Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) announced that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved Governor Landry’s drought disaster declaration request and extended the deadline for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications in response to the 2023 drought.
 
Congressman Higgins led a letter with members of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to the SBA Administrator, Isabel Guzman, in support of Governor Landry’s request earlier this week.

During the House Appropriations Committee FY2025 Department of Agriculture Budget Hearing, Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05) questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and discussed the steps his Department is taking to provide assistance to our agriculture industry.

Congresswoman Letlow highlighted the challenges Louisiana farmers, ranchers, and producers are facing due to high temperatures and drought from 2023. Specifically, the Congresswoman urged Secretary Vilsack to use his authority and provide relief to the crawfish industry. 

Those in the crawfish industry in Louisiana and neighboring states who have been affected by last year's severe drought can apply for federal disaster loans to help with financial loss, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced on Thursday.

The federal approval for disaster funds comes after Gov. Jeff Landry issued a disaster declaration at the beginning of the month amid a crawfish storage caused by drought and extreme heat.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined members of the Louisiana congressional delegation in urging Small Business Association (SBA) Administrator Isabel Guzman to make a disaster declaration so that Louisiana’s crawfish processors, wholesalers, boilers and other related enterprises can receive emergency assistance.

In 2023, Louisiana’s adverse weather hurt the crawfish harvest. The lawmakers gave their support to Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s declaration request.

Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) led members of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation on a letter to the U.S. Small Business Administrator, Isabel Guzman, in support of Governor Jeff Landry’s disaster declaration in response to 2023 drought conditions. The delegation urges the Small Business Administration (SBA) to approve Louisiana’s request and extend the deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) filing through the end of the crawfish season so that Louisiana businesses can have access to critical financial assistance.

Normally, the weeks just before Easter mean peak business for crawfish harvesters, wholesalers and processors, with ample product and high demand. Instead, they’re waiting to see if the federal government will declare a disaster for their industry, which continues to weather the after-effects of last summer’s extended drought and a bad freeze earlier this year.

Losses for the Louisiana crawfish industry are estimated to reach nearly $140 million — more than half the typical annual yield, according to the LSU AgCenter.

Louisiana 2nd District Congressman Troy Carter will host 3 workshops for people involved in the crawfish industry affected by the lack of crawfish.

The first workshop is scheduled in New Orleans for Monday, March 18 from 9-11 a.m. at the Southern University at New Orleans College of Business Auditorium.

Louisiana’s beleaguered crawfish industry will be getting help in the form of low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced Thursday.

The agency will issue low-interest loans for the crawfish industry, including farmers, harvesters, pickers, wholesalers, boilers, retailers, restaurants, grocery stores, equipment suppliers and others impacted by recent weather, said U.S. Rep. Troy Carter said in an interview.

Although Texas crawfish farmers emerged from a challenging growing season slightly better off than producers in Louisiana, 2024 is shaping up to be a dismal crawfish season for producers and consumers alike, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. 

Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist and director of the AgriLife Extension Aquatic Diagnostics Lab, Bryan-College Station, said that while both states dealt with severe drought and record-breaking temperatures, Louisiana, the nation’s top crawfish producer, also had to contend with the added impacts of disease and invasive species.

Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) released a statement in support of Governor Jeff Landry’s (R-LA) executive order requesting disaster assistance for the crawfish industry.

“The crawfish industry is a vital part of Louisiana’s economy and culture, and last year’s drought severely impacted the industry. My office is committed to the mission of assisting our crawfish industry and will continue to work at the federal level to secure much-needed assistance. Today’s executive order by Governor Landry will help to unlock additional relief for the entire industry, and I appreciate his efforts in protecting our way of life.”