This publication tabulates the value of Louisiana agriculture in 2024. Agents and specialists of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, as well as other agencies — both private and public — compiled the data. Their analysis focuses on the animal, forestry, fisheries, plant and wildlife commodities that comprise our vital agricultural industry. Agricultural and natural resource industries contribute significantly to our state’s economy with the potential for increased economic benefits and job creation through value-added processing in urban and rural communities throughout Louisiana.

While the 2024 production year did not face the widespread drought and extreme heat that plagued the entire state in 2023, weather-related challenges still affected many commodities across various regions. Above-average rainfall in the central and northern parts of the state from January through April led to planting delays, forced changes in planting plans, and necessitated replanting in some areas. For most crops, summer rainfall was generally beneficial, supporting growth and development while also helping to reduce irrigation needs and related production costs. However, the increased moisture and frequent cloudy days contributed to a rise in crop disease pressure, requiring producers to invest more in pest and disease management efforts.

As the calendar turned to the harvest season, persistent rainfall that began in early summer continued across much of the state, causing harvest delays for numerous commodities. Between June and August, statewide rainfall ranged from average levels up to 49% above the 2019–2022 average. And in some areas, rainfall was two to ten times greater than what was received during the drought-stricken summer of 2023. In early September, Hurricane Francine made landfall along the eastern coast of the state, bringing heavy rainfall that further exacerbated the situation. While coastal parishes bore the brunt of the storm’s impact, the rainfall extended inland, worsening harvest delays and negatively affecting crop yield and quality in the central and northeastern regions. Following the storm, the LSU AgCenter conducted a damage assessment and estimated the total economic impact to the state’s agriculture sector at more than $55 million. Notably, over 98% of that figure was attributed to just two key commodities: soybeans and sugarcane. For soybeans, although some yield losses were reported, the primary damage came from quality degradation due to prolonged harvest delays. In sugarcane, high winds and flooding caused lodging, leading to production losses and forcing some producers to replant damaged acreage. While the $55 million in losses from excessive rainfall and Hurricane Francine was significant, it remained modest in comparison to the $1.6 billion in economic losses caused by the widespread drought and extreme heat experienced in 2023.

While the 2024 production year marked a notable improvement over the extreme drought and heat of 2023, challenges remained. Certain regions and commodities still experienced yield and quality losses, despite overall better growing conditions. For many producers, the combination of improved weather and reduced input costs offered an opportunity for greater profitability. However, for several commodities, lower market prices eroded those potential gains. In crops like soybeans and sugarcane, adverse weather events, though more localized than in 2023, still disrupted yields and quality, limiting the extent of the recovery. Meanwhile, for crawfish, the full effects of the 2023 drought and heat were realized in 2024. The prior year’s extreme conditions weakened brood stock survivability, resulting in lower production volumes and delayed harvests for many producers. In sum, 2024 brought relief in many ways, but lingering weather impacts and market pressures continued to weigh on overall agricultural recovery.

Despite the challenges faced in 2024, most commodities experienced year-over-year yield improvements compared to 2023. Among plant enterprises, all crops except sweet potatoes and wheat saw yield gains. The marginal yield declines in sweet potatoes and wheat likely reflect the fact that these crops were less affected by the 2023 drought than others. In contrast, farm-raised crawfish, while not a plant commodity, experienced a significant decline in yield. The state average dropped by more than 37%, from 554.4 pounds per acre in 2023 to 348.3 pounds per acre in 2024. This sharp decline is attributed to reduced survivability of mature crawfish during the summer, which delayed the start of the harvest season by about a month. Typically, early-season harvests rely on these mature crawfish, but in 2024, viable harvest levels didn't materialize until new hatchlings reached marketable size.

For all other plant commodities, yields increased by 2% to as much as 58% over the previous year. Crops that saw double-digit yield increases included cotton, grain sorghum, oats, hay, peanuts and soybeans. While soybeans did suffer yield and quality losses in parts of the state due to persistent rainfall and Hurricane Francine, these impacts were far less widespread than the drought-related losses of 2023. Furthermore, although yields declined in some regions, the greater challenge in 2024 was reduced quality, which affected the prices received by producers. As a result, yield data alone does not fully reflect the struggles faced by soybean producers in 2024.

For the fisheries, wildlife, and animal enterprises, the persistent rains and Hurricane Francine were believed to have had minimal direct impacts in 2024. In the animal enterprises, the improved rainfall contributed to a significant rebound in forage and hay production compared to 2023. This increase in available feed improved overall animal performance and helped to lower supplemental feeding costs, benefiting livestock producers across the state. While Hurricane Francine did pose challenges for the fisheries sector, particularly along the eastern coast, the primary impacts were likely related to infrastructure damage and increased operational expenses — factors not captured within the scope of this publication. Although some reduced catch volumes likely occurred due to fishing limitations during and after the storm, these effects will not appear in the current report, as fishery data is reported with a one-year lag.

Another key factor limiting the ability of many commodities to show significant improvement over 2023 levels was the decline in commodity prices during the 2024 production year. Prices fell for all major row crops except for cotton, which saw a modest increase. Corn, grain sorghum, soybeans and wheat all experienced at least a 20% reduction in prices in 2024 while rice, hay and peanuts experienced a reduction of at least 10%. Even sugarcane saw lower prices as after several years of stronger raw sugar and molasses prices, prices for both fell in 2024. Raw sugar prices fell roughly 8% in 2024 while molasses prices fell by over 38%. These price declines significantly offset the gains made from improved yields and lower input costs, limiting the overall profitability improvements that many producers had hoped for in 2024.

