Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to purchase $36 million of shrimp to help alleviate food insecurity. The USDA made the purchase under the Agriculture Act of 1935, which provides for national food assistance during emergencies.
Read MoreLouisiana produces 90% of the crawfish found in the United States. Most farmed crawfish come from rice fields in one 35-square-mile area near Welsh, Louisiana.
The industry is fairly new, only entering the mainstream in the 1980s as rice farmers began experimenting with cultivating crawfish in their fields.
Read MoreA truck carrying a load of alligator meat spilled all over the highway between Mud Avenue and Evangeline Thruway.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is purchasing up to USD 36 million (EUR 33 million) of wild shrimp from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic, U.S. Representative Garret Graves (R-Louisiana) announced in a press release.
The purchase is possible thanks to funds available under the USDA’s Section 32 Funds for Strengthening Markets, Income, and Supply, Graves’ office said.
Read MoreU.S. Representative Garret Graves (Louisiana) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is purchasing up to $36 million of Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Wild-Caught Shrimp. This will alleviate pressure felt by Louisiana’s shrimp industry caused by natural disasters, higher fuel prices, labor and supply chain issues, and the effects of foreign governments flooding the market with illegally caught, foreign, farmed seafood. This purchase will also provide schools, food banks, and disaster-stricken households with another sustainable, nutritious source of protein.
Read MoreHave a summer of higher temperatures and a drought affected this year’s crawfish season?
“There’s nothing in that trap,” Devon Palomino of Lake Charles Crawfish said.
Each year Louisianians look forward to chowing down on some crawfish, but Palomino, a local farmer, said he is nervous for the season.
Read MoreThe Crawfish Hole, located in Carencro off of University Drive has been dishing out some of the best boiled crawfish since 2011. Well, they had a bit of a rough night recently, and how they handled it is just... well, you've gotta see it to truly understand it.
Over the weekend, things simply didn't go as smooth as they usually do over at the Crawfish Hole. The wait was long – like, over-an-hour long. That's not the usual Crawfish Hole vibe, so the folks running the place did something pretty risky.
Read MoreLouisiana’s abrupt transition this year from one of the wettest states to one of the driest has had crippling repercussions for its farms and forests.
The state’s agricultural and timber industries have suffered nearly $1.7 billion in losses from the long-running drought and recent bouts of record high temperatures, according to a new report from Louisiana State University researchers.
Read MoreDue to the lack of rain and colder weather moving in, crawfish companies are facing hardships. As of December, prices are around $11 per pound.
Read MoreMembers of the Louisiana Seafood Safety Task Force are searching for answers to not only improve the dying domestic seafood industry but also address health concerns coming from imports.
“You can become antibody resistant from eating imported shrimp and imported fish so our state should be able to do something in that way or even federally,” said Kimberly Chauvin. “I don’t even understand how we’re not protecting people.”
Read MoreOnly about 10% of seafood consumed in America is domestic. That’s crippling the Louisiana seafood industry. “For the last two years it’s just about ruined the industry,” Louisiana fisherman Pete Gerica said. In his 50 years on the water, Gerica has never seen it this bad.
Read MoreAlligators are common throughout coastal Louisiana, but they are also found elsewhere, including wetland areas in north Louisiana. A group of 4-H students got a biological and culinary lesson on these prehistoric creatures during a regional meeting.
Read MoreFor months, Louisiana state has seen their driest season yet and farmers are feeling the brunt.
“This is probably the worst drought we’ve had since the 90's,” said Kaplan Farmer Christian Richard.
Read MoreIf you’re not buying Louisiana Seafood, the Seafood Safety Task Force says you could be taking a gamble with your health. WAFB News reports how the task force is working to make sure the shrimp on your plate is safe, while helping local fisherman at the same time.
Read MoreConsumers likely don't think twice about where the shrimp or seafood bought at grocery store comes from, but Louisiana fisherman—and now federal lawmakers—are asking people to pay attention.
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