Drought, record heat, and historic wildfires cost Louisiana agriculture and forestry 1.7 billion dollars this year based on preliminary estimates by the LSU Ag Center. Economist Dr. Kurt Guidry says soybeans and sugarcane took the hardest economic hit, with those industries losing a combined 595-million dollars.
With the lack of usual summer rainfall, farmers also racked up expenses from having to irrigate more often.
Livestock and hay producers sustained 389-million dollars in losses stemming from animal deaths, forced liquidation, reduced sale weights, abortions and reduced milk production.
“Fewer cattle means less revenue that producers can generate and we also feel pretty confident that we are going to have lower conception rates, meaning mature females are going to have less calves next year,” said Guidry.
So what has the drought done to next year’s crawfish yield? Guidry says the winter rain may help some but this year has been a challenge.
“10, 15, 20,000 acres that were intended to be put into crawfish production because of lack of water and/or salinity, were not able to do that at that point in time,” said Guidry.
The impact to the crawfish industry is estimated to be at least 139-million dollars.
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