Study: Agriculture Worth $10.7B in Louisiana

The LSU AgCenter says agriculture was worth $10.7 billion to Louisiana’s economy last year.

AgCenter economist John Westra says the 7 percent gain from 2010 represents the first $10 billion year since 2007.

Last year was plagued by drought and flooding. But Westra said that row crops, including feed grains, sugarcane, cotton, wheat and soybeans, all gained significant value in 2011.

Westra said commodities such as corn, sorghum and soybeans had reductions in yields, but total acreage was up.

Sugarcane and rice saw record-setting yields. Cotton yields also improved over the previous year.

Commodity prices also were up with feed grain prices leading the way at 50 percent.

Topics Louisiana Agribusiness