On April 29, the West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested thirty-eight-year-old Eric Montreal Harris of Weyanoke, La., in West Feliciana Parish regarding an investigation involving the theft of livestock.
The arrest resulted from an investigation by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF’s) Livestock Brand Commission. It was based on a warrant for six counts of theft of livestock.
Read MoreLouisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain sat down with columnists Faimon Roberts and Stephanie Grace recently to talk about farmers, tariffs, the economy and other topics affecting the industry today. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Read MoreOn April 8, inspectors with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission (LBC) arrested thirty-five-year-old Christopher Whisenton (C.W.) of Port Gibson, Mississippi, in TangipahoaParish on a warrant for theft of livestock.
Read MorePresident Trump’s newly instated tariffs have plenty of people scrambling for answers as to what industries might be impacted and how deeply. Consumers closer to home may feel the impacts simply by going to the grocery store.
Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain told WWL’s Tommy Tucker that financial pains will be felt across the board.
Read MoreWith avian flu wiping out chicken populations and driving up egg prices, people have been struggling for solutions. US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr has suggested that instead of culling birds that are affected, farmers should consider letting the disease run through the flock to identify and preserve birds that are immune to it.
Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain emphasizes the terrible impact that would have on the industry thusly: “There might be two chickens left when it’s over.”
Read MoreCraving seafood? Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says this is the time to get some crabs from your favorite local seafood spot … because they’re some of the BIGGEST he’s ever seen.
“I was in St. Bernard Parish at White Boot Warriors and he’s got some of the biggest crabs I’ve ever seen. I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve never crabs this fat,” Strain pointed out enthusiastically.
Read MoreThere isn't anybody who's been in the grocery store in the past few months that hasn't dealt with the exorbitant cost of eggs. Or maybe it's the 'eggsorbitant' cost of eggs. Sorry, trying to inject a little humor into a basically humorless situation.
But the crisis hasn't gone unnoticed by Louisiana state officials. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain recently met with Brooke Rollins, Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture, about how to get a handle on egg prices, and what to do about the effects of Bird Influenza.
Read MoreAs the nation combats high egg prices due to viral chicken deaths, Louisiana officials say the state's poultry farmers remain unaffected. The virus is in the state, killing wild bird populations. The key, experts say, may be Louisiana cattle.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is spending $1 billion in a five-pronged approach to combat this year's predicted 40% increase in egg prices.
Read MoreOn January 31, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) personnel reported several items stolen from the LDAF Plainview Tower building in Rapides Parish. Stolen items included a 2021 Honda ATV, a burn tank sprayer, a Stihl chainsaw, and a Stihl backpack blower.
Read MoreMembers of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture were in St. Landry Parish on Friday, January 31, to help the Acadiana equine community protect expensive assets.
The agency's Livestock Brand Commission was on hand at Louisiana Equine Sales and Event Center in Opelousas to put microchips in saddles.
Read MoreNeed help paying off that student debt AND plan on practicing in Louisiana?! Listen up!!
The USDA offers a veterinary medicine loan repayment program (VLRMP) that helps pay off student debt in return for service in areas where there is a shortage of large animal veterinarians. This program allows you to live in attractive locations, while practicing food animal medicine in a more rural setting.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) is now accepting applications for the 2025 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP), funded through the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS).
Applications must be received no later than the close of business (4:30 p.m.) Friday, March 17, 2025.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, pursuant to ACT 148 in the 2024 Regular Session submitted a Notice of Intent with the Louisiana State Register giving public notice that the Department, through the Office of Agro-Consumer Services, Weights and Measures Division, intended to adopt LAC 7:XXXV.Chapter 5. Subchapter C. Seafood Consumer Protection.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host its next saddle microchipping event on Friday, January 31, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. It will be held at the Louisiana Equine Sales and Event Center located at 372 Harry Guilbeau Road, Opelousas.
Read MoreProducers in south Lousiana have hunkered down as the region experiences its first-ever blizzard warning.
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Mike Strain joined RFD-TV’s own Tammi Arender to talk about current conditions across the state, if the community was prepared for this warning, and what ripple effects lay ahead for agriculture.
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