In Louisiana during spring, one would typically experience crawfish boils, a cultural staple. However, 2024 marked a tough season for crawfish producers due to unprecedented droughts in 2023 that led to an estimated 90% drop in crop yields. This drought not only affected wild-caught crawfish but also impacted those raised in flooded rice paddies, crucial for their growth. With significant financial losses amounting to nearly $140 million, the circumstances triggered a disaster declaration for farmers.
"It was a devastating year for producers, with low, low yields," says Todd Fontenot, an agent at the Louisiana State University AgCenter.
The growing crawfish feed on the growing rice shoots, and their waste fertilizes the rice.
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