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AN ANALYSIS OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, AND MARICULTURE IN THE COASTAL ZONE OF LOUISIANA (USL) COASTAL ZONE INFORMATION CENTER COASTAL RESOURCES PROGRAM STATE PLANNING OFFICE EDWIN EDWARDS GOVERNOR HARLS E. ROEMER,'II COMMISS16NER OF ADMINISTRATION NOTICE TO THE READER: The attached is a consultant's report to the Louisiana State Planning Office and as such it does not necessarily represent the views of the Louisiana State Planning Office or its staff. F7 PATRICK W. RYAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PLANNING OFFICE H. TEMPLET A COORDINATOR It 4 P.O. BOX 44425 CAPITOL STATION ----TON ROUGE, LA 70804 (504)389-7041 AN ANALYSIS OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND MARICULTURE IN THE COASTAL ZONE OF LOUSIIANA By University of Southwestern Louisiana PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS Dr. Emmett F. Stallings, Project Director Dr. Thomas F. Masher Dr. Dave Manuel SECTION I Agricultural Use of Land in the Coastal Zone SECTION II Forestry in the Louisiana Coastal Zone SECTION III Agriculture and Forestry in Louisiana's Coastal Zone: A Study of Economic Growth and Significance SECTION IV A Report on Aquaculture in Louisiana's Coastal Zone The preparation of this report was financed in part through a grant from U.S. Department of Commerce under the provisions of Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. State of Louisiana, Coastal Resources Program air SECTION I AGRICULTURAL USE OF LAND IN THE COASTAL WINE By Thor-as F. Maher Department of Agricultural Engineering. University of Southwestern Louisiana Lafayettes Louis-Lana 70501 TABLE OF C ONTENTS C.12 n tr Title Cooperatin- Author* 96 Soils Cain 2 Water Management Langlina is 3 Rice Desselle, 4 Sugar Cane Viator 5 Soybeans 6 Vegetables Cotton 8 Mieat Sorghum 9 Corn 10 Cattle. Clement 11 Horses Clement 12 Dairy Labbe 13 Fruit and Vegetable Processing Labbe Barry 14 Pesticides Barry 15 Fertilizer Cain *All members of the College of-Agriculture staff at the University of Southwestern Louisiana except.Dr. Caini Dr. Chlarles C. Cain, Professor of Agronomy (Retired) Stephen J. Langlinais, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineering Dr, Lynn J, Desselle, Professor of Agronomy JI Dr, Daniel P, Viator, Associate Professor of Agronomy Terry Clement, Instructor of Animal Husbandry Leonder Labbe, Assistant Professor of Dairying Dr, Robert Barry,, Professor of Horticulture OVERVIEW Past., present and future agricultural use of land in the coastal zone is strongly influenced by soil type., The best alluvial soils extend 1:VAe thin Afinge-43 through several parishes adjacent to the streans from which they were deposited, CoVetLtion for these soils for non-agricultural use is strong and has taken. over most.of these soils in some parishes. The northern portion of the zone contains most of the-other soils desirable for row crops where in the eastern and western areas ivities may cornpete with timber production. Increases agricultural act in tillable land that have occurred since 1950 are mostly in the northern timber producing parishes of the zone and have offset the loss of tillable land in the lower parishes, Some pumping off of water on marginal land has also occurred resulting in a total net gain of tillable land since 1950 within the zone of 1.5%. Future agricultural use of the soils in the coastal zone will depend on food demand.. Capital outlay and technical knowledge required for farming marginal soils restricts interest in their use for cultivated crops* Water 'Management Man's activities in the coastal zone have greatly changed the normal drainage pattern, Ten watershed plans have been developed by the Soil Conservation Service and co-operating agencies to tie together work that has been done at random. There is a need for more wo@k of this nature. 2 These plans @ffien implemented correct a variety of problems related to water manageraenItsuch as drainage, flooding, erosion,-salt water intrusion, etc. At present most of the irrigation wate!r used in the zone is applied to rice. Even though irrigation water is plentiful, there is recent evidence of more efficient.irrigation by means of underground Pipe instead of open canals, and by water leveling of fields to.insure even application depth. 77 crops The four most important agricultural parishes in the state (Vermilion, Acadia., Tangipahoa and Jeff Davis) are located in the.coastal zone, in 1974 the farm value of coastal zone crops exceeded I billion dollars. Value'of these products when purchased by the consumer averages-about three times the farm value. Rice, sugar cane and soybeans are the main-cultivated crops grown in the zone but many other cereal, fruit, vegetable, fiber and nut crops are adapted and have been grown more extensively in pas t years under different econe-mic situations. Cotton, once a traditional crop, is apparently gone for good and soybeans, once a very minor crop, have gained popularity in recent years, Should food shortages develop in future years, assets of the coastal zone (water, soil type, climate, drainage conditions, etc,) favor more rice and forage production on marginal soils and more fruit and verstable production on better drained soil. 3 Livestock Acr-.ratc data on agricultural enterpFises ',hat do not requir,% local processing and in which the unit itself is mobile are difficult to obtain. with the exception of dairy cattle,, data on livestock generally, fall in this category. Most dairy farms are in the northern portion of the coastal zone while the forage arown on the marginal and extremely marginal soils, from a cropland viewpoints is found at lower elevations. Cenerally beef cattle production predominates over dairy operations as one proceeds south in the zone* The interest in race horses and pleasure horses plus the opening of local racetracks have created a new livestock enterprise in the zone in recent years. Pesticides Fertilizers Concern about che-Acals used in crop production finding their way into run-off water has caused the removal of several Pesticides with a long life span from.the market and the monitering of run-off water for chemical content.. The 1974 data studied showed little or no evidence of insecticides in run-off water, Licensing of applicators in 1976 should further reduce the hazard from pesticides needed for optimum Crop production. Cenerally fertilizers are not being applied in sufficient quantities on crops in the coastal zone to obtain the best net profit to the farmer. 4 Loss of applied fertilizer into run-off water in amounts detrimontal to water quality appears unlikely. Processing Survival of some farm enterprises depend on processing facilities being available locally. Adequate for sugar cane, rice and milk are available in 1974 although those for sugar cane show a downward trend. Facilities for cotton have closed down in the zone. AGRICULTURAL USE OF COASTAL SOIL Soil type is a major factor determining crops that can be successfully grown in the study area. Of course, all soil could be used for food production if the demand were such that market price encouraged the capital outlay necessary to overcome some of the hazards involved in production. The potential agricultural use classification maps for each parish, included in this section of the report, have been prepared with thhe ---of soil Conservation Service general soil association maps. The color legen chosen for these maps is as follows: CLASSIFICATION LEGEND Green Cropland-Pasture These areas contain soils of a type and elevation that can be profitably cultivated under our present economic structure if not devoted to another use. Some of these areas could also produce timber. Included in this classification are areas that would not be practical to farm were it not for the Mississippi River levee protection and the protection of other major levees. Pink Marginal Cropland-Pasture These are lands that could or may be cultivated under sufficient economic pressure. The chief problem in using land in the low elevations of this region for Row Crop production is reducing the water in the root zone of 2 the plant to field capacity in a desired period of time. Other agricultural uses such as pasture of rice production require less capital outlay for drainage. A cost gradient exists for developing a system of moisture control or, in the norther part of the coastal zone, erosion control, that is strongly influenced by elevation. Higher elevations of the wetlands are sometimes farmed by using a well designed drainage system. As elevations decrease, dikes and pumps become necessary for water management. Pumping costs and levee construction costs increase as elevations decrease. Land adjacent to streams and unprotected by levees and subject to flooding is included in this classification. Many of these areas could also produce timer. Clear Water Yellow Chenieres, "Inland Islands" PASTURE, RECREATION, SPECIALIZED CROPS Blue Extremely Marginal Cropland-Marginal Pasture Nearly all of this land is too costly to develop for cultivated crops in the foreseable future. Some instaces exist of diking, leveling and pumping lands bordering areas of higher elevation, to square up property or for urban development. 