The State of Louisiana’s Forestry Enforcement Division is offering a $2,000 reward for information after numerous fires have been started along Camp Baker Rd. near Leesville over the last two years.

On Thursday, June 8, Forestry Enforcement Officers with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) arrested 32-year-old William Ogden Alexander of Jonesville for setting a fire at a Catahoula Parish cemetery.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.