Fishery commodity prices were also lower in 2024, contributing to the economic challenges faced by the sector. Shrimp led the declines, with prices falling 40% compared to the previous year. This continued a broader trend of increased global supply and rising imports, which have placed significant pressure on domestic shrimp prices. Other commodities that experienced reduced prices were farm raised catfish (11%), oysters (3%) freshwater fish (1%), crabs (0.5%) and wild caught crawfish (21%). The decline in wild-caught crawfish prices was particularly notable. Given the sharp drop in farm-raised crawfish production, one might have expected stronger prices for wild-caught crawfish due to reduced overall supply. There are several reasons this may have materialized. First, increased wild-caught production responding to the shortfall in farm-raised crawfish rose by nearly 24% year over year, increasing supply and likely contributing to downward price pressure. Second, the peak of farm-raised crawfish production was delayed by about a month, overlapping with the typical peak of wild-caught production. This simultaneous surge in supply from both sources likely drove prices down. Finally, crawfish demand in Louisiana traditionally peaks around Easter. However, elevated farm-raised prices during this critical demand window likely suppressed overall consumption. By the time supply levels increased significantly — from both farm-raised and wild-caught sources — seasonal demand had already begun to decline. These combined factors likely contributed to a weaker price environment for wild-caught crawfish, despite the supply challenges faced by farm-raised producers.

As previously mentioned, farm-raised crawfish prices were significantly higher in 2024, rising nearly 57% compared to 2023. This sharp increase was largely driven by later and lower overall production volumes, which tightened supply and elevated market prices. Farm-raised crawfish was not the only commodity to see higher prices in 2024. Most animal enterprises also experienced price increases, led by beef cattle and edible eggs. Edible egg prices were up nearly 45% in 2024 while the average price across all classes of cattle was up more than 28%. These strong price gains were largely a result of reduced production and inventory levels across the industry. Other animal enterprises also saw more moderate price increases. Milk prices were up by more than 10% while broiler prices were up by a modest 2%. Other poultry enterprises (Breeder Flocks and Pullets) experienced an average increase of 25% while average sheep and swine prices were up 8% and 3%, respectively. The only notable exceptions were meat goats and cull hens. Meat goat prices declined by an average of 3%, likely due to growing inventories and increased supplies in recent years. Cull hen prices also experienced a slight decline, again mostly resulting from large supplies. These pricing trends reflect a mix of supply-driven price strength in many animal sectors, while in others, expanded inventories and supplies helped to moderate or reverse price gains.

Despite weather-related challenges and lower commodity prices for many sectors, the total gross farm value across all enterprises increased in 2024 compared to 2023. This rebound is not entirely surprising, given the severe drought impacts experienced in 2023. A more meaningful comparison may be against the previous five-year average. In 2024, the estimated total gross farm value reached $7.40 billion, representing an 11% increase over the five-year average. Animal enterprises led this improvement, buoyed by significant price increases across most sectors. The total gross farm value for animal enterprises was estimated at $2.08 billion, an 18% increase over the five-year average. Plant enterprises also saw gains, supported by a return to more typical production levels, even as prices declined for many commodities. The total gross farm value for plant enterprises was estimated at $4.50 billion, up 10% compared to the five-year average. In contrast, fisheries and wildlife enterprises faced pressure from weaker prices, which offset production gains. Their total gross farm value was estimated at $818.61 million, approximately 3% below the five-year average. These results highlight the resilience of Louisiana agriculture in 2024, with improved production conditions and stronger prices in key sectors helping to drive overall gains in gross farm value despite ongoing challenges.

When the commodities produced by agricultural producers are cleaned, processed, packaged and marketed, these value-added activities generate significant additional economic activity beyond what is captured in the gross farm value. In 2024, the economic impact of these value-added processes was estimated at $5.55 billion. Combined with the gross farm value of $7.40 billion, the total economic impact of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in Louisiana for 2024 was estimated at $12.95 billion. This represents a 1% increase over 2023, and a 7% increase compared to the previous five-year average. Given this substantial level of economic contribution, it is clear that Louisiana’s agriculture, forestry, and fishery sectors remain vital pillars of the state’s economy. The continued strength and sustainability of these industries rely heavily on the innovative research, extension education and outreach programs of the LSU AgCenter, which remain central to supporting producers and driving long-term economic growth across the state.

Many Louisiana communities depend on agriculture, forestry, fisheries and wildlife not only for local jobs but for their overall economic well-being. Yet for those who live and work in these industries every day, they represent far more than a business or economic engine, they are a way of life. Across the state, families have lived and worked on farms, forestlands, and in fishing villages for generations, embracing a lifestyle that values hard work, perseverance and tradition, despite the many challenges it can bring, long hours, high risks, and often modest incomes.

Each new production season comes with its own set of uncertainties, from volatile commodity prices and trade dynamics to rising input costs and, most unpredictably, the weather. These challenges underscore the critical importance of the discovery and adoption of innovative agricultural technologies developed by the LSU AgCenter. As agriculture becomes an increasingly sophisticated and integrated part of the global economy, our mission to deliver science-based solutions and educational outreach becomes ever more essential.

At the LSU AgCenter, through the efforts of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service and the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, we are proud to support the people and industries that make up Louisiana’s diverse agricultural landscape. Our faculty of extension agents, specialists, and research scientists remain dedicated to delivering timely, accurate and practical information to producers and consumers alike. We are honored to be a part of Louisiana’s agricultural community and remain committed to serving the industry and the citizens of our state, now and in the years to come.

See PDF for complete publication and data.