3 Included in this classification are alluvial soil associates inside levees used to entrap or control the flow of water in rivers, streams and spillways. These soils can be used as pasture part of the year with close supervision. Some areas adjacent to bedding levees and chenieres also are grazed. In addition to limited grazing, the lower areas serve as a wildlife habitat and for recreation such as hunting and fishing. The bar graph by each parish show the percentage of the soil groupings of the parish as well as the total acres in each classisfication. In addition, a bargraph showing the change in tillable land area from 1950 until 1975 was drawn using data supplied by the Rural Development Land Use Committe. 1 Most soil that is ranked highly for agricultural use also has properties desirable for other uses such as urban or industrial use, roads, etc. In fact, in Orleans Parish all such land is now utilized for non-agricultural use and data show Jefferson and St. Bernard Parishes may soon lose all soil with high agricultural potential to other uses. The 1960 Conservation Needs Inventory data (Table I, Page 9) show that almost half the urban and built-up area of the whole state is in the study zone. Tillable land in the zone dropped from 43.4% of the state total in 1950 to 35.7% in 1975 as determined by analysis of data in Table II, Page 11. A net loss of tillable land was experienced by more than half the parishes in the study zone since 1950. A study of 1 See Table II, Page 11 for data. 4 the parishes where loss occurred as indicated in Table II, Page 11, reveals that a large portion of this decline was due to urban and industrial development along the Mississippi River, Bayou Lafourche and Bayou Techa. With few exceptions, those parishes contributing a net increase in tillable land during the 1950-1975 period were those noted for timber production. This suggest that such land use change came at the expense of timber. Three top timber parishes, Calcasieu, St. Tammany and Tangipahos contributed almost one-third of the Land cleared for agriculture use since 1950 (Table II, Page 11). Their soil potential maps show large grees areas, indicating the soil growing timber could also grow crops and/or pastures. There was a net increase in tillable land in the study area of 1.4% since 1950, compared to a 23.3% increase for the whole state. Some areas in the marginal and extremely marginal agricultural use potential classification have been pumped off and are indicated on the pink and blue areas by cross-hatching. By referring to the maps, cone will note considerable pumped-off acreage in Vermilion and Lafourche parishes. Most other large pumped-off areas are employed for nonagricultural purposes. Smaller individual endeavors exist in areas adjacent to high ground. Pumped off lands that are high in organic matter may present some farming difficulties as oxidation of this matter occurs following the removal of gravitational water. If the soil is mostly mineral, its 5 clay'content is usually high and it is 4ifficult to till. Far= on pu:uped-off IaLd3 visited by this writer in Vermilion and Came-on pariahes seemed to be highly successful from the standpoint-of yield, but an in-house consultant reported a pumped;off farm in Lafoutche parish that appeared to be having difficulty* Time allotted this study -was not sufficient to allow an in-depth study of land within the zone-farmed by means of protection 1wrees and pumps. Success of such endeavors will depend upon a number of factors and it would be of interest to note the-role soil classification plays in this success at similar elevations. Some general observations can be made with regard' to situations that make marginal soils inviting to agricultural use and that estaKish the economic gradient sufficient to warrant capital outlay&. l* Land. is not far from an all-weather road usually cc atructed to gain access to a city or industrial development. Road construction costs dictate selection of a path utilizing the highest available elevations and soil types that are also best in the area for %gricultural use, 2. Land near large cities is purchased and developed.for agricultural use as well as an investment and/or hobby. Even if the agricultural enterprise is a failure, knowledge of eventual profitable ncn-agricultural use Justif4es the capital outlay. 6 3. Rice or pasture production can be most successfully pursued as an enterprise on heavy soil orlow elevation. These compose a large percentage of the marginal and some percentages of the extremely marginal soil classifications. 4. Levee construction is more apt to occur if only part of the perimeter of the property must be enclosed to protect the fields from backwater or tidal flooding. Such areas are adjacent to chenieres, ridges, "islands" or large protection levees. 5. A rotation which include crawfish and perhaps catfish production will become more common in the vicinity of urban areas and marketing facilities. Limitations of time do not permit an investigation of the extent areas given the "marginal" or "extremely marginal" classification are currently being used for agricultural purposes, and what crops are grown. The land use mearsurements made in 1967 for the 1969 Conservation Needs Inventory Report by the Soil Conservation Service, although not as current as desirable, were obtained with the use of a planimeter from maps and aerial photographs and give a useful breakdown for the study. Table III, Page 13, shows the use of the remaining land after urban and built-up use, and federal land are excluded. Analysis of the data shows that 66.6% of the lands remaining after this subtraction were in the "forest" or in the "other use" classification. The "other use" classification is composed mostly of marsh and the 3,991,063 acres 7 listed in the "other use" classification for the coastal zone was 93% of the state acreage in this classification. The present price of farm products is not sufficient to support the capital investment required to bring large amounts of soil classified as "marginal" or "extremely marginal" into agricultural use requiring tillage. Considerable acreages of these soils adjoining large cities has been put to non-agricultural use. If one adds the acres in the "cropland" and the "pasture" classification for the coastal zone, the total approximates the 1975 tillable land acreage total in Table II, Page 11, (2,821,415 versus 2,718,515). Variation in definition and changes that have occurred in the 8-year lapse between 1967 and 1975 could easily account for the difference. Table IV, Page 15, compares the acres in the highest agricultural soil potential classification from the colored maps with the 1975 tillable land. The tillable land acreage exceeds the high potential soil in three parishes (Iberville, Jeff Davis and Lafourche). A significant percentage of the tillable soil in Lafourche parish is not in the high potential classification. It is assumed most of this is diked or pumped off. The parishes with a large surplus of high potential soil that is not tillable evidently have planted this land to timber or have it in urban use. If one subtracts the tilled land from the acreage with the highest potential in Table IV, Page 15, about 3/4 of the remaining land is located in these six parishes: Calcasieu, East Baon Rouge, 8 Livingston, St. Martin, St. Tammany and Tangipahoe. Reference to data in Table III, Page 13, suggests most of this land is in forest, although some is in urban and built-up use. After reviewing the present situation regarding farming practices within the zone after consulting numerous agricultural experts, farmers, and in-house consultants; and after examining the "Giant Step II" publications prepared by the Extension Service for the individual parishes, I find it evident that at present the most economical way of increasing food production within the coastal zone is through better farming practices. It is equally evident that the area has certain ingredients necessary for food production, particularly water, mild climate, long days and growing season, processing facilitie, marketing and exporting facilities and trained producers. These factors area tremendous advantage not matched in large areas of the United States. 9 TA BLE I Total Acreage Federal (1967 C.'II*** Non- Urban and Small Water ?arj n1le i mleasuremenQ Crooland Built-Up- P rev* Acadia 4231852 l7s246 29849 Ascension 1922000 10p550.. .2,100 Assumption 2221242 41,615 .7,200 Calcasieu 692,616 "x586 10s987 Camron 8491,211 128,241 89993 31,401 E. Baton Rouge 294j363 10' 848168 20049 Iberia 377j654 5J,525 119249 118290 Iberville 401$920 395. 8,575 7*778 Jefterson 231s,860 70000 160000 Jeff Davis 421P120 130338 23,673 Lafayette .181,120 15,200 925 Lafourche 739y785 1OP568 14t200 4250600 .131041 39374 Orleans 127j360 2P000 71'.000 7,000 PlaquamLnes 630p160, 480929 92000 579000 St, Bernard 326s4OO 7j,000 12,000 301,000 st, Charles 193s,302 .70000 102000 St. Jams 1590360 3,803 860 St, John l44t000+ 4vOOO 3,000 Sto Martin 4830304 72,737 S t, MarY 4073,345@ 159242 20j887 St, Ta=man7 562,749 lv385 259100 129232 10 Total Acreage Federal (1967 CNX** Non- Urban and Small later Parishes measurement). Cropland Built-up Area* Tangipahoa. 