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Louisiana Agricultural Commodities Commission

Contact us: Gene Cavalier, Director (225-935-2164)

The Louisiana Agricultural Commodities Commission (LACC) regulates the following commodities for Louisiana warehouses, cotton merchants, and grain dealers: cotton, rye, soybeans, barley, grain sorghum, corn, wheat, oats, and any other agricultural commodity which the commission declares to be a commodity.

LACC issues three types of licenses in accordance with Louisiana law:

  1. A warehouse license is issued to a person or entity operating a warehouse in which agricultural commodities are stored for the public for a fee.
  2. A grain dealer license is issued to a person or entity that purchases agricultural commodities from Louisiana farmers or represents Louisiana farmers in the sale of agricultural commodities.
  3. A cotton merchant license is issued to a person or entity that purchases or contracts to purchase cotton grown by farmers in the state. 

Prior to issuing licenses the LACC carefully reviews the person or entity’s financial statements for financial stability to assure the Louisiana farmer payment for his product.

Grain Inspection and Grading

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) is an official service provider licensed by the federal government to sample and grade grains grown in Louisiana. LDAF inspectors are required to grade and sample agricultural commodities in accordance with the grain inspection standards established in the United States Grain Standards Act.

Official samples can be obtained by two methods:

  • probe method – after the carrier has been loaded
  • on-line sampling – as the carrier is being loaded.

LDAF inspectors take samples from a variety of storage units, including barges, railcars, trucks, and warehouses. Samples are then graded by a variety of factors such as color, damage, amount of foreign material and odor. Upon completion of the grading, LDAF inspectors issue inspection certificates.

Seizure

The commission may effect seizure of the facilities of a licensee and act as receiver for a period of time under the following circumstances:

  1. Licensee does not have sufficient commodities to cover outstanding warehouse receipts and scale tickets marked for storage issued by the licensee.
  2. Licensee does not have sufficient funds to operate his business and is in imminent danger of being unable to continue to operate his business.
  3. Licensee is unable to fulfill his obligations to farmers.
  4. Licensee refuses to submit to a lawful inspection or audit ordered by the commission.