Ag Commissioner to Meet with Cattlemen, Farmers Affected by Flooding

Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain will meet today with cattlemen and farmers who are impacted by last week's severe weather, which has displaced thousands of livestock and flooded crops.

"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 underwater and the cattle have limited, if any, area to graze," Strain said. "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."

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

"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 Woolridge, who also chairs the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation's Livestock Advisory Committee.

If you need hay, or want to donate or sell it, sign up at VoiceofLouisianaAgriculture.org and click on the "LFBF Hay Clearinghouse" link.

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