Study: Louisiana’s Agriculture and Forestry Sectors Suffer $1.69B in Damages Due to Heat and Drought

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Louisiana’s agriculture and forestry sectors experienced approximately $1.69 billion in damages in 2023 due to excessive heat and drought, according to a study from the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.

The report, “Preliminary Estimates of the Impacts of Drought and Excessive Heat on Louisiana Agricultural and Forestry Sectors, 2023,” estimates that Louisiana’s plant enterprises suffered $836.5 million of damages, which includes the state’s major row crop commodities along with fruit, nut, and vegetable commodities.

Revenue losses for plant enterprises are associated with failed acres, partial yield reduction, quality losses and prevented planted acres.

For sugarcane production, losses stemmed from lower planting ratios requiring additional sugarcane acres being used for seed rather than for sugar and molasses production. The soybean and sugarcane industries estimated losses of $322 and $274 million, respectively.

The economic impact to livestock enterprises and hay production was approximately $389 million. The Louisiana forestry sector totaled $325 million in lost revenue, while losses for the crawfish industry were estimated to total $140 million.

Cumulative rainfall totals for the state from May to October were down anywhere from 6 to 66 percent from the previous four-year averages, according to data from the Louisiana Agriclimatic Information System. Average daily high temperatures during that period were from 0.5 to as high as 4.1 degrees Fahrenheit higher in 2023 versus the previous four years.

“Given the length and widespread nature of these impacts, nearly every agricultural commodity and nearly every location within the state had to deal with some level of stress and negative impact in 2023,” the report said.

Topics Louisiana Agribusiness

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