Louisiana Summary
Agricultural And Natural Resources
2011
The statistical information in this summary was compiled from estimates made by
extension agents from the LSU AgCenter after consulting with agricultural agency
representatives, agricultural and agribusiness leaders and others and after studying
various reports and resource materials. State specialists with the LSU AgCenter
checked parish-level data for specific commodities to ensure accuracy and consistency
of all production information. Final review of data was conducted by LSU AgCenter
agricultural economist and project director Dr. John Westra in consultation with
external sources, including state and federal statistical agencies. Any inquiries
about the data in this publication should be directed to Dr. John Westra in the
LSU AgCenter’s Department of Agricultural Economics who oversees the process of
gathering all information for the Louisiana Summary.
Although this material is reasonably accurate and can be used for planning and other
general informational purposes, this is not the official document of agricultural
data for Louisiana. Official statistical data are gathered, summarized and published
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service,
Louisiana Field Office, P.O. Box 65038, Baton Rouge, LA 70896. Reproduction or publication
of information in this summary should acknowledge the LSU AgCenter’s Louisiana Summary
of Agriculture and Natural Resources as the source but also indicate the unofficial
nature of the statistics.
A gross value was computed for each commodity, which, in some cases, included a
value from natural resources and consequently may not represent income to farmers.
Gross farm values were calculated using calendar-year, market-weighted, state-level
average prices, when available. When state-level price information was unavailable,
price information was used from adjacent states (Texas, Arkansas or Mississippi).
Primary sources for prices were USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service,
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and USDA’s Economic Research Service. The
gross value was an indicator of the commodity’s contribution to economic activity
in the state but was not an indicator of farm profits. Production costs greatly
affected profit (or loss) for many commodities. Even when gross income increased
over previous years, corresponding increases in production costs may have decreased
farm profits.
In the state summaries, the value added in cleaning, processing, packaging, marketing
and transporting commodities was an estimate of the total contribution of agriculture
and natural resources to the state’s economy.
The state summary was not an exact summation of all parish reports because adjustments
may occur due to changes in average prices received or to accommodate information
from other sources.
In each parish table, the only commodities listed are the ones that were of commercial
economic value in that parish during the year. In some instances, the number of
producers or the number of acres in a parish were not available. An asterisk was
used to avoid releasing confidential information when too few producers were present
for that commodity. Within some commodity groups, such as grains, fruits and commercial
vegetables, the total number of producers was omitted because some producers grow
several different crops within the group. Adding together the producers of individual
crops would not give a true total for the group.