La. Commissioner of Ag & Forestry Surveys Damage from Laura
By Avery Davidson
The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain took to the air Thursday afternoon to view the damage to farms and ranches in the wake of Hurricane Laura.
Laura made landfall early Thursday morning in Cameron Parish as a category 4 storm with sustained winds of 150 mph. According to the 2018 LSU AgCenter Ag Summary, Cameron Parish had 228 ranchers with more than 16,000 head of cattle.
On this trip from Lafayette to the Texas state line up to Lake Charles, Strain saw damaged and destroyed homes, barns and buildings, but he was looking for one herd in particular.
“Well, we were looking for about 600 head of cattle,” Strain said on the phone from Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles. “They were reported to have been down on the coast. So, we have not found those herds of cattle.”
Strain said while he didn’t find those cattle, he did see a few horses and cattle near Holly Beach and more herds of cattle in pastures as he flew north toward Lake Charles and the airport. However, unlike in the 2005 hurricanes, Katrina and Rita, Strain said he did not see evidence of cattle losses.
“That’s one thing that we do not see is dead cattle in the pastures,” Strain said. “I think the reason is they were talking about 12 to 15 feet tidal surge. So, the water went in and it went back out. We don’t know how many head of cattle and what else was washed out to the gulf.”
Strain said the cattle that he did see on the levee of the Calcasieu Ship Channel and in pastures appeared to have adequate forage for the time being, but did not have access to fresh water. He suggested that ranchers contact their local emergency operations center to coordinate help and that they contact the Louisiana Farm Bureau Hay Clearinghouse if they need access to forage or pastures.
The number for the hay clearinghouse is (225) 922-6200 or ranchers can request or donate hay, pasture space or transportation at www.lafarmbureau.org.