5139920 191,796 7v7G0 Terrebonns 8901,240 117 12s,717 602196 vermilion 7830360: 18j,236 183,855 V,.Baton Rouge 128&2 8,000 1,020 T 0 T A L 10,803 1j4813, 1930664 :522,850 349.213 S ATE TOTAL 281*5968268 .970g,247 lpO63*808 4990986 T *Water Areas Under 40 Acres Conservation Needs Inventory (Soil Consomtion, Service) **CNI I., The coastal land area (including water surfaces lose than 40 acres) comprises 37.8Z ofthe'state-land area. 2* Some 49% of@tbe urban and built-up area In the state is located within the study zone 3, About 70% of . the State small water bodies less than 40 acres In, *I= are within the zone*:. 4. The iederal non-cropland.within the zone Is 20%0f the &tAt*. total, TABLE 11 LAND USE CHANGtS* 1950 1975 Non-Agri- Cleared For TiLl-.ible Tillable cui,-tural,Use Agricultural Parishes Crop Land Crop Land Since 1950 Use Since 1950 Acadia 2909000 325sOOO 2,9500 37,500 Ascension 53j027 44,349 113,678 3x000 Assi tion 561000 56pOOO 1,000 10000 Calcasieu 264#000- 300#000. l2vOOO 46sOOO Cameron 50#000 73,000 5r000 289000 E. Baton Rouge 68,9000 259406 229540 119000 Iberia 134r218 132v495 3j,500 2j,650 Iberville 112,136 1221,@40 21,552 109204 Jefferson. 18,500 5j,500 151,000, 29000 Jeff Davis 405vl74, 4031,074 996 Lafayette 154 sk 060 1509000 40000 600 Laf*urcbe 81..320 720000 400000 40s,100 LivinSston 23,965 189867 %000 12x500 Orleans 3p000 3,000 Plaquezines 32SCOO 21.000 119000. @St, Bernard 188,000 20000 l6p000 St, Charles 198000 15tOOO 13,000 l0j,000 St, James 440313 390000 8g813 3t5OO St" John 29,000 192000 119000 IV000 St, Martin 981000 990000 14s000 15,0000 St, Ta=any 87,,000 1070000 3,010 20,000 12 1950 1975 Non-Agri- Cleared For Tillable Tillable cultural Use Agricultural Parishes Crop land Crop Land Since 1950 Use Since 1950 St. Mary 600000 75*000 3pooo 21,000 Tangipahoa 160x000 1909000. 4v720 35v000 Terrebo=e 41*727 .387366 48561 Iv200 Vermilion 346sOOO 349t800 200 49000 @2,500 5,04Z W, Baton Rouse 32,771 35.318 T 0 T A L 21,681s,151 2p7l8s,515 2201,t70 3229801 STA72 TOTAL 6,1720935 -796089400 5430240 1*820s,639 1950 1975 Percent of state tillable land In coastal zone TM.4% 35.7% Increase in tillable land for state (1950-1975) 23,3% T=re"* in tillable land for coastal zone (1950-1975) 1,4% *Data were obtained from figures supplied by the Rural Development Land Use Committat Chaired by Dr, Floyd L. Corty. TABLE III tAND USE ACRES IN 1967 CNI MENTORY Agricultural 1967,1. rarlshes Inventory A@rejj* Croeland Pasture Rann Forost 1. Other Use Acaclia '896 36,153 71,500 401'757," 286 225 81983 Ascension 1191,35V 41,207 43,638 92,992 1,513 Assum' ption 210 527 66,,171 .4,,635 137,188 2,533 A, 51, 40 44,205 212,548 28,507 Calcasieu 637,(M3" 3010 143 6 Camero." 1,560 286,061 680 576 103,174 . 39,781 250,000 208,t36 20 466 58,870 120,000 8,800 E. '313tcm Rc)uc,,,e Iberia 349,590 .87,247 19,994 123,396 118,953 Iberville 385,172,.-: 56,921 45,174 2773-973 5,104 3,872 4,357 33,236, 104,395 Jefi-:erzon 445,800 67. 319,297 11,000 508 Jeff Davis 943 61361 164b995 77,633 71P452 4,520 11,390 Lai'ourche 715DO17 814,842 22,741 24,027. 150,875 1,31,632 409S185 3,511 13,014 381,567 11,043 47A360 47,36n 515,231 2 1 1339 1.5.18 50,41.2 442,192 1967 Asriculturat Parishes InveAtorz Acres* Cropland Pasture Ranae Fore .st -Other Use fto- Bernard 277 4W 1,469 22 949 2520982 ;St. Charles 139371 29475 81 714 780742@ 297 85,500 4,7 St. James 1548697 60 161 - 4v 39 .3 t .John li? '000 23,322 t,506 93 700 189472 St. "riartin 4706740 83,848 26,059 3481,153 12,680 t3,64t S t. Hary 37t 3,134, - 1,450. 938 740722 .1629.0 1.180903 St. Targmany 24 032 30 116 23,393 403,300 670,223 Tanrjpahoa 4860424 52,304 75,697 345,600 '1211823 to Terrebonne 817,2 48,408 150010 26,227 122,300 605,265 Vermilion 2 007 7468269'r@jr 97,580 50,094 70.537 30,051 2981 ROUP.0 119a: I-J. _8.1ton 23,500 20,570 69,200 6,350 T 0 T A L 9,737,756 - 2 181,220 6400231 434*627 3,490,615 2,-991,063 'notat measured acm-a lose federal non cropland, urban And built-up, and snatt vater areas of 40 ncrcs ant) less. 15 TABLE TV HIGHEST POTEWIAL* 1975 AGRICULTU-AL SOIL TnLABLE 1AND DIUEMCE PA.@IV (ACRES) (ACRES) (ACRES@ Acadia 3850280 3259000 60t280 Ascension 1280640 44,349 849291 Assumption 893640 56 000 1....33$640 Calcasieu 592 j640 3 001000 2923 64 0 Cameron 1130920 731,000 40s920 245,760 220,354 E, Baton Rouse Iberia 1439360 132j495 ..10S865 Tberville 116,480 122,340 -5,860 Jefferson 32.,640 59500 279140 Jeff Davis @3872,840 403,074 -15 V234 064, Lafayette 1652760 150*000 15,760 Lafourche 51v200 72tOOO -20sS 00 Livingston 281r600 18,867 .262,73.3 Orleans 140080 0 14,080 Plaquemines 329640 21,000 11,640 St, Bernard 24;320 2gOOO .229320 Sto.Charles 30p720 150000 .150720 St. jams $29101 390.000 43v101 St. John 36j,884 l9s,000 St, Martin 2452760 990000 146p760 St. Mary 102,502 75,000 St, Tammany 407v04O i07,000 3002C" 16 HIGHEST POTENTIAL* 1975. AGRICULTURAL SOIL TILIABLF. LIM DIFFERENCE PARISE QLCRES). (ACRES) (ACRES) Tangipahoa 376o320 1909000 2679320 Terrobonne 490280 381,366 10,914 Vermilion 382j080 3490800 329,280 W, Baton Roup 35v318 72,6842 T 0 T A L 4t626,9647 2,030*926 *Green area on MaPs I to 14 7 ----- MANAGEMENT Water management problems for agricultaral purposes in the 26 coastal parishes center around drainage, and on irrigation of soil types suitable for rice production. Table I, Page 9, taken from 1969 census data, indicates the aceage involved for each parish. Data should be similar today since rice acreage has changed little and since rice is the only crop in the area irrigated extensively. The area is somewhat unique as far as irrigation is concerned, compared to other parts of the United States. So much water is available, visitors from dryer climates find it difficult to believe that the Coctrine of Riparian Rights, or apporpriation, is not applied to users of water from streams flowing through agricultural land. Early development of the rice industry depended upon commercial irrigation companies, which elevated the water from a stream source into a supply canal made from soil and delivered it to individual farms. It was the practice for the farmer to use whatever water was necessary to produce the crop, and in return pay the commercial water supply company a portion of his crop. With the deveopmen of reliable pumps, drilled wells, rural electicity and higher crop yields, more land owners began to use their own water supply system but still used the same type surface delivery ditches. Since 1965, when the first was designed by the S.C.S., there has been a rapid increase in the use of underground farm delivery 2 pipe systems. As of March 29, 1975, the soil conservation service had designed 1,1365,536 feet of underground pip system that was installed to be the coastal zone. As can be seen from Table I, Page 9, there has been a steady increase in the amount of pipe installed each year, even though the cost has more than doubled in the last four years. Farm labor cost, water lose, land loss occupied by delivery ditches, elimination of delivery ditches as a source of weed seed, quick delivery of water to any part of the field, and elimination of some muskrat and snake problems associated as factors favoring the investment required for underground irrigation pip. Too high annual rainfall in south Louisiana limits interests in irigation of other crops except during a drought cycle. The last cycle (1954-550) caused interest in the area by some people to irrigate such crops or pasture. After the drought cycle passed interest in pasture irrigation was lost since the market value of the cattle produced did not encourage this type of investment. Some high value crops are irrigated every year because uniform ------ of ---- is not dependable. For example, since 1940 to ------ ------- ------ on the vegatable farm at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, no year has passed when irrigation was not used, ----------------- --------, particularly in cans, and grass sod also require ------------ systems. -----------------------------------------did fiber will cause a greater investment in irrigation systems for other crops. Sugar cane armers would not 3 tolerate the yield reduction caused by dry weather experienced in some years, if a selling price as high is that --- ained in 1974 could be de------------. Also, high price for meat, as future world population demands more -------- for food, will cause increased interest in obtaining maximum yields from grass and forage which is well adaped to growth on many of the soil associations found in the coastal zone. Again, irrigation of forage and grass is one means of obtianing optimum yields, ----------------plentiful water supply with little pumping head is an agricultural asset of the area. As can be seen from the 1969 census data in Table II Page 1), most of the irrigated land is in parishes that produce rice. Drainage. The low elevation and minimum slope of the wetlands make removal of excess water a major problem in the production of most crops, and drainage is constantly changing whenever man changes the topography or land cover. Land being occupied by highways and buildings no longer absorbs water, resulting in an increased rate of run-off. When forests are cut or fields leveled, or when man changes other aspects of the surface mucyh of the water infiltrated into the soil or removed at a slow rate now finds its way in large amounts in a short period of time to lower elevations, resulting in more frequent flooding and also more frequent ---------------- stream conditions. 