Department of Agriculture and Forestry, State of Louisiana - Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner

NEWS

LDAF Responds to Severe Weather – Strain to meet with cattlemen and farmers

March 16, 2016

Baton Rouge, La. (March 16, 2016) – Today, Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Mike Strain, D.V.M., will meet with cattlemen and farmers who are impacted by the severe weather which has displaced thousands of livestock and flooded crops.

The LDAF is also assisting the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation by delivering hay to help feed stranded cattle.

“After helping facilitate moving the livestock out of harm’s way when the severe weather first threatened the state, much of the area is still under water and the cattle have limited, if any, area to graze,” said Strain. “The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation has initiated a hay clearinghouse for anyone who needs hay or has hay to donate or sell. We are assisting them by transporting that hay by truck to areas in need.”

“This is a great way for Farm Bureau, a true agricultural organization with a great network all over the state, to help find hay and get these cattlemen through a tough time,” said Caddo Parish cattleman Marty Wooldridge, who also chairs the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation’s Livestock Advisory Committee.

Anyone who needs hay or has hay to donate or sell can sign up at VoiceofLouisianaAgriculture.org and click on the “LFBF Hay Clearinghouse” link on the site menu.

Cattlemen and hay producers can also call site coordinator Carey Martin at 318-471-2114 to add their names to the hay clearinghouse list.

Strain will meet cattlemen and farmers at Red River Livestock located at Highway 1 South, Coushatta, La. at 3:00 p.m. today.

For more information on emergency preparation for livestock, go to www.LDAF.la.gov or www.getagameplan.org.

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