Coronavirus Food Assistance Program to Bring Some Relief to Crawfish Farmers
By Kendria LaFleur, KATC
ACADIA PARISH — Crawfish farmers are hopeful that federal assistance through the coronavirus food assistance program will bring some relief after a difficult season.
The crawfish industry was impacted during the pandemic.
A survey by the LSUAg Center and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation shows the crawfish industry is estimated to take a $146 million hit this year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that crawfish will now be covered under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program to help farmers with financial losses from the pandemic.
CFAP provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.
Some farmers are hopeful this can help with their losses.
"You know there's always a hiccup in the weather," Alan Lawson explained. "Every year it's something, but nothing this long lasting and far reaching like this at all. "
Lawson says the pandemic hit right in the middle of crawfish season.