The LSU AgCenter is surveying agricultural producers to estimate damage totals resulting from last month’s freezing weather.
The recent freezing weather came just as farmers were getting back on their feet from last year’s disastrous hurricane season.
Read MoreJust four months after reeling from back-to-back hurricanes that dealt powerful punches, Evangeline Parish was hit by another storm that caused different types of issues from the usual damage. This storm was a major winter event that hit the area over the Mardi Gras holiday.
The freeze has also impacted the livestock here in the parish. Ryegrass, a commonly grown winter forage grass, was severely damaged by the cold temperatures. This causes livestock producers to have feed supplemental feed which can get expensive. Producers also had to feed more to keep their animals warm. There are also reports of calves dying after being born in the frozen conditions.
Read MoreA Cameron Parish company, as well as 12 Louisiana residents, have been indicted in federal court for illegally harvesting and selling raw oysters.
Bay Fresh Oyster Company and its 12 co-defendants are accused of harvesting raw oysters from Calcasieu Lake in violation of Louisiana law from March 1, 2019, through May 5, 2019, then falsifying records for oysters intended to be transported in interstate commerce, according to information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lafayette.
Read MoreThe Lenten season of reflection and repentance is somewhat theologically undermined by Louisiana’s vital crawfish season, but this year started a bit slowly because of the polar vortex, an act of God. Still, Louisiana’s crawfish harvest is now getting back on track.
Read MoreOne lucky crawfish was spared from the boiling pot after receiving a pardon from Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser Tuesday at Nicholls State University.
Lafitte the crawfish received his ceremonial pardon during the 5th annual Pardoning of the Crawfish at Chef John Folse Culinary Institute.
Read MoreLittle is new in Louisiana's annual plan for addressing the rapid filling-in of the Atchafalaya Swamp.
Hampered by limited funding streams, the state's $6 million Atchafalaya Basin Program pales in comparison to the state's massive restoration efforts along the shoreline.
Unlike the eroding, sediment-starved coast, changes to water's flow through the Atchafalaya Swamp due to spoil banks from oil and gas canals over the years have led to too much sediment dropping into the basin. This has created problems for local habitats and fisheries and harmed the swamp's ability to protect communities from flooding.
Read MoreA new partnership between Nicholls State University and the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will help streamline study of the changing environment along the Gulf of Mexico.
The university and the federal government are teaming up to develop a database of south Louisiana and Gulf Coast research, which will include oral histories and regional and cultural knowledge of the coast.
Read MoreA line of cars wrapped around Louisiana Crawfish Time in Lafayette Friday night as many stayed true to their Lent traditions.
"My wife says she has to have crawfish on Fridays, so we're stuck in line getting crawfish," Michael Heard said.
Read MoreAlthough Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent and Catholic and Christian people in Acadiana would normally turn to crawfish to avoid eating red meat, the recent cold weather is getting in the way.
A farmer in Crowley hasn’t been out on the ponds since Feb. 12. Crawfish farmers are now waiting and hoping for warmer days to resume production.
Read MoreMost of the nation is facing unusually cold weather, as a winter storm moved coast-to-coast over the weekend. Winter storms create significant challenges and often result in catastrophic loss for agricultural producers, especially for those raising livestock, row crops and vulnerable crops like citrus.
Despite every attempt to mitigate risk, your operation may suffer losses. USDA offers several programs to help with recovery.
Read MoreLouisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Mike Strain, D.V.M., is urging all agricultural producers impacted by the severe winter weather to document losses.
“While no secretarial disaster designation has been declared at this time, an accurate account of any crops and livestock that are lost is vital in the event insurance claims are necessary or federal assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is made available,” said Strain.
Read MoreThe 2021 Louisiana crawfish season started off on a slow note as producers hoped to rebound from a double whammy caused by coronavirus-induced restaurant closures and last year’s series of hurricanes.
As crews return from the holidays and harvest ramps up, Louisiana State University AgCenter Extension crawfish specialist Mark Shirley said it’s unknown how much impact the previous year’s storms will have on production.
Read MoreWhile the cold may be affecting road conditions, water pipes, plants and pets, there’s one thing it’s not affecting - crawfish.
Crawfish season has been off to a pretty good start, and experts are hopeful that will continue, even with the cold weather. Kevin Savoie, Fisheries Agent for the LSU AgCenter explains, crawfish being cold-blooded, take on the temperature of the water.
Read MoreIt's been 19 years since Louisiana, stung by a $1 billion court judgment, last opened its water bottoms for new oyster leases. But the state is now lifting its moratorium, raising hopes among oyster harvesters who have endured a series of setbacks from Mother Nature as well as the BP oil disaster.
Read MoreThe temperatures are dropping just as crawfish season is about to heat up. The current forecast of freezing temperatures in the coming days isn't the best for the crawfish industry. Crawfish farmer David Savoy tells KATC the water in his ponds is below 50 degrees.
Read More
