Home > Money & Business > Farm and Business > Ag Policy Update: Additional Disaster Assistance Programs Kurt Guidry, LSU AgCenter ag economist, provides the latest information, as of Aug. 29, 2007, on the sign-up periods for several disaster assistance programs made available through legislation signed by President Bush in May 2007. Louisiana Business Recovery Grant and Loan Program [Image: Publication cover] On Jan. 23, 2007, Governor Blanco launched the Louisiana Business Recovery Grant and Loan Program. This is a pilot program designed to assist small businesses, including farms, as they continue to recover from direct and indirect damages caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Louisiana AgSummary [Image: AgSummary Website] An accounting of the value of agriculture in Louisiana. Agents and specialists of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, as well as other agencies - both private and public - compile this information. It focuses on the animal, forestry, fisheries, plant and wildlife commodities that comprise our vital agricultural industry. This industry continues to contribute significantly to the state's economy with the potential for increased impacts through value-added processing. Highlights of Agriculture [Image: highlights of ag] Forestry, crops, animals, fisheries and other enterprises based in agriculture and natural resources add up to multibillion dollar industries for the state of Louisiana. This handy pocket-sized publication provides details on Louisiana agriculture and natural resources, records set in 2007, the number of farms and farmers and much more.  more articles... Outlook for Louisiana Agriculture [Image: economic outlook] With an ever-changing production and marketing environment, agricultural producers frequently face difficult decisions. This publication provides Louisiana’s producers with a view of the potential marketing and production environments they are likely to face, so they can use that information while making farm management and production plans. 2008 Projected Crawfish Production Costs [Image: 2008 Crawfish Budgets] This report presents estimates of projected costs of producing crawfish in Louisiana for the 2008 season. 2008 Projected Production Costs for Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle and Forage [Image: 2008 Beef, Dairy and Forage Budgets] This report presents estiamtes of projected 2008 production costs associated with the production of beef cattle, dairy cattle and forage crops in Louisiana. Green industry workshop offered (Distributed 01/18/08) A risk management workshop for green industry professionals will be held on Monday, Feb. 11 at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station in Hammond. 2008 Projected Red River Area Cotton, Soybean, Corn, Milo and Wheat Production Costs [Image: 2008 Red River Budgets] This report presents estimates of projected production costs for the production of cotton, soybeans, corn, milo and wheat in the Red River area of Louisiana for the 2008 crop year. 2008 Projected Northeast Louisiana Cotton, Soybeans, Corn, Milo and Wheat Production Costs [Image: 2008 Northeast Louisiana Budgets] This report presents estimates of projected production costs for the production of cotton, soybeans, corn, milo and wheat in Northeast Louisiana for the 2008 crop year. Rice prices for 2008 look strong, but production cost keeps increasing [Image: rice harvest] (Distributed 01/15/08) Southwest Louisiana farmers are hopeful that rice prices will remain strong, but their optimism is tempered by increased production costs. In a series of rice forums across South Louisiana, LSU AgCenter experts advised farmers on techniques of managing their 2008 crop. 2007 was a strong production year for La farmers (Radio News 01/07/08) Large acreage shifts and good prices marked agricultural production in 2007 according to LSU AgCenter economist Dr. Kurt Guidry. High yields also were a big topic throughout the year. (Runtime: 60 seconds) 2008 Projected Louisiana Rice Production Costs [Image: 2008 Rice Budgets] This report presents estimates of production costs for rice production in Louisiana for the 2008 crop year. Costs estimates are included for typical rice production systems, including conventional tillage, stale seedbed, production in rotation and fallow, as well as production of conventional and herbicide-resistant varieties. Production cost estimates are also included for soybeans, wheat and sorghum in Southwest Louisiana. 2008 Projected Louisiana Sugarcane Production Costs [Image: 2008 Sugacane Budgets] This report presents projected cost estimates for sugacane production in Louisiana for the 2008 crop year. Cost estimates are included for all phases of sugarcane production, including seedbed preparation, planting, plant-cane and stubble crop operations and harvest. Whole-farm projected income and expense statements are also included for harvest of sugarcane through second, third and fourth stubble (ratoon) crops. More...