Louisiana's Farm Loss Assessment and Recovery Begin

By Carey Martin, The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture Radio Network

Barry is exiting the Bayou State, and attention is now focused on assessing the damage to Louisiana agriculture. 

Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain will be touring the state today and tomorrow to get a first-hand look at the damage.

“We’ll be traveling (Monday) in the southern part of the state to affected areas, and then Tuesday up through central and north Louisiana,” said Strain.

Parish Farm Service Agency Directors have been asked to begin compiling agricultural losses, in what will eventually become a formal report for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“The directors from each parish will be out doing an initial survey of crop damage and livestock losses.  That will be followed up over the next two weeks with a very definitive assessment.  Then a report will be formulated,” said Strain

If losses are big enough Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards will ask USDA Secretary Sonny Purdue for a Secretarial Designation of Disaster.

“If we get a declaration, it will kick in a number of programs under the Farm Bill like low interest loans, also emergency assistance for livestock. It will also kick in a number of programs to rebuild and rehabilitate the land,” said Strain.

Governor Edwards was very supportive of Strain’s efforts to get the declaration.

“Certainly I will sign that request if you present it to me,” said Edwards.

Louisiana 5th District Congressman Ralph Abraham traveled across the state over the weekend, taking a look at farm damage caused by Barry.

“A lot of sugarcane has been laid down.  Beans are going to be hurt.  We’ve got corn and cotton that are coming up for harvest in a few weeks,” said Abraham. “So the economic damage I’m afraid is going to be bad.”

Abraham made a preemptive strike on Friday, writing a letter to Purdue to express his concerns about potential agricultural losses.  He hopes there will be federal programs available to help Louisiana farmers and ranchers recover.

“To recover in today’s world of agriculture is tough. The farmer and rancher have a tough road and when you have an event like this that sets them back on their heels, it’s hard to recover.”