to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.

Newton County Sheriff Colton Havard said Jordan Jamal Allen was located around 7:50 a.m. on July 12 with help from Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens, the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office, and 409 Search and Rescue.

Authorities say the body was recovered not far from where Allen went under Friday night near the U.S. 190 bridge east of Bon Wier at the Texas-Louisiana state line.

The sheriff said that Allen and a woman were said to be wading across the river Friday when the current began pulling the woman.

The sheriff said Allen tried to help her, but went under around 8:45 p.m. and wasn’t seen again. He said the woman made it back to land safely.

We will have more in this story as it develops.

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Louisiana

Check out the Outdoors calendar for fishing events

Published

22 hours ago

July 12, 2026

Press Room

Check out the Outdoors calendar for fishing events

MONDAY

RED STICK FLY FISHERS PROGRAM: 7 p.m., Bluebonnet Regional Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge. Open to the public. Email Brian Roberts: roberts.brian84@gmail.com. Website: rsff.org

WEDNESDAY

FLIES & FLIGHTS: 7-9 p.m, Rally Cap Brewing, 11212 Pennywood Ave., Baton Rouge. Casual fly tying. Open to public. Email Chris Williams: thefatfingeredflytyer@gmail.com

THURSDAY

ACADIANA FLY RODDERS PROGRAM: 6 p.m., Pack and Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Open to public. Email Darin Lee: at cbrsandcdc@gmail.com. Website: acadianaflyrodders.org

FRIENDS OF NRA/SOUTHWEST LA BANQUET: 6 p.m., Riverside Bar & Grill, 3748 Louisiana 3059, Lake Charles. Call Brack Cole 337-912-1620. Email: jbcoleair@yahoo.com

ONGOING

STATEWIDE TOURNAMENT & ANGLERS RODEO/S.T.A.R.: Through Sept. 7, Coastal Conservation Association’s summer-long fishing event. Tagged redfish, coastal/offshore species categories & youth division. CCA membership required. Website: ccalouisiana.com/star

LOTTERY HUNTS

DOVE/TEAL: July 27 application deadline for dove hunt on Elbow Slough Wildlife Management Area and teal hunt on White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area. Website applications only on Wildlife & Fisheries/Louisiana Outdoors License, Permits and Tags webpage. Fee $8.50. Details: dove hunt, David Hayden at dhayden@wlf.la.gov; teal hunt, Lance Ardoin at lardoin@wlf.la.gov

AROUND THE CORNER

JULY 21 — LAFAYETTE KAYAK FISHING CLUB MEETING: 6 p.m., Pack and Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Call 337-232-5854. Website: lafayettekayakfishing.com

JULY 21-22 — GULF COUNCIL SHRIMP COMMITTEE MEETING: Gulf Council office, 4107 W. Spruce St., Tampa, Florida. In conjunction with Scientific and Statistical committees. Website: gulfcouncil.org

JULY 23 — ACADIANA BUGS & BREWS: 6 p.m., Pack and Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Casual fly tying and local beers provided. Open to the public. Email Darin Lee: cbrsandcdc@gmail.com. Website: packpaddle.com

JULY 23-25 — International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, Grand Isle Marina & Otto Candies Pavilion, Grand Isle. Website: tarponrodeo.org

JULY 24-25—BASSMASTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Kentucky Lake, Paris, Tennessee. Website: bassmaster.com

JULY 26 — SOUTH LOUISIANA HIGHPOWER CLUB MATCH: 8:30 a.m., Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Range, St. Landry Road, Gonzales. NRA XTC & F-Class match rifle or service rifle, 200-yard/50-rounds match course. Fee $15 members, $20 nonmembers, $5 juniors. $25 annual club (first match free) and Civilian Marksmanship Program membership (allows purchases from CMP). Call Mike Burke, 337-380-8120. Email: SouthLAHighPower@hotmail.com

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Spring inshore season closed except for Breton/Chandeleur sounds; all outside waters open.

OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Private recreational red snapper; gray triggerfish; flounder; lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers and wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers except closed for goliath and Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

CLOSED SEASONS: Greater amberjack; bluefin tuna; gag, goliath and Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. Commercial greater amberjack season closed.

LDWF UPDATES

Closed: Roads on Pomme de Terre, Richard Yancey & Bogue Chitto WMAs (flooding)

Drawdowns: Saline Lake (Natchitoches/Winn parishes through Oct. 5); Iatt Lake (Grant Parish through Oct. 5).

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Louisiana

LSP: Ascension Parish resident dies in two-vehicle crash

Published

1 day ago

July 11, 2026

Press Room

LSP: Ascension Parish resident dies in two-vehicle crash

Louisiana State Police reported an Ascension Parish resident died in a fatal crash in Livingston Parish.

According to an LSP Troop A news release, 68-year-old Gwendolyn Blank of St. Amant died in the two-vehicle crash along Highway 1032 near Debbie Lane around 3:30 p.m. July 11.

Per the release, the preliminary investigation found that a 2016 Toyota Avalon was traveling south on the highway when, at the same time, a 2023 Dodge Ram was traveling northbound.

For reasons still under investigation, the Toyota crossed the center line in a left-hand curve and collided head-on with the truck, troopers reported in the realease.

Blank, who was the front seat passenger in the car, sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital, where she later died, according to LSP.

Troopers reported the driver of the car sustained moderate injuries, and a juvenile rear-seat passenger had minor injuries, while the driver of the truck received minor injuries.

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