4 ----------- better drainage at higher elevations results in water bing ------ to lower elevation, increasing drainage problems there. In the vicinty of the coast, man made and natural esturaies are ------------ to change when run-off rato changes. An outflow of fresh water at a high rat over a short period differs from continuous flow at ------- rate. Also a short-term drought may allow inflow of saline water a greater distance upstream than would have occurred had the time of compentration of run-off not been changed by modification of the sand surface, and had the overflow of rainfall been allowed to take place at a slower rate. From the standpoint of agricultural activities, water management is -------- critical as it is for urban and industrial activities. The present price of food usually dictates that the hydrologist plan water control structures for possible flooding evrey two to five years for agricultural activities, whereas designing for flooding on a frequency of 25 to 100 years would be more common where greater damage would result, as with urban development. For most crops, the removal with 24 hours of gravitional water from the root zone in a field following flooding is considered a desirable objective in designing a farm drainage system, in order to limit damage. To achieve this objective may prove too costly for flooding that can be expected less frequently than every 2 to 5 years because of ditch sizes, numbers, lenghts, etc. However, higher prices for food and fiber would support a greater investment in agricultural 5 water management system. Also, yields of certain grass or forage crops as well as rice are less ------during most stages of production by excessive moisture then are such crops as corn and soybean, indicating a greater potential for forage crops and rice in marginal areas, should sufficient market demand develop. Erosion Drainage of water and soil erosion are interrelated, since an excessive rate of removal of surface waterr is associated with soil loss an inadequate water removal with crop damage. Vegetative cover, particularly on flatland, is in most instances the most important means of erosion control. Raindrops splash erosion on newly plowed or tilled land occurs when the exposed soil must absorb the kinetic energy of the falling raindrops. Mchanical and chemical bonds broken in the energy absorption result in the formation of smaller particles and soil loss from the field will occur if rainfall is sufficient to cause run-off. It has been estimated that a 2" rain applies energy equal to 518 million foot-pounts of work to an acre of land. Such energy absorbed by bare soil causes "bombed-out" pits and packing with minimum pet horizontal movement until run-off begins. The amount of soil removed by run-off water is dependent upon water velocity. As velocity of run-off water increases on flact land a second type erosion labeled "sheet erosion" occurs. This type erosion is mentioned as a problem in several of the "Giant Step II" publications for the parishes studied. With such erosion, the water velocity over the "Water", 1955 Yearbook of Agriculture, page 127. 6 soil n, oves the top shoo t of soil in the direction of movement, in addition to causing the lose of particles suspende d in the run-off water,. Farming operations that keep vegetation on the surface as much as possible either as crop residue or planted vegetation reduce erosion, The vegetation acts as a, pad to absorb raindrop splash energy and as a friction factor that reduces the vw1ocity of water that-flown from the field. Soil erosion in flat land results not only in the loss of fertile top soil but in the filling of drainage ditches that must be cleaned out at considerable expense. Tiatershed On the fa=,, cleaning of small ditches is up to the individual @.operators, but filling of large ditches outside the farm with eroded soil and an increase of the run-off rate upstream, due to urban development ..and changing land use has resulted in the need for large drainage systems designed for use by several-organizations to limit backwater flooding. The watershed areas indicated in Figure I and located in the coastal zone are either completed or-under construction.thtougb the help and co-operation of various organizations under plans developed by the Soil Conservation Service,, Plans for these-watersheds awe prepared at the reque3t.of local organizations such as police juries, local S,C.S. districts,, and gravity.drainage districtso Table n, Page 10, shows some basic details of the various pw jects. As can be seen, almost one million .acres are involved in the 10 projects nearing completion,, which in general modify and tii together drains that were constructed at random, J min, CAST to @AVON TAXGWAMOA ATOM mouse LIVINGSTON IST. TA UNA Ousa assom &CAR$A, CAL41ASISU oaves LAPAT6 9 9 Tin afffivi C M THE APTIIT as 0 A IS IL M CHARLIKS MARTIN KPA sft Comuffimm SERVICE WATERSHED AREAS 0 UPJHUNA COASTAL ZOM 99 T 9 4 R 2 0 0 N 9 7 Included in the design work for each plan are such considerations as: 1. Land use and treatment 2. Soil conditions 3. Forestry 4. Fish and Wildlife 5. Economic aspects 6. Hydraulic and hydrologic investigations 7. Sedimentation 8. Geology 9. Engineering 10. Project of other agencies that might affect or be related to the study. 11. Disposal of soil to be moved. After the local organizations make a request for a study, an investigation of the above listed items is made and the cost-benefit ratio determined. If all details of responsibility, financing and construction can be agreed upon a work plan is prepared. A period of 10 years may be required from initiation to completion of a watershed project. An examination of Table II, Page 10, will show that a common problem in the flat area of the coastal zone is a need for more rapid removal of water from cropland. The original drainage system outside the farm boundary has become inadequate, probably from developmen of better farm drainage systems, changes in farm crops, and land use changes exterior to the individual farm that have caused overtaxed drains. 8 ----- rapid removal of water from higher elevations also causes flooding of agricultural land at lower elevations and/or filling of farm canals and exit canals to a level that will not allow flow from the farm system. A study of a large drainage area is necessary to proposal size ditches that have been constructed without design because frequently in some parts of the overall system ditches may have adequate carrying capacity, and in other parts of the system they are too small. Most of the 10 work plans studied call for little additional canal construction, but rather for enlargement of canals in certain sections of the watershed. Levens, control structures and pumps become necessary where use is made of land near sea level elevations. An example of such a project is the Bayou False Project of the 1962 work plan, in which residence flooding was common. The levee and control structures portion of the Cameron-Creole Project to limit salt water intrusion has probably drawn the most debate and as yet has not been constructed. Proper drainage of land used for agricultural purposes is necessary to limit the high risk already associated with crop production. As man attempts to use lower elevation lands for food production, the effect of changing water flow patterns by modifying drainage systems on marine life and wildlife is difficult to predict. There is little doubt that additional research information is needed in this regard. TA fILZ I zir:;*'. ripelines in Je-nnin"s, Cratiley an' 3 1,!ew 1heria. TO :1*%TZ 7/1174- TO DATE 13 1 C', 7 2 1973 1974-- 3129/75 3/29175- Vermilion 1606, 941 20,144 '16,977 49t793 .,247,360 Fto Sti I., Ztin 3,' 80 0 0 0 3,480 Pt Cazie r on 29276 0 0.,. .21276 Fte Acadia 1660.6 31 42,341 509653 45,899 3060044 Ft.' St. 'Nary 0 0 0 0 Ft. Jeff Davis 226,157 50,079 67,843 55,231 3998310 Ft. Lafayette 20,677 102823 11192 39846 369533 Ft. .6 calcajieu 335,496 61532 31884 11,289 357.2oi rt. roeria .11,797 1 081 0 0 12,873 Ft. T 0 T A L 933t473 131,500 1349549. 166,OG3 lg365l586 Ft. Ureet) %'o,F I-larch 291, 1973 Total 63% 107. 121/14 Source: Data supplied courtesy of IN-athan Shiller, Area Erninger, Soil Conseimpation Service, Crm4lev, Louisiana. TA Bu n IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE (1969 CENSUS DATA) CtASS 1-5 FAMIS Irrigation Average Irrigated Avg. Acres Wa ter Used Acres Acreage Parish Farm ained -(Acres) IrrinatedL jAcre-Ptj Dr Drained/Farm Acadia 111,137 179.8 140,169 59,689 324.3 Asceision 385 77.0 206 29,354 772.4 Asaurption 737 184.2 763 27,725 .543.6 Ca1c.asieu 76,458 89,641 1220200 1342.8 Cuneron 14,913 261.6 17,233 70,786 1335.5 E. Baton Rouge 18 .9 15 14,308 596.8 Iber..a 8,512 202.6 BP333 36 31 928 535.1 Iber@- 1.1 le 5 5 2 38,166 578.2 Jeff Davis 130,078 229.8 163,096 1053,652 491.4 Je f fe r-O Oil 22 H 41 1,37u- 137.8 Lafayette 13,638 160 .4 19,442 202872 239.9 La f ourch 360 51.4 231 65$490 417.1 117 6.5 80 2,900 152.6 Plaquemilles 86 2,,.6 46 1,777 84.6 1 2.0 1 , 32!@ 166 2.0 2 10,31.113 Vt 6. 1! Irrigation Irricated Avg. Ar-ro-s Average Water Used Parish (Acres) Acres Atrfsctp lrrireitedLvarm -Pt.) I)ra Drained/Pam Ocre St. James 239 26.4 - 215 25,,818 629.7 St, John 7#553 539.5 Sto- Hartin 30521,.: 195.6 59208 209621 257,7 St. Hary 27.5.7 2$530 41#152 614.2 St. Tarmany 400, 43 764 40061 220,9 Tanglph 1#307 12.1 923 5*532 62,8 Terrebonno 542.6 Ve rm a n .145,463 163.2 211,570 163,086 413.9 Daton Rouge 334 111.3 :168 262671 803.2 510#666 661,378 931,361 TABLE III S.C.S, WATERSHED PROJECTS WITHIN THE COASTAL ZONIE Year Worlt Protection Narw :@f Plan Book Denefit to Project Size Constructior Interval Desien Major Watershed I'miuct Published cost Hatio (Acrea) Needed For(Year3) Probtems Daker 1959 6.1:1 21,000 (Private) 10 miles. of L. Poor drainage from Canal 48% Cropland Dr 'ainage Canal farm outlets 30% Woodland Improvement 2. rloodin"... of fields 7%. Pasture 3. Delayed cane harvest 1% idle 14% Hiscl. Davou 1916 2 2.6:1 5231214 19.9 ritiLes of 3-5 Pump 1. 