The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is reminding farmers to have the proper documentation and inspections when crossing state lines.
“We still have boll weevil control program in place where we monitor if we’re going to get bow weevils back, it’s going to be a hitchhiker,” Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain said. “It’s going to come in on a piece of equipment or in some type of debris from a boll weevil infected area.”
Read MoreThrough this grant, Louisiana businesses can establish internship programs that grow the next generation of agriculture professionals while strengthening their own businesses.
Read MoreAs Louisiana cotton producers move into cotton harvest season, Louisianians will see an influx of cotton harvest equipment moving into and through the state. To protect our cotton producers from the reintroduction of boll weevils, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) implements restrictions for all cotton harvest equipment entering the state.
Read MoreThe original Section 18 crisis exemption for Sivanto Prime in sugarcane for aphids/West Indian Cane Fly was set to expire July 18th. However shortly after, LDAF office of Pesticide Programs filed for a specific exemption to extend the use beyond July 18th.
Read MoreFor decades cotton was king. But this year the Louisiana cotton crop is expected to be the smallest in history. State Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says input costs to produce cotton has gone up and the price farmers can get for cotton has gone down from two dollars a pound in the mid-1800s.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Agricultural Workforce Development Program (LAWDP) is now accepting applications for the 2025 – 2026 program year from qualified agricultural and forestry businesses interested in participating in the program.
Read MoreWith hurricane season underway, Louisiana officials held a statewide tabletop exercise Tuesday to strengthen plans for protecting animals during emergencies. The daylong event at the Opelousas Civic Center marked 20 years of organized animal disaster response efforts since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Led by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Louisiana State Animal Response Team, the 2025 Louisiana State Animal Response Tabletop Exercise aimed to improve coordination among local, state and national partners involved in animal care during disasters.
Read MoreWith summer in Louisiana comes hot temps. Really hot temps. And with the hot temperatures comes mowing, grilling, and fire ants.
And fire ants cause more harm and damage than just painful stings. For some reason they are extremely attracted to electricity. When we built our house in North Bossier years ago, we were outside city limits, so we had to have a well. And one soon discovers that fire ants love to find their way into electrical boxes and circuits and cause electrical shorts, or even fires. Hence, another reason for the Federal Fire Ant Quarantine.
Read MoreAG Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation covering agriculture, veterinary medicine, legislation, and Louisiana’s seafood and livestock industries. He shared personal stories from his time at LSU’s vet school and emphasized the importance of public health and food safety in veterinary practice. The discussion highlighted the complexity of animal care, from cataract surgery on alligators to cancer treatment for exotic animals.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research Advisory Board will begin accepting grant applications for the purpose of supporting the growth and development of the Louisiana equine industry by enhancing research, education, promotion, facilities, tourism, events, and equine-related activities throughout the state for the 2025-2026 cycle on Sunday, June 1.
Read MoreU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced she will exercise the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) authority to provide a much-needed funding increase of $14.5 million in reimbursements to states for meat and poultry inspection programs.
“This is much welcome news. This has been an issue and major concern for the states. I thank the Trump Administration for funding this critical work to ensure the safety of our meat and poultry products for the American people,” said Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain.
Read MoreA sweeping overhaul of Louisiana's seafood safety regulations is headed to the governor’s desk, following final legislative approval of a bill that transfers oversight responsibilities from the state’s tourism agency to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
House Bill 652, authored by Rep. Timothy Kerner, R-Lafitte, dissolves the current Seafood Safety Task Force under the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and reestablishes it within the Agriculture Department.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host its next saddle microchipping event on Friday, May 30, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. It will be held at the Burton Complex located at 7001 Gulf Highway in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in conjunction with the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association.
Read MoreOn May 1, West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 38-year-old Johnny L. Payne II of Port Allen in West Baton Rouge Parish regarding theft of livestock
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host a saddle microchipping event on Friday, May 16, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. It will be held at the LSU AgCenter’s West Feliciana Parish office located at 10032 West Feliciana Parkway in St. Francisville.
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