The commissioner of agriculture and forestry is sounding the alarm over the lack of crawfish peelers in the state. Mike Strain says this is because the Department of Homeland Security has stopped processing H-2B applications for skilled guest workers, preventing them from coming back.
Read MoreThe crawfish industry is facing a labor shortage due to federal immigration caps as the state enters the start of the harvesting season, Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain said in a House committee meeting on Tuesday.
Read MoreLouisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says that only a quarter of crawfish processors have been able to bring in the guest workers that they rely on.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) has announced the conviction of Timothy L. Caudle for causing a wildfire on September 9, 2025, along Cherry Winche Road in Allen Parish.
Read MoreLouisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the state’s crawfish industry is dealing with a significant labor shortage. Strain told state lawmakers that crawfish processing plants do not have enough workers to peel and package crawfish, because the federal government has put a cap on foreign guest workers.
Read MoreCrawfish processing plants in Louisiana are at a diminished capacity this year because they haven’t been able to get as many visas for the foreign guest workers, according to state Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain.
Read MoreOn February 26, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) livestock brand inspectors arrested 35-year-old Meagan Breanna Byrd. Byrd was arrested on a warrant for two counts of theft of livestock.
Read MoreA forester, a former LSU AgCenter administrator with an entomological background and an advocate for Louisiana’s sugarcane industry were inducted into the Louisiana Agriculture Hall of Distinction. The induction took place at the L’Auberge Hotel in Baton Rouge Feb. 26.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host a saddle microchipping event on Wednesday, March 4, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. It will be held at the Florida Parishes Arena located at 1301 NW Central Avenue, Amite, LA 70422.
Read MoreA Red Flag Warning and Wind Advisory are in effect as more than three dozen wildfires ignited across Louisiana over the weekend, fueled by drought conditions and strong winds.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) announced the conviction of a Rapides Parish resident in connection with a 2023 wildfire that burned approximately 27 acres of young pine plantation west of Glenmora.
Read MoreOn New Year's Day, Louisiana showed itself off to the world when it glided its float along the streets of Pasadena, California, for the 2026 Tournament of Roses Parade. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser said they’ve been working hard getting the float, titled “Gulf to Gumbo,” ready for Thursday morning’s big show.
Read MoreAmerican farmers will receive billions of dollars from the Trump administration in the new year as they contend with trade wars, inflation and rising costs. But not all farms will benefit.
Read MoreLieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, local tourism leaders, and Louisiana entertainers are in Southern California making final preparations for Monday’s Rose Parade through the streets of Pasadena.
The group is putting final touches on Louisiana’s “Explore Louisiana” float, which will feature the state’s agriculture and tourism. One hundred volunteers from Louisiana will place over 100,000 roses on the float.
Read MoreEnrollment began late last week for Louisiana farmers of soybeans, rice, cotton and other row crops to receive a portion of the $12 billion one-time payments the federal government has set aside in response to market disruptions and increased production costs, said Louisiana Agricultural & Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain.
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