45 familieu in Folse 2711, Cropland drainage canal capacity for leveed area floo0ed 237. Rang Ohen -?ater reaches 3 ft. ,e (-marsh) traprovetaent, 4.4 miles water removal 22". Woodland of restoration of in 24 hours; above nican sea level. 67. Urban and cnistin- facilities, 50 years for 2. Inadequate pttnp lar,-,c water 36.2 -nailes of leave levee over- capacity. bodies improvei-,iont topping 3. Run-off to low ireas, 5% Itiscl. crop dawage. Livestocl@ etsense. loss frow stat-nint tyatcr. 5. Cultivating and liar-jesting delay. ra, na:. 19G4 2.4:1 1-3,730 (Private) 25 wiles of 1. FIVO,'Iing lossez- calla 1 537. Brushy Pasture, drainage canal liavc caused a 40% Con-.;:!, !,IOU(!:; J@ ")!-'amp improvement -deercnse in cropland in 1: a Y o 212. 1'a::ture 10 YLars. 13 u r o 1; 1 a n e 2 0 'A"nor e@ra ;."1.1-c 0':1. Niscl. far".1 outh'-s.. 3. Iiicrensee- renoff (ILIC Lo 1,,000 :!cre Yaar 17ork rroLection Vaille of I'lan C00% Dencrit to Project St. t Ze Construction Interval Deaftn 11aJor Uatersbed Proje-c L I'nUtabee, 6st I"atio I.Acres) Heeded For (Years) rroblevin 7th 1964 3.,5&.l 32 000 (Private) 39.6 miles of drainage. 5 1, SAI t movement in and 3% Cropland and irriB. canal. 3.3 out of aquifers through lArd .5 Canal .25% Woodland.: miles of levee with 4 river, I A ra ontrol structures to sturd c 2. 'Flooding of l(w-lying 7% Hincl. limit hi-,vli tide damaGe areas by salt water tide, to once In 5 year 3. Salt water in irris. frequency. canals, Lm-.,er 1965 2.9:1 IS11,700 (Private) 168 tailes of drainage 2 1. Flooding-come canals Dayou 407. Cropland canal improvement. out of bonks twice a yr. 3 Q. Uarsh 2. 8,300 acres of marsh .13% Grassland changing from fresh 4% 'Roodiand vater to brackis. 7% 11i.scl. 3. Delayed crop harvest. tipper 1966 2.3:1 210.0no (700 Acres) Mmprove or strai-hten 2 1. Out- of -1jank f lovy G I Y. Ott (State 0-.Yncd) 1/2 of the existinB 530 causin,- untimely harvest 43,40 Cropland miles of inulti-purpose and damage to rice, sugar 3.1% Wo od 1 a nd channels. cane and truch crops. 12% CA ra a r. In nd 2. Need for cmerpency 77& 11isel. type r-11A loans, has been necessary due to flood problems, 1907 2.11:1 34,000 (rrivate) .'13 miles of c"lannal 5 1. Ulail-wAs arc Of rorL. o..C 82% Cropland improve-.,.,.ant, sone iqsufficient size -and S% Wood land channel erosion control out-of-banks 4 times per Lac z.-.. U- cra:;:Aand structures, year (ivern-,c). 3% Miscl. 2. Additional culttir-nl practicer. are nceded, harvest is delaycels soybeins.rreqowntly muuL be repl."ilted.' A& M Year Work Protection Vama of Plan Dpik -Denafit to Project Size Construction Interval Design Hajor Watershed Proiect.- Published cost ratio (Acres) Ifeeded 11or KYears)- Problems EnSlish 1967 @J:l 36$000 44 Hiles of stream .1. Inadequate outlet f or., Bayou 75% Cropland channel improvement water from on-the-farm 7% Woodland t)ith some better drainage systems.- .,4% Grassland alignment of existing 2, Present system out of 14% Hiscl. channels banks an average of 4 times per year. 3. Delayed planting and harvesting-soybean production has suffered most, Camaron 19967 2.1:1 MAN 14 miles of single Rangeland grazing has Creole 63% Ran:,,eland purpose levee, 35 miles deteriorated since 1940 3% rasture of multi-purpose channel due to increasing soil 1% Cropland improvement, 3 multi- and salt intrusion since 23% Hiscl. purpose vater control 1940. Construction of structures the Calcasieu ship channel plus the action of south vinds axid lunar tides arc cited as causes. La!-.c 1969 2.8:1 246,000 acres 1. Floodin- of crops and Verro t: 51Z Woodland average of twice a year. 33". Cropland 2. belayed harve3t and I increased coat of crop .TZ Vas Lure 8% Mscl. production. nge Inadequate draili, 'Outlet froui farm. 4. Estimated 1400 acres uill be used by inditstry by 1935. Acrea.-,e -1 TnUtl 9.6 094 kLrc!.-; c 1: UN RawlOatO (Nar:jh) 1.56,781 ?@cr-:.i 71,955 Acren ILO,('!I'l Acrc:; 1..toudlaiid -- Z33p:)35 AcrV streamn, pundii, ilrban, etc, RICE Rice is classified as a cereal crop and is second only to wheat in total work acreage. Rice is the most important food crop in the world- a principal item in the diet of one-half of the world's population. Rice is best adapted to warm, humid climates and is the only cereal crop that can be grown in areas of excessive precipitation and/or poorly drained soils. Most of the world's rice is produced and consumed in the Far East. Rice is a minor crop in the United States, which produces only 1.5% of the world's total. However, U.S. produced rice has a tremendous world economic, politial and social impact because much of its rice is exported. Low per capita consumption (8 lbs.) in the U.S. plus inadequate rice supplies in foreign nations with high per capita consumption (300 lbs.) account for the United States' position as a rice exporter. Total rice acreage in the U.S. in 1975 was 2,887,202 acres with four states planting 94% of the total. Louisiana's share was 24.2% of the U.S. total or 700,000 acreas. Rice is a major crop in Louisiana and in 1973 was the number one cash crop. During the past decade it has been consistently ranked as one of the top three cash crops in the state. The value of the 1974 Louisiana rice crop exceeded 250 million dollars. Much of Louisiana's rice is produced in the coastal zone parishes, particularly in the southwestern region. As shown in Table I, Page 6, in 1955, 19 of the 26 coastal parishes produced rice and this regional acreage accounted for 81% of the state's total rice acreage. In 1975 2 only* 9 ecastal zone parishes contained rice acreage wbich accounted for 72% of the states' total rit-e. Althot-3h the rtce acreage in the coastal zone has sh(r,-n a steady increase since 1960, the percentage of the s tatess rice acreage accounted for by the coastal zone parishes is decreasing, These statistic3 are illustrated in Figure 1. An increasing proportion of the statefs rice acreage is shifting from the coastal parishes to Northeast Louisiana (acreage has increased by a factor of 3,5 since 1970), However,, rice production in the southwestern coastal parishes is expected to remain a strong and viable industry. The coastal zone is naturally suited for rice production because of its warm terVeratures, abundant rainfall, plentiful surface and groun d water supply, and soils adapted to rice production., Other advantages include: close proximity to port facilities (for exporting), adequate milling ard storage capacity (15.15 billion barreLs/year milling capacity), thviving agribusiness industry (seed, fertilizer, pesticides, farm equipment), and research and higher education institutions which continually provide trained agriculturists and updated production technology. Although Table I., Page 6,,.shows a trend.to increased 'plantiug of rice outside the coastal zone, all of the rice mills listed in the July 1974 issue of the Rice Journal are located within the zone. Figx=e II. shows the number Of Mills and dryers located in each parish. These pr ocessing facilities are concentrated in Southwestern Louisiana. FIGURE I RICE, ACREAGE TPENDS 90 .80 OASTAL AdREAGE % 70 STATE. ACREAGE @6 60 50 LL 5- cn LL co c w 4 ------- 40 OASTAL ACREAGE .30 2 .2-0 10 .1955 1965 'J 1945 .1975 EAST DATON let a TAINGIPANOA ATOM ROUGE LOWNGSTON $7. TA OVA MY Duee aerremooll A C OIA A L 6 A S 19 0 Duos LAVATC a 9 IWTIN IGERVILLE Causion THE APTIST IT. ME A 0 M v a 2 81 L 1 0 0 1 A 9 T. AOSUMP CHARLES OIL 8 all T I C 9 A Y G) 4RAIN DMVgRo 6 Nice ILLS PL LOUISIANA COASTAL ZONE 11 4 0 a a & 0 on 1.6 #.a. ombis since* a a a a 0 0 K Ocam,was"AL a se-W Gnaw *slabs tommaseft a,*& NO&LO "eggs. fare am-a 3 There has been a marked increase in on-the-farm dryers and storage 7J facilities in the-last 10 years, The numbers indicated in Figure T1 are individual units but the writer has observed considerable expansion in the capacity of many of these units after initial construction. A well designed on-tbe-farm drying and storage facility permits more rapid harvesting of rice with less transparting,vehicles and allows orderly marketing of a perishable product. Since the saw. equipment may be used for soybeans, dual usage and@reduction'of field loss from shattering of the beans is possible when combint-n is done. at optimum moisture content of the beans and artifical drying to safe storage moisture, The mills in the zone were contacted to 6btaLa views an the future of rice milling and methods of disposing of rice hulls. It Is doubtful that an adequate response was obtained to form a clear picture of problents and trends,, but those mills responding were optimistic regarding the future. These mills are well aware of envir-, Patal problem associated wLtb milling and watching closely for the most economical means of waste disposal, One mill listed six different means they bad researched, The huge investment. In machinery on and. offthe farm Is a strong point in favor of a stable rice industry, -While current data are not I'Varm Rice Driers in Louisiana". 