It has been very dry the month of October as rain has been very hard to come by. Drought conditions have followed behind and although not usually ideal for the area, the time of year might be ideal for these conditions.
With the recent lack of rain most areas are seeing drought conditions within their area, especially further towards the northwest. However because of the timing of the year with this drought, conditions might ideal for at least right now.
Read MoreIt’s hard to remember the last time our area received rain. Sept. 5 was officially the last time Southwest Louisiana saw significant rainfall. The worsening drought is a real worry for local farmers, especially crawfish farmers. But right now, it’s nothing like last year’s extreme drought.
State agriculture commissioner Dr. Mike Strain said we can’t afford a repeat of last year.
Read MoreOn October 22, numerous wildfires were reported along Highway 67 in Clinton, Louisiana. Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) fire crew personnel, along with local firefighters and several Mississippi fire departments, worked tirelessly to extinguish the fires.
Read MoreOfficials in Clinton worked multiple brush fires just north of the town Tuesday evening.
About 10 to 15 fires were set for about five miles on the west side of LA 67 going toward LA 432.
Department of Agriculture and Forestry officials said the fires were not arson, and likely a mechanical failure.
Read MoreThe fire danger is growing increasingly worse across the ArkLaTex.
Sabine Parish was added to the list Monday.
Read MoreThe fire danger is growing increasingly worse across the ArkLaTex.
The latest to be added are Bossier and Natchitoches parishes.
Bossier Parish Police Jury President Philip Rodgers issued a state of emergency burn ban for the parish beginning Wednesday at the request of parish fire chiefs due to extreme heat and a lack of rainfall in the area.
Read MoreAn important deadline for congress has passed.
On Sept. 30, the current farm bill expired, leaving many in the agriculture industry concerned about what the future holds.
“Farmers aren’t going to stop working. We can’t this isn’t a wait and see type of deal. Lawmakers have that luxury. Farmers do not,” said farmer Brandon Vail.
Read MoreAccording to the Louisiana State Department of Agriculture and Forestry, farmers can risk thousands of dollars if their equipment doesn’t get stored properly during off-season.
Commissioner Mike Strain of the department told KNOE Tuesday morning that even though farmers are still active in the fields during this time of year, they should be thinking about how they’re going to store their equipment to avoid rodent damage, which can become costly.
Read MoreOn October 2, Christopher Kyle Holman was arrested following a three-month investigation between The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Enforcement Division and the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office.
In June of 2024, LDAF’s enforcement division received a complaint involving a local volunteer fire department (VFD) setting fires.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host its next saddle microchipping event on Friday, October 18, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. It will be held on location at the Washington Parish Fair in Franklinton, Louisiana.
LDAF’s microchip identification program provides all saddle owners in the state of Louisiana the opportunity to have their saddles registered and identified by using a microchip implant.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research Advisory Board is accepting grant applications for the purpose of supporting the growth and development of the Louisiana equine industry by enhancing research, education, promotion, facilities, tourism, events, and equine-related activities throughout the state.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host its next saddle microchipping event Thursday, September 26, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. It will be held at the LSU AgCenter’s Lafourche Parish office located at 115 Texas Street in Raceland, Louisiana.
Read MoreOn September 4, inspectors with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission (LBC) arrested 53-year-old Bert E. Smith, IV, of Lewisburg, Tennessee, on an arrest warrant out of Anderson County, Kansas.
Smith is a known cattle buyer and regularly buys at several sale barns in Louisiana. For that reason, LDAF’s LBC was notified of the warrant by the Anderson County Sheriff's Office. Once made aware of the warrant, LBC inspectors took Smith into custody without incident. He was booked in the Avoyelles Parish Jail.
Read MoreOn August 22, 2024, inspectors with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission (LBC) arrested Lester R. Johnson, Jr. of Opelousas for felony theft.
Prior to the arrest, an LBC investigation determined that in November of 2023, 32-year-old Johnson fraudulently bid on and was the high bidder on one head of livestock at a local livestock market.
Read MoreOn the night of August 24, Vernon Parish volunteer fire departments and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) fire crews were dispatched to the area off Highway 465 north of Simpson. Investigators say that on August 23, after the logging crew left for work, several pieces of logging equipment and timber caught fire.
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