Spring is crawfish season in Louisiana. Here in Cajun Country, locals eat crawfish a variety of ways—boiled and spiced, in étouffée over rice, stuffed in pastry pies, or in gumbo and casseroles. Crawfish farmer Jimbo Hundley has discovered another use for the mudbugs—as nutrient-rich compost.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced that the portion of state outside waters between Calliou Boca and the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel at Eugene Island shall reopen to shrimping at 6:00 p.m. on March 26, 2021.
Read MoreRough is an understatement for businesses and organizations during the past year as COVID-19 mandates and restrictions have limited events and “business as usual” due to the coronavirus pandemic. Like many, the Rayne Chamber was hit especially hard.
The main hit the Chamber took last year was the cancellation of the 2020 Frog Festival, one that was sure to be a big hit with additional special events and musical entertainment that would have drawn an overflow crowd.
Read MoreWinter weather temporarily froze crawfish harvesting and its market, but spring weather has started to melt away the effects as the catch and size increase.
The arctic air brought freezing temperatures, power outages and water-access issues across most of Louisiana. As a result, many of Acadiana's ponds had a thin layer of ice on the surface.
Read MoreDue to the COVID - 19 virus, the 2021 Mid South Agricultural Labor Seminar will be conducted this year as a Zoom Virtual Seminar on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. There is no registration fee to attend. This year, with new employer responsibilities due to the COVID virus, this year’s topics will focus on important current issues such as COVID pay, OSHA Regulations and Reporting Requirements and Housing.
Read MoreThe 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 MoreThe 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.
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