1974 Directory, Tenth Edition. Louisiana Department of Agriculture. 4 avail3ble on a parish basislobservation indicates horsepower per worker on rice farm3 has increased rapidly. Tractors in the $30,000-$50,000 range are frequently observed on the modern rice farm. 'na is traditiona Rice production in southwestern Louisia I If not historical in nature. The modern -rice industry in Louisiana.d"ates back to 1830, with Louisiana becoming the leading rice producing state in 1889. The average per acre yield has more-than doubled since that tims and higher per acre yields are predicted in the foreseeable future. Improved varieties, refined production techniques such as water leveling and underground irrigation fac ilities, increased fertilizer consumption and the availability of additional adapted soils are the reasons rice production in the southwestern coastal parishes will remain an importan agricultural enterprise. The rice crop is grown with water covering the soil for five months or more. It Is desirable to have level land to minimize the water depth required between levees surrounding each plot and also to have large plots to utilize wide field machinery efficiently. Table II,, Page 8, shows the acres that have been water leveled for rice production. In this process the plot to be le;veled is filled with water and soil from areas that extend above the water are mamd by the farmer with drag units to low spots* It is estimated that about 1/3 less F I energy is required than for dry land leveling and some'of the top soil settles back-on the area scraped, The farmer does not.require a level to 4i i 5 perform the operation and removal of some levees and straightening of others is accurately done. About 607. of the rice land has been water leveled in the coastal zone by 1975. Additional land areas.tbat could-be umd for rice production should. sufficient food demand occur from expanding world population are in general located in pink land areas shown on the 14 maps accompanying the soil use pbase of this report, It is likely that only those'areas with a soil high in clay content and with a slope.less thau 1%-2% could coupete vith other sections of the United Statas and the world should a significant increase in the market-price of rice occur. In addition, those areas closest to processing facilities will be most economical to develop. TABLE I RICE ACREAGE PTARZD* PARISH 1975 1970 1965 1960 1955 1950 1945 Acadia 1190271 930500 929300 84,400 960000 1089000 1150000 Ascension 490 20320 ItO70 1j,750 Assimption 350 650 450 700 Calcasieu 839925 67j500 65,400 58,1000 .6 60500 760000 80"000 Cameron 169974 162400 13*200 12,300 15j300 162500 16*800 Iberia 6,004 6*000 60140 50380 6,350 61,400. 5,600 lbervilie* 1*000 10080 2,750 1,370 690 Jeffersnn Davis 1149366 982200 97,000 87,500 99,000 114POOO 119,000 Lafayetce 15,104 108300 9,600 8,220 90450 9,900 7,760 Lafourche 90 570 70 150 Plaquemines 400 St. Charles 600 390 St, JaM^.3 510 22490 2,300 29330, 1,850 St. John 600 890 13-050 1,060 850 St. Max zin 6,643 4jlOO 4,080 3,640 4,330 2,980 5ploo St. Mary 1,520 3*100 3,100 21,630 30140 30-020 3,750 'A 'show PAR= 1975 1970_ 1965 1960 1935 19@O 1945 St. Taurony 120 10200 420 360. Terreborms 70 210 go 90 Vermilion 142.Ml U4,800 101,500 101,500 116,000 126,000 124,700 Coastal Zone .@Total 506 0 IL49 400o,400 3940920 3689660 428$120 3002,050 484,150 State Total 700aO00 525gOOO 517s,000 464,jO00 530,0000 '569s,000 584vOOO % of State Total Planted In the Coas tal Zone 72,31% 76% 78.4% 70.4% so,?% 87.8% 86% *Source-. D*A,E, Restareb Report No, 436 MMISLAVA Crop Statixtics by Parish, Through,19701'except for 1975 which cam from U, S. D. A, Statistics Uporto TABIZ 11 WATER LE"LTNG* First Fields in 1960-1962 Calcasieu, Vermilion, Acadia and Jefferson Davis co TO t)ATE TO DATE PARISH 1972 1973 1974 ---71IL74-3129/75 .3129/75 Vermilion .60890 628 0 190 7,708 Acres Ste Martin 67 0 0 0 67 Acres Cameron 2,091 345 0 0 21436 Acres Acadia 22,487 1,173 20087 245 25,992 Acres St. Mary 0 0 0 0 0 Acres Jefferson Davis 128,126 22686 40 626 131,478 Acres Lafayette 975 25 0 0 1,000 Acres Calcasieu 135,912 795 0 278 136,985 Acres Iberia 599 46 0 0 645 Acres T 0 T A L 297,147 52698 2S087 @,339 306,311 Acres Source: Data supplied courtesy of Nathan Shillor, Area Engineer, Soil Conservation Service, Crowley, Louisiana. SUGARCANE PRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA Sugarcane was first introduced to Louisiana in 1751 and has been a major crop since 1820. In 1974 sugarcane was the major cash crop in Louisiana and had an average value of over $500 million to the sugarcane grower. Sugar production in Louisiana fluctuated from a low of 48,000 tons in 1926 to a high of 759,000 in 1963. Current averages yields are approximately 25 tons/acres, 130 pounds of sugar/ton of cane, or about 4500 pounds of sugar per acre. Growing Conditions Sugarcane is currently grown in 16 southern parishes of Louisana. The climate is subtropical but freezes do occur the fall, damaging mill cane. Rainfall is generally adequate and reasonably well distributed with the highest amounts occurring during June-September when cane is growing rapidly. Presently, there is almost no commercial irrigation of cane although there is research currently being conducted that could result in some irrigation in the future. Sugarcane grows actively for only about 7 months, from April to October 30. An average crop reaches a height of approximately 8-12 feet at harvest time which is usually begun by October 15. 2 Soil Types Sugarcane is grown on 3 general soil groups in the State- (1)---------terrace, (2) Mississippi River allavial and (3) Red River alluvial. The soils range from silt-loan to heavy clays. Supgarcane is grown most successfully on the moderately wee-drained soils. Morphology Sugarcane (Saccharum sp.) is a tall, perennial grass that stores sugar in the stem. Mature stalk vary from 3/4 - 1" in diameter and with an average length of 100 inches and weigh from 2 3.5 pounds. Louisina varieties are generally erect but they sometimes lodge. The stalk is made up 10 to 16 joints with a bud located at each node. The underground part of the stalk is composed of many short joints, each also containing a bud. Being a grass sugarcane has the ability to tiller or "stool" due to these buds. Sugarcane rarely produces sexual flowers in the field in Louisana, although they are induced to flower atrificially in the breeding programs. Commercial plantings are always by whole stalks in contrast to the short pieces utilized in tropical countries. Whole stalks are used since there is less disease damage then the short pieces. Cultural Practices In Louisiana, sugarcane is planted on ridges about 12 inches high. The rows are spaced 6 feed apart. There is currently research being 3 conducted utilizing a double set of rows on a 6 foot bed. The results look favorable but appropriate harvesting equipment must be developed. Many producers now use precision grading on the light soils while crowning is used on the heavy soils. Crop Rotation The normal rotation of sugarcane obtained from each planting is a plant cane crop, first stubble, second stubble, and then fallow plow. Generally yields of older stubble decrease due to increase in disease or weed infestation. After the subble is destroyed, the fields are cultivated frequently throughout the summer as part of a weed control program (primarily for control of Johnsongrass and Raulgrass) and the cane is planted again in the fall. Planting Planting season is from early August to mid-October. Propagation is by whole stalks and approximately 3 to 4 tons of stalks are required to seed an acre. Generally cane used for planting has received special attention such as heat treatment for disease and application of inticide for borer control. Whole stalks are harvested mechanically for planting. A well-prepared seedbed is of extreme importance. A good fallow program is required to control perennial weeds such as Johnsongrass, Raulograss and Bermudagrass. Chisel plowing is also beneficial on the light soils to reduce compaction. Furrows are opened in the top of 4 prepare rows to a depth of 4 to 10 inches and two to three whole stalks are placed side by side in the furrow and covered with 2-4 inches of soil using a 3 row chopper, culti-packed, and generally sprayed with a promergence herbicide for control of winter weeds. Hand planting is gradually being replaced by automatic planters. Planting is generally a very expensive process and the normal planting rate/day is 7-8 acres/day for a 4 man crew. Generally a farmer plants approximately one-fourth of his acreage each year. Fertilization In Louisiana, optimum response normally occurs when fertilizer is applied during April and May. Generally, all fertilizers are applied at one time. Recommended rates vary with soil type and for plant cane and stubble. The normal range is generally 120-140 lbs. actual N/A, 40 lbs. actual p 2 0 5/A and 80 lbs. actual K 2 O/A. The most common source of Nitrogen is anhydrous ammonia and aqua ammonia while Phosphate and Potassium are applied in liquid or solid form. Liming is generally recommended when soil pH is below 6.0. Cultivation Cultivation of sugarcane in Louisiana differs from that in many other producing areas. That is, high rows are maintained from the time the sugarcane is planted until the old stubble is plowed