Commercial timber and forest damage associated with Hurricane Gustav in 2008 was neither as widespread nor as acute as was damage associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

The pecan industry in the state was extremely hard hit by Hurricane Gustav.

Before Hurricane Gustav, the Louisiana rice crop was looking to be one of the best ever – although input costs also were the highest farmers had seen.

Only a small percentage of the state’s soybean crop was harvested prior to Hurricane Gustav, and damage to the crop so far is estimated at more than $115 million or nearly 28 percent of this year’s anticipated value.

Most of the state’s corn crop was harvested prior to Hurricane Gustav, but damage still is $45.8 million or nearly 11 percent of the crop value.

Estimates of losses to Louisiana agriculture, forestry and fisheries resulting from Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike now place the totals as high as $950-plus million and climbing. The totals include up to $763 million in lost revenue to Louisiana farmers, ranchers, foresters and fishers, as well as another $175 million to $200 million in damage to the industries’ infrastructure – farm equipment, barns, processing facilities and so forth.

The link below takes you to the USDA-FSA Disaster Assistance Page which lists information and links to all current USDA disaster assistance programs.

After more than two weeks of poor weather from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, Louisiana is assessing the impacts on agriculture and the effects are quickly adding up.

Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Mike Strain toured the state to assess the Hurricane Gustav damage to agriculture. This presentation is a result of his tour and was presented to a joint Agriculture Task Force at Louisiana Farm Bureau on September 11, 2008.

Here are some toll-free numbers set up to provide disaster assistance: