Hurricane season officially began this month and lasts through November. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) urges everyone to begin planning.

“Living in Louisiana, we understand that being impacted by a hurricane is not a question of if, but when. Your best tool against a hurricane is preparation,” said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. “I’m urging everyone to have a plan in place for you, your family, your property, and your pets/livestock for this upcoming hurricane season.”

Read More

Inspectors with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission (LSBC) have noticed an uptick in the number of scams related to livestock sales and want to make the public aware so that they can make smart business decisions. The Livestock Brand Commission has conducted several investigations where farmers have encountered scams relating to livestock sales over the past few weeks.

Read More

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry wants to make livestock owners aware of an important date coming up. Starting on June 11, 2023, over-the-counter (OTC) livestock antibiotics will require veterinary oversight as a result of a new federal rule from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This includes both animals intended for food production and those that do not enter the food supply, such as dogs, cats, backyard poultry, pet rabbits, and pot-bellied pigs.

Read More

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host its next saddle microchipping event Friday, May 26, from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M.  It will be held at the LSU AgCenter’s West Feliciana office located at 10032 West Feliciana Parkway in St. Francisville, Louisiana.

Read More

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., reminds property owners to remain vigilant for termites during late spring and into the coming summer months.

With Louisiana’s warm and wet climate this time of year, termites can get especially active as they constantly seek out new food sources.

“Turning off outside lights at night or using yellow bulbs can help you avoid attracting swarming termites,” says Commissioner Strain. “However, there are also other proactive measures you can take on a regular basis to protect your property from the destruction of termites.”

• Fix any leaks in the roof, pipes, and outside faucets on your home.

• Repair rotting wood on the fascia, soffit, and exterior wood surfaces.

• Remove any wood lying under or around your home, and store firewood away from your home.

• Examine your home’s slab line and the base of piers for signs of termites.

• Clean the gutters on your home and repair sections that may be damaged.

• Trim tree limbs and vines that may be growing on your home.

• Drain water away from the slab or under your home; do not let it pool.

Treatments and annual inspections by a licensed, insured, and bonded pest control company are a good termite preventative. Between professional inspections, property owners can also look for mud tubes on slabs, piers, or walls; pinholes in wallboards; softness in flooring; or blisters in paint or wallpaper.

To find out which companies are certified and licensed to perform termite-related services, consumers can contact the LDAF at 225-925-4578, visit the LDAF website at www.ldaf.la.gov, or download the LDAF Business Search App (available in the Apple and Google Play store).

Read More

On May 4, 2023, a St. Mary Parish woman was arrested for forgery charges resulting from an investigation conducted by brand inspectors with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission and an arrest warrant issued by St. Mary Parish.

Read More

Agents with the Livestock Brand Commission of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), in conjunction with the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office, are asking for the public’s assistance in an agricultural pesticides vandalism case in Grant Parish. 

Read More

On Wednesday, April 12, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Louisiana can enforce the Truth in Labeling of Food Products Act (Act 273 of the 2019 Regular Session).

In a 3-0 decision, the court said the law did not infringe Tofurky’s First Amendment commercial free speech rights, reversing a lower court ruling in a case brought by the maker of Tofurky.

Read More

On March 17, 2023, a Natchitoches Parish man was apprehended in New Orleans by the United States Marshal Service Violent Offender Task Force.

Billy Ellerbe, Jr., of Natchitoches, was apprehended as a result of warrants for separate counts of arson by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) and the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office (NPSO).

Read More

Agricultural producers, pesticide applicators, and homeowners can drop off pesticides for disposal during the Unwanted Pesticide Pick-Up Day on Thursday, March 23, 2023, from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the LSU AgCenter Extension Office in Assumption Parish, 119 Robin Street in Napoleonville.

Read More