out. 5 shaving(no mechanical removal of the top of the bed) when practiced for sand or soil removal, is generally done in January or February. However, improper or untimely shaving can be very damaging. Generally farmers who use a recommended herbicide program and who put the correct amount of soil on the cane at planting do not have for weded or soil removal. The next cultural practice is "off-barring," in which the soil is removed on either side of the row of can leaving a ridge or "bar" about 12 inches wide. Generally a 3-row chopper with an off-bar blade in tandom and reversed is used to off-bar. The off-bar disk removes the soil from the row while the choppers, left in their normal cultivating position, immediately bring the soil back. The off-bar operation leaves the row in good physical condition so that little loss of fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, occurs. Fertilizer is applied into the loose soil on either side of the row at a depth of 8-10 inches. To control weeds, the crop is cultivated 2-4 times until the cane leaves grow over the middle of the rows, at which time the crop is "laid". Generally, herbicides are used in a 30-inch band to control weeds on the top of the row. Many farmers also apply a lay-by herbicide on a broadcast basis to control weeds after cultivation is discontinued. Herbicides currently used in Louisiana for weed control are Sinbar, Fenac, Treflan, TCA, Dalapon, Silvex, Simazine, Atrozine, and 2,4-D. Although some farmers with small acreages still use singel row cultivators, most are now utilizing multirow equipment. 6 Varieties Varieties currently being grown in Louisiana have been produced by a cooperative research program between L.S.U., U.S.D.A. and the American Sugarcane League. Major breeding objectives are high sugar yield/A, borer resistence, cold tolerance, early maturity, disease resistance, good mechanical harvesting ability, lodging resitence, and non-brittleness. Current recommended varieties are NCo 310, C.P. 48-103, L62-96, C.P. 01-37, C.P. 65-357 and C.P. 65-69. Diseases The Louisiana sugarcane crop has been constantly plagued by diseases. In fact in 1926 the crop was almost destroyed due to low yields caused by disease damage. The two most serious sugarcane diseases in Louisiana are mossic and ratoon stunting diseases (R.S.D.). Each of these diseases may cause s much as a 50% reduction in yield/A in susceptible varieties. The most effective control of mosaic is by growing disease resistant varieties or varieties that are tolerant to the virus disease. R.S.D. may be controlled by either varietal resistance or by heat treatment of susceptible varieties used for seed. Two other important diseases are red rot and root rot. Control of these two diseases is by varietal resistance, good drainage, and good seedbed preparation. 7 Insects The most destructive insect pest of sugarcane in Louisiana is the sugarcan borer (Diatraca sacharalis). Damage is caused by Larvac feeding and tunneling within the cane stalks. Reduction in cane tonnage of approximately 5 tons/A is normal in susceptible cane varieties. Control of the borer is generally through an intergrated program utilizing fire ants, varietal resistence, and most importantly insecticides when the appropriate economic threshold occurs. Minor insect pest damage that occurs infrequently is from the sugarcane beetle and wireworms. Harvesting Harvesting (grinding) of sugarcane in Louisiana begins in Mid-October and ends in late December. The crop is only 7-8 months old when grinding begins. Generally the sucrose content increases during November and December. However, one must not wait until his crop has reached its peak maturity because of the risk of killing freezes. Depending on variety, moisture, and subsequent temperatures, a temperature of 29 F and below can cause substantial deterioration of cane. The crop is harvested entirely by soldier type harvesters. These machines cut the cane at the bottom and top and pile it on "heap rows". Generally 3 row are placed on each heap. The machine does not clean or strip the cane, although some experimental machines can clean the can of trash. Leaves and adhering trash are then burned on the heap row. 8 The cut, burned cane is loaded mechanically onto tractor-drawn ------. Cane is hauled directly to the mill in the tractor wagons or loaded into trailer trucks by transfer loaders. Almost all cane is now handled and transported by a bulk handling system, or the dump system in contrast to the older "sling" system. There is currently research being conducted utilizing the combine harvester in Louisiana. This experimental harvester cuts, chops, cleans, and loads the cane directly into wagons. However, the economical considerations are harvesting efficiency of this machine are questionable. Manufacturing Sugar is processed in raw sugar factories. There are 37 raw sugar factories now operating in Louisiana, as compared to over 50 mills during the 1940's. Due to tremendous cost in operating and construction factories the number of mills has been reduced while the milling capacity of remaining mills has increased. To construct a mill to grind 6000 tons/day would cost between $30-$40 million current cost. Although resources such as land, water, etc. are available for some expansion of the Louisiana sugarcane industry, the limitation of milling facilities is the singel most important factor regulating expansion. When cane is delivered to a mill, it is weighed and sampled for crash and quality determinations (sucrose 7, and 7 total soluble solids). 9 Products are paid for the number of standard tons delivered, with a standard ton of cane being a net ton (gross tons less trash) of cane that is converted to 12 ---------- ----- 767 purity. The cane is piles in the factory yard or moved immediately onto a feeder table by a --------- or front ---- loader. The cars is washed and chopped by revolving knives. Then by a series of -----crushers and mills the juice is extracted --------extraction varies with efficiency of the equipment and the fiber of the cane, out generally averages 90%. The pulp or reside containing the fiber after juice extraction is --------------------------. Some of it is used to generate steam to operate the ---------- while some is used in making paper and building boards. The extracted juice is --------- with a ------ of 5-5.5. The pH is raised to 6-6.5 by --------------of lime to precipiation some of the imp----------------and to prevent undesirable formation of sugar types. Clarification of the heated ------------takes place in large vessels called clarifers. Precipitates ------------ -------- to the bottom of the clarifer are drawn off (filter press mud) --------------------------- or ponds. The clean juice is decanted from the top of the ---------------to the ------------. The ---------- remove ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Fo=rteen of the 26 parishes designated within the Coastal Zone of Louisia@a now contain sugarcane acreages, Since'there are only three sua,arcane parishes outside the coastal zone area, most of the data presented in the report were based on all 17 parishes. Figure 1, Page 16, presents the production of sugarcane in Louisiana from 1900-1974. Since 1940 the production has increased steadily until 1970, when the production has become somewhat stable. Fig-are II, Page 17, shows the state average yield in not tons of cane/A for the period 1950-1974. Within this period of time, yields have varied.from a low of 17.3 tons/A in 1951 to a high of 28.9 tons/A in 1963. Yields bave varied widely in this time period due to varietal selections,, government programs, weather conditions and prices. Acres of sugarcane planted in the Louisiana coastal zone for the time period from 1950-1974 are showed in Figure Ills, Page 18, while the data for th e individual parishes within the zone at 5 year intervals are presented in Table 1. Page 14, Vre Louisiana sugarcane industry operated under the U, S, Sugar Act from 1937 until 1974 when it terminated. Included in the Sugar Act were provisions for quota limitations and this caused the seveie drop in acres planted during two tim periods -- 1954-1956 and 1968-1969. With quota restrictions redu ced and presently entirely removed,, the acres have increased to 331,000 acres in 1974. The bulk of the sugar- cane acreage, approximately 94%. is located within the coastal zone. 11 As shown in Table II, Page 15, and Figure IV, Page 19, the number of --- ---- - mills in Louisiana has decreased atendily since 1950 despite the increased producion and acreage as presented earlier in Figure I, Page 16, and Figure IV, Page 19, respectively. This reduction can be atttributed to high cost in construction and operation with low returns on investments. In order to survive the economic squeeze and remain in operation, raw sugar mills have had to increase grinding capacity. In Table II, Page 15, is shown th 24 hour grinding capacity of eafch mill within the Coastal Zone still in operation. Based on the indicated daily grinding capacity of each mill for 75-day season and assuming a yield of 25 tons/A, it would be possible to grow and process approximately 400,000 acreas of cane, compared to 331,000 acres grain in 1975, using presently established raw sugar mills. The propects for expansion of sugarcane within the Coastal Zone area will depend on a number of factors such