Louisiana Holds Statewide Animal Response Exercise Ahead of Hurricane Season
With hurricane season underway, Louisiana officials held a statewide tabletop exercise Tuesday to strengthen plans for protecting animals during emergencies. The daylong event at the Opelousas Civic Center marked 20 years of organized animal disaster response efforts since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Led by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the Louisiana State Animal Response Team, the 2025 Louisiana State Animal Response Tabletop Exercise aimed to improve coordination among local, state and national partners involved in animal care during disasters.
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Fire Ant Quarantine: What Every Louisiana Resident Needs to Know
With summer in Louisiana comes hot temps. Really hot temps. And with the hot temperatures comes mowing, grilling, and fire ants.
And fire ants cause more harm and damage than just painful stings. For some reason they are extremely attracted to electricity. When we built our house in North Bossier years ago, we were outside city limits, so we had to have a well. And one soon discovers that fire ants love to find their way into electrical boxes and circuits and cause electrical shorts, or even fires. Hence, another reason for the Federal Fire Ant Quarantine.
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Mike Strain Breaks Down The AG View of The Session
AG Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation covering agriculture, veterinary medicine, legislation, and Louisiana’s seafood and livestock industries. He shared personal stories from his time at LSU’s vet school and emphasized the importance of public health and food safety in veterinary practice. The discussion highlighted the complexity of animal care, from cataract surgery on alligators to cancer treatment for exotic animals.
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Louisiana Equine Promotion & Research Advisory Board Announces Grant Opportunities
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.
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Secretary Rollins Increases Funding to Reimburse States for Food Safety Inspections
U.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.
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Louisiana Lawmakers Send Seafood Safety, Oversight Bill to Landry's Desk
A 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.
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Livestock Brand Commission To Host Saddle Microchipping Event May 30
The 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.
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West Baton Rouge Parish Man Arrested For Theft Of Livestock
On 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
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Livestock Brand Commission To Host Saddle Microchipping Event May 16
The 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.
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West Feliciana Parish Man Aarrested for Theft of Livestock
On 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.
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On the Record with Mike Strain: 'Everybody's got to eat'
Louisiana 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.
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Mississippi Man Arrested For Theft Of Livestock In Allen Parish
On 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.
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Pains Will Be Felt in Louisiana With New Tariffs
President 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.
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Bird Flu Epidemic Requires Intervention
With 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.”
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Crab Harvest is Bountiful This Season
Craving 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.
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