Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry

Calling all Agriculture Professionals! Upcoming NWF Grow More Conservation Outreach Training! May 7, Hammond, Louisiana.

#LDAF's Produce Safety team needs your input! If your operation washes whole produce using hydrocoolers, flumes, dump tanks, or spray bars, please take less than 10 minutes to complete our confidential survey on postharvest water use. Your feedback will help improve best practices in produce harvesting and packing operations. Any size operation can participate! Take the survey now: https://lnkd.in/gRbKuqzV If you manage multiple facilities, please select one for your responses. Thank you for your time and valuable insights!

#LDAF's Legal Team recently hosted a comprehensive Boards and Commissions Training for its dedicated staff. With 25 Boards and Commissions and over 500 members, #LDAF is committed to ensuring that all members are well-equipped and informed to uphold the state's agricultural and forestry standards. #LDAF #LeadershipDevelopment #BoardsAndCommissions

Things got a little "western" at the NASDA - National Association of State Departments of Agriculture National Produce Safety Consortium held in Fort Worth, TX, last week. #LDAF's Louisiana Produce Safety team was represented by Kelly Hughes, Amanada Graves, Girvus Johnson, and Dr. Achyut Adhikari from LSU. This consortium brings together key personnel from every state produce program, NASDA, Industry, and FDA to share best practices and build consistency and uniformity to all programs. The team participated in many sessions, including Traceability, Ag Water Assessments, Qualified Exemption, understanding how produce moves through the distribution system, and much more. This event presents such a wonderful opportunity to network, form new working relationships, and fellowship together as a whole. #FoodSafety #producesafety

Deadline to register is Friday, March 28th!

REGISTER NOW! #LDAF partners with SULC’s AG Law Institute to host Heirs Property Clinic Many families struggle to maintain ownership of inherited property due to legal and financial barriers, often putting generational land at risk. To address these challenges, the Agricultural Law Institute at Southern University Law Center (SULC), in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF), is proud to host the Heirs Property Clinic on April 8, 2025, at 10 a.m. at the Opelousas Civic Center located at 1638 Creswell Ln, Opelousas, 70570. Free and open to the public. Registration required. Read more and register at: https://lnkd.in/g83DHENy

#LDAF’s Spokesberry, Jazzy Strawberry, had a wonderful time celebrating Strawberry Day in the Park. Don't miss out on the chance to indulge in these vibrant, flavorful gems this season! Remember to... Buy Fresh! Buy Local! Buy Certified Louisiana Strawberries! #BerryDelight #TasteTheSeason #LDAF #LouisianaStrawberries #BerrySeason

The Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) provides up to $10 billion in total assistance to eligible producers who suffered economic losses related to increased input costs and falling commodity prices in the 2024 crop year, helping them to pay down debt and obtain financing for the 2025 crop year. Learn more about how upcoming ECAP payments will support U.S. farmers: https://lnkd.in/gHhYt92S

In honor of #AgTradeDay, here is a video of the sights and sounds from the U.S. Agriculture Business Conference held in Havana, Cuba, last year - attended by Commissioner Strain, Louisiana farmers, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), and other representatives of agriculture from across the United States. Promoting agriculture at home and abroad is a primary responsibility of state departments of agriculture. To best achieve this goal, #LDAF works with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, which plays a crucial role in shaping agricultural trade policy and implementing programs that expand market opportunities for American farmers and ranchers. Join us in celebrating Louisiana Agriculture Trade Day! #LDAF #Cuba #agriculture #AgTradeDay https://lnkd.in/gJD75KUi

Commissioner Strain declared today as Louisiana Agriculture Trade Day. #LDAF celebrates National Agriculture Trade Day alongside the NASDA - National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and 20+ other state agricultural departments. The day serves as an opportunity to celebrate American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural businesses for their vital contributions to feeding the world. National Ag Trade Day, as part of National Ag Week, seeks to raise awareness about the benefits of agricultural trade while advocating for the development of new markets to further support U.S. farmers, ranchers, and food producers. In 2023, agriculture, food, and related industries contributed 5.5% to U.S. gross domestic product and provided 10.4% of U.S. employment, underscoring the sector’s economic significance. Join us in celebrating Louisiana farmers, ranchers, and ag businesses today. #AgTradeDay