The Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research Advisory Board will begin 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 for the 2025-2026 cycle on Sunday, June 1.
Read MoreU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced she will exercise the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) authority to provide a much-needed funding increase of $14.5 million in reimbursements to states for meat and poultry inspection programs.
“This is much welcome news. This has been an issue and major concern for the states. I thank the Trump Administration for funding this critical work to ensure the safety of our meat and poultry products for the American people,” said Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain.
Read MoreA sweeping overhaul of Louisiana's seafood safety regulations is headed to the governor’s desk, following final legislative approval of a bill that transfers oversight responsibilities from the state’s tourism agency to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
House Bill 652, authored by Rep. Timothy Kerner, R-Lafitte, dissolves the current Seafood Safety Task Force under the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and reestablishes it within the Agriculture Department.
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host its next saddle microchipping event on Friday, May 30, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. It will be held at the Burton Complex located at 7001 Gulf Highway in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in conjunction with the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association.
Read MoreOn May 1, West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 38-year-old Johnny L. Payne II of Port Allen in West Baton Rouge Parish regarding theft of livestock
Read MoreThe Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission will host a saddle microchipping event on Friday, May 16, from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. It will be held at the LSU AgCenter’s West Feliciana Parish office located at 10032 West Feliciana Parkway in St. Francisville.
Read MoreOn April 29, the West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested thirty-eight-year-old Eric Montreal Harris of Weyanoke, La., in West Feliciana Parish regarding an investigation involving the theft of livestock.
The arrest resulted from an investigation by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF’s) Livestock Brand Commission. It was based on a warrant for six counts of theft of livestock.
Read MoreLouisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain sat down with columnists Faimon Roberts and Stephanie Grace recently to talk about farmers, tariffs, the economy and other topics affecting the industry today. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Read MoreOn April 8, inspectors with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Livestock Brand Commission (LBC) arrested thirty-five-year-old Christopher Whisenton (C.W.) of Port Gibson, Mississippi, in TangipahoaParish on a warrant for theft of livestock.
Read MorePresident Trump’s newly instated tariffs have plenty of people scrambling for answers as to what industries might be impacted and how deeply. Consumers closer to home may feel the impacts simply by going to the grocery store.
Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain told WWL’s Tommy Tucker that financial pains will be felt across the board.
Read MoreWith avian flu wiping out chicken populations and driving up egg prices, people have been struggling for solutions. US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr has suggested that instead of culling birds that are affected, farmers should consider letting the disease run through the flock to identify and preserve birds that are immune to it.
Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain emphasizes the terrible impact that would have on the industry thusly: “There might be two chickens left when it’s over.”
Read MoreCraving seafood? Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says this is the time to get some crabs from your favorite local seafood spot … because they’re some of the BIGGEST he’s ever seen.
“I was in St. Bernard Parish at White Boot Warriors and he’s got some of the biggest crabs I’ve ever seen. I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve never crabs this fat,” Strain pointed out enthusiastically.
Read MoreThere isn't anybody who's been in the grocery store in the past few months that hasn't dealt with the exorbitant cost of eggs. Or maybe it's the 'eggsorbitant' cost of eggs. Sorry, trying to inject a little humor into a basically humorless situation.
But the crisis hasn't gone unnoticed by Louisiana state officials. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain recently met with Brooke Rollins, Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture, about how to get a handle on egg prices, and what to do about the effects of Bird Influenza.
Read MoreAs the nation combats high egg prices due to viral chicken deaths, Louisiana officials say the state's poultry farmers remain unaffected. The virus is in the state, killing wild bird populations. The key, experts say, may be Louisiana cattle.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is spending $1 billion in a five-pronged approach to combat this year's predicted 40% increase in egg prices.
Read MoreOn January 31, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) personnel reported several items stolen from the LDAF Plainview Tower building in Rapides Parish. Stolen items included a 2021 Honda ATV, a burn tank sprayer, a Stihl chainsaw, and a Stihl backpack blower.
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