Kennedy reintroduces bill to support Louisiana crawfish farmers

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) -- Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) reintroduced a bill Wednesday that would aid Louisiana crawfish farmers after a weather-related disaster.

The bill, known as the Crawfish Recovery Assistance from Weather Disasters and Droughts (CRAWDAD) Act, would make it possible for crawfish producers to be eligible for Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) funding permanently. Kennedy said it would also classify droughts as a weather event that the Secretary of Agriculture could declare as an emergency.

“Come rain, shine, sleet or snow, Louisiana’s mudbug farmers always work hard to deliver quality food to crawfish lovers. My CRAWDAD Act would make sure crawfish producers have access to the emergency support they need when droughts and other severe weather strike,” said Kennedy.

A summer drought in 2023 negatively impacted crawfish production, resulting in higher-than-usual prices for the next season. Gov. Jeff Landry issued a disaster declaration in March 2024 for the industry after 365,000 acres were affected by extreme drought conditions.

Louisiana congressmen and leaders asked the federal government for aid. The U.S. Small Business Administration offered low-interest federal disaster loans in March 2024, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture added crawfish to the ELAP program in May 2024.

“Louisiana crawfish farmers hope to never see another drought like they did in 2023. Louisiana Farm Bureau appreciates Senator Kennedy in the reintroduction of the CRAWDAD Act to provide additional support for this vital Louisiana industry,” Louisiana Farm Bureau President Richard Fontenot said.

Bill co-sponsor Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said, "Crawfish farmers work hard to provide Louisiana and the world with the tastiest crawdads possible. Let’s support them as they do so, rain or shine."

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