Agriculture is a multibillion-dollar industry for Louisiana,
creating jobs and generating income in every region of the state.
The state's agricultural economy is complex and comprised of many
segments including animal, fishery and plant commodities, packaged
food processing and related businesses. One third of U.S. seafood
comes from Louisiana, making the state the No. 1 seafood producing
state in the nation. Louisiana is also among the ten largest
producers in the U.S. of cotton, sugarcane, yams, rice and pecans.
Food processors throughout the state enjoy access to an intermodal
transportation infrastructure that provides a competitive advantage
for the industry. In addition to convenient, well-developed air,
rail and interstate systems, the state's ports provide exceptional
facilities for food-based imports and global exports so that goods
can be moved quickly and efficiently.
Agribusiness
Throughout Louisiana's history, agribusiness has been a
significant contributor to the state's economy. Abundant rainfall
and a mild climate give it one of the fastest tree-growing cycles
in North America. The state has 14 million acres of hardwood and
softwood forests that support a large pulp and paper industry, as
well as production of pine plywood and lumber for construction.
Louisiana is also a major manufacturer of linerboard, Kraft paper
and fine papers. Historically, Central Louisiana has been a leader
in the agricultural and forestry industries.
Part of Louisiana State University's School of Renewable Natural
Resources, the Louisiana Forest Products Development Center
conducts research to identify ways the forestry industry can
diversify and compete in the 21st century. Although the value-added
income to the forestry sector has averaged about 72 percent of the
entire income associated with the industry, higher than any other
agricultural industry, there is still room for improvement.
The cotton industry is another pillar of Louisiana's
agribusiness. The first of two major textile mills producing cotton
yarn was completed in December 2009 in Southwest Louisiana by Zagis
USA. The company will process Louisiana cotton into yarn and
fabrics before shipping to its customers. In the past, cotton
harvested in Louisiana has mostly been shipped out of state in its
raw form. Zagis USA cited several reasons for selecting Louisiana,
including access to raw material, proximity to export ports and
strategic freight lanes, low interest costs, state incentives and
reliable power at a stable, competitive cost.
In 2009, ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston committed to constructing the
world's first large-scale processing facility dedicated to frozen
sweet potato products in Delhi, La. The facility will capitalize on
Louisiana's 15,000 acres dedicated to sweet potato growth to create
new value-added products.
Louisiana's agribusiness industry also produces value-added
resources, such as poultry, sugarcane, rice and soy beans. Animal
production enterprises also range from poultry to beef, and timber
industries produce a variety of wood and wood products. The state
even sees hundreds of millions of dollars generated from farming
the waters - Louisiana continually brings in crawfish, catfish,
crabs, shrimp, oysters and other aquaculture.
Biofuel
As the world continues its search for alternative energy, the
development of biofuels is gaining momentum. Louisiana's existing
agricultural and energy industries make the state a natural
location for biofuel research, development and production.
Recently, Dynamic Fuels LLC, a joint venture between Tyson Foods
and Syntroleum Corp., chose to locate a first-of-its-kind facility
to produce high-quality, renewable diesel and jet fuels from animal
fats in Geismar, La. Unlike the ethanol and biodiesel industries,
which use food ingredients like corn and soybean oil to produce
fuel, the Dynamic Fuels project will primarily use nonfood grade
animal fats produced or procured by Tyson Foods, such as beef
tallow, pork lard, chicken fat and greases. Production is scheduled
to begin in 2010.
Researchers at the LSU AgCenter's Audubon Sugar Institute are
combining their knowledge of sugarcane processing and chemical
engineering to develop a synergy between sugar production and
ethanol. Some of the same process technology that the industry uses
for producing ethanol from corn can be used to produce it from many
other raw materials, including sugarcane and similar plants.
Seafood
It's not surprising that the state that gave the world crawfish
étouffée, shrimp Creole and oysters Rockefeller would have a strong
seafood industry. Louisiana seafood makes up about a third of all
domestic seafood production. The industry's wild-caught harvest
includes oysters, crab, shrimp, menhaden, redfish, shark, speckled
trout and butterfish. Farmed seafood, including crawfish and
catfish, are harvested from specially developed freshwater
farms.
Louisiana's fishing industry is the second largest in America,
behind only Alaska. Louisiana produces 20% to 25% of the total
domestic seafood in the lower 48 states and 75%of all seafood
harvested in the northern Gulf of Mexico. About a third of the
nation's oysters come from Louisiana's waters, representing more
than any other state. The state is also a major producer of
shrimp.
Louisiana leads the nation in crawfish production, with more
than 90% of the domestic crop. Louisiana has more than 1,000
crawfish farmers and more than 800 commercial fishermen who catch
wild crawfish. The combined average yield of Louisiana farm-raised
and wild crawfish is between 75 and 105 million pounds a year, with
an economic impact of more than $120 million for the state of
Louisiana.
Food Processing/Specialty Food Products
From gumbo and red beans & rice to jambalaya and meat pies,
Louisiana is famous for its food. The state produces a regional
cuisine that enjoys worldwide popularity, and Louisiana's food
processing industry is thriving today as it has for
generations.
The state's abundance of fresh, high-quality local commodities -
seafood, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, rice, sorghum, strawberries,
citrus and other fruit - supports Louisiana's food processing
companies.
The LSU AgCenter supports a research program that helps keep the
Louisiana dairy industry surviving and thriving. In 2007, Louisiana
had 207 dairy operations that contributed nearly $200 million to
the state's economy.
Food processers also benefit from Louisiana's unparalleled
transportation and distribution infrastructure. In addition to
convenient, well-developed air, rail and interstate highway
systems, Louisiana's ports provide an accessible stream of raw
materials for food processors. The bulk of major goods, such as
food oils, grains, meat and seafood, vegetables, coffee and tea are
transported through Louisiana's major waterways and ports.
Coca-Cola® recently selected Louisiana to locate its regional
production and distribution hub. The new facility in Baton Rouge
will supply Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Dasani Water, POWERade and
VitaminWater to Coca-Cola bottlers throughout Louisiana and
neighboring states. A number of bottled water processors take
advantage of the pure artesian water flowing from aquifers across
the state.
Small food processing startups can benefit from local food
manufacturing incubators that allow food entrepreneurs access to
additional safe, sanitary space to produce their products. The LSU
AgCenter provides consultation on a variety of concerns and works
through research contracts to help develop new food products and
processes. LSU's Department of Food Science is dedicated to meat,
poultry and seafood processing and packaging research, working with
area food processors on vital research and development, workshops,
training classes and in-plant assistance. A well-equipped food
processing pilot plant is available for industry use to develop or
evaluate food products. The Department of Food Science in
conjunction with the FDA and Food Processors Institute also offers
a four-day Better Process Control School for supervisors of food
canning plants.
