Agriculture
Senator Landrieu is a staunch supporter of Louisiana’s agriculture industry. The industry contributes more than $3 billion annually to the Louisiana economy and employs more than 20,000. Louisiana produces a variety of crops including sugar, cotton, rice, soybeans, sweet potatoes, strawberries and more.
Farm Bill
Senator Landrieu is a proud supporter of the 2008 Farm Bill, which is packed with provisions that will specifically benefit Louisiana’s farmers. It is essential that Louisiana farmers have a strong safety net which is why Senator Landrieu opposed cuts to farm payments that would have detrimentally impacted our state’s corn, cotton, rice, and soybeans farmers. In addition, Senator Landrieu was able to secure, for the first time in 25 years, a loan rate increase for our sugar farmers. Senator Landrieu also supported provisions to extend the MILC program until 2012 and language helping Louisiana’s sweet potatoes farmers.
Disaster Assistance
Unfortunately, Louisiana is prone to many natural disasters which wreak havoc on Louisiana’s agriculture production. For example, Hurricanes Gustav and Ike caused over $1 billion in lost revenue to Louisiana’s agriculture sector. Senator Landrieu introduced a bill, scored at $720 million, to provide disaster assistance to farmers to alleviate the devastation suffered. Senator Landrieu was successful in getting her agriculture disaster bill included in the economic stimulus package.
Cuba
Senator Landrieu supports opening trade relations with Cuba. Given the state’s proximity to Cuba, and our substantial ports, Cuba serves as a virtually untapped market that could bolster Louisiana’s economy. Louisiana’s rice farmers would be one of the biggest beneficiaries of expanded trade with Cuba. Before the 1962 embargo, Cuba was the top U.S. rice export market. It is estimated that Louisiana could contribute 480,000 metric tons to Cuba, which is 14 percent more rice than Louisiana is currently selling.