as sugar prices, prices obtained from other production enterprises already established in the zone, environmental considerations, etc. It is the opinion of most knowledgeable people in the industry that the most important factor regulating the expansion of the Louisiana cane industry is limited raw milling. For exaample, the last raw cane mill constructed in the state was the Cajun Sugar Co-Op in New Iberia in 1963. At that time the cost for this 5000-6000 ton/day mill was approximately $8 million. Present cost (1975) of a comparable mill would amount to between $40 and $50 million. The location of the mills in the coastal zone 12 ,is sbown in Figure V, Page 20. It can be seen that most of the mills are in the vicinity of streams and many are near'towns. Recent interest in the environment has, in some cases, proven this choice of a site selection unfortunate. Many mills were constructed to long ago (the inost recently built is 12 years old) that problems of modern society and population growth were not anticipated. The 2@ month grinding season presents some pollution impact in the case of a few mills. Fortunately, the grinding season occurs during a tice of the year when the hazard is minimized. During the grinding season cobl. weather allb'As residence windows to be closed and normal rainfall flushes out the streams, TWhen abnormal weather occurs-some mill operations have come under criticism, Mills are in the process of establishing lagoo ns to prevent excess 14 trash from finding its way into streams and cleaners for smoke stack outputbut time did not permit an examination of Individual enterprises'. Pollution of air from field burning will necessarily continue till a satisfactory substitute method of harvest can be developed. The United States is dependent upon more than 50% of the sugar it uses fro,-,i import sources. The study shows that the acreage grown is limited by climate and mill capacity. The number of mills is constantly decreasing and some are moving to South America where longer grerwing seasons exist. This is one crop where national needs are not met and whether it continues to be grown under economic pressure may d eserve national as well as state consideration. 13 Although 1974 prices for sugarcane are excellent, this was an abnormal occurrence and those prices are not expected in the future. Unless highr yields/acre are obtained or higher prices obtained for sugar than occurrred prior to 1974, it does not appear that the sugar can area in the Coastal lZone will expand. U.S.D.A. Culture of Sugarcane for Sugar Production in the Mississippi Del---- Ag. Handbook No. 417,-1972. 14 TABLE I SUGAVICAl"E AULAGE 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1974 Ascons. ian 141434 11,364 11,593 13,966 123127 151819 pt i0ll 25,680 29; 873 32,370 31o833 38,334 Iberia 38)748 33,352 36,963 38,899 35,909 46,006 Iberville 211$239 16,651 17,520 21,914 20,329 25,009 Lafayette 8,735 7,220 8,279 8,274 7v687 71,333 Lafourche 203246 241235 260458 31.567 29,298 29,250 Plaquemincs 1,034 St. Charles 1,531 1j330 11.502 29814 1,849 1,208 St. James 17,331 14,383 16,994 20,940 19,269 22,956 St. John 15,762 12,560 9,249 9,948 8,301 10,138 St. '21fartin 17,028 16t728 13,371 18,539 161956 21,808 St. 2-fary 35,411 30$054 35,050 38,451 360373 .422051 Terrebonna 35,612 23,526 35t731 37,920 34,381 37,391 Vermilion 4,502 2,360 21082 3,136, 3,278 3,587 W. BaCo.n Pou;e 14x357 123051 14,110 -15,102 11,532 121477 T 0 T A L S 279,244 236,502 263,782 294t925 269,L27 313,867 STATE TOTALS 2969581 '249$576 2811615@ 314t241 286,402 331,185 or SLAT-,-, 94% 95% 94% 94% 94% 95% 15' r%,,,Arj.1.y rafi ZINCH MILL LJV.E!':D IN COL%STAL ZO-.:E AREA 24 hour Grinding Cg2acitv Tons 1. Ar::ia n t 3,,400 2. .5-111ccud 2,750 3. Dreatm 3vidge 29400 4. Cajua 61000 5, Caldwell 5,000 6. Catherine (S) 2SOOO 70' Cedar Grove 1,863 9, Columbia (Cw) Cinclare 43@000 1,900 10, Columbia, (F) 13,800 11. Cora-Texas 3*000 12. Enterprise ..41250 Evan Hall .53,500 14 Georcia 2,500 15: Glent"YO03 16. Greerwood 49500 3.,600 17. lielvetia 3,000 18. Iberia 4,250 19. Jeanerette 3,000 20. Leighton 6j300 21. Louisa. 2,600 4,500 22. Lula 234 Oal,,-Ia-,m 59000 24. Raceland 5,000. 25. St. James 4,200 26. St. 2MOrtin 3,500 27* St. mary 4pOOO 23. S-,,.i thf ie Id 2,400 29. Southdoum 3j8OO 30. Sterling 6,000 31. Supreme 4,000 32. Terrebonne 39000 33,* Valent:Lne 3,300 34. Iles tf ie Id 49500 35. Wilbert's myrtle Grove 2,800 T 0 TA L 128,418 FIGURE I STATE SUGAR PRODUCTION SC'J'iCE: TME SUGAR BULLETEN VOL. 321 NO., 22, AUG. 15, 1974. 8 0 6 AD I z oll" CO 2 1900- 1925 Fl GURE 2 STATE AVERAGE"YIELD PER ACRE (NET TONS) SOURCE* SUGAR-CANE BULLETIN (1950-t975) 30 25 w o2o.. a: w CL cn 15 10 5 1950 1960 .1970 198c FIGURE 3 SUGAR CANE ACREAGE TRENDS 40 55 STATE ACREAGE 3c COASTAL ACREAGE 25 -100 0 2c 0 C OASTAL ACREAGE % 80 0 x 15 60 cn w ca 10 40 5 20 1950 .1960 1.970 SOURCE: SUGAR CANE BULLETIN 9t)O FIGURE 4 NUMBER OF RAW SUGAR MILLS IN LOUISI ANA SOURCE: SUGAR BULLETIN (1950-1975) 60 50 4c- cn 30. 2c 10 1950 1960 1970 YEAR CAST .1 BATON 98T TA*4ip^o*A 81. ?A NO A NY Atoll Novel LIVIN&STON Due .1arritasoll ACADIA AA LO A 4 19 a &AV#4 LAPPA 1 9 0 AmTix 111RAVILL9 Camblas m TUS APTIST a 0 16 CHARL98 a 0 8 0 9 L 1 0 U AN T m < OL N A SVGA* FACTONY LOCATION! LWJUAUA. COASTAL ZON94 0 a 0 Na SOYBEANS Soybean planting acreage in the study area has increased from an insignificant amount in 1955 to the second-ranking crop behind rice. Most of this acreage has come at the expense of cotton acreage and pasture grown in rotation with rice. As can be seen from Table I, Page 4, 77% of the total acreage grown in 1974 was from four rice-producing parishes - - Acadia, Jeff Davis, Calcasieu and Vermilion. The most expensive equipment used in production of the crop is the same as needed for rice growing and rotating rice and soybeans, plus a good job of weed control reduces the problem of red rice, a weed that cannot be controlled with a herbicide in rice production years but can in soybean production years. The high market value of soybeans has tempted some idle acres in most parishes into production, to such an extent that 22 parishes reported some beans grown in 1970 compared to 13 in 1965. A large percentage of the cotton land of 1960 is also in soybean production. In addition to high market price, an importance factor in the expansion of bean acreage has been the rapid progress made in the development of weed control herbicides that reduce labor requirements and provide cleaner fields for harvesting with the combine. Labor costs make hoeing for weed control impractical and such weeds as the cockebur (Xanthium), curly indigo (Aeschynomane Virginica), and Johnson Grass (Sorghum Halepense), not only reduce yields when not controlled but make combining difficult. 2 Soybean cannot tolerate gravitional water in the root zone for moe than a day or two without having growth affected. Rice fields are ----- fairly level between levees, and even though internal soil drainage is poor for soils suitable for rice production, soybean yields are less affected by excessive rainfall than on similar soil-types that have been cleared of timber or other vegetation and not leveled in order to plant beuns. Low spots where water is trapped will cause beans to die or will affect growth. Soybeans are normally planted at a later date than rice and are also harvested after rice, which fits well with the rice farmer's time schedule. Soybean planting is done with an airplane, a grain drill, or a row crop planter without the need of nitrogen fertilizer, an expensive production item for most crops. Harvesting time is more critical with soybeans that with many crops harvested with a combine because of shatter losses if the crop becomes too dry. The coastal area has many drying facilities associated with the rice industry that allow slightly earlier harvest of the beans and artificial drtying to the 11%-12% moisture level safe for storage. These facilities are an asset to the production of this crop, and offset to some extent the rainfall hazard at harvest time. Figure I shows the trend in planted acres from 1955 till 1974 for the state and the coastal zone. The large spread in the acres planted in the zone compared to state acreage that begain to develop about 1960 came largely at the expense of woodland and cotton outside the zone. 3 If the world demand for protein continues to increase (which seems likely) soybean planting should remain high and may increase on suitable land. The greatest potential for production increase remains in increasing average yield per acre by using recommended practices. The damage from excessive moisture in 1975 should focus attention on better drainage for planted acres and decrease interest in poorly drained marginal land. If the market price exceeds $6-$8 per bushel, interest will remain high in producing this crop. The soybean growing season lends itself well to double cropping. Based on a market value of $6 per bushel and the average yield and planted acres of 1974, the value of the crop grown in the coastal zone would be over 46 million dollars. Viewing all aspects of the cost of production, the trend in world price, the compatibility with other farm enterprises, and the potential for increased production, soybeans appear to be a crop that will be planted increasingly in the coastal zone. Only one soybean processing facility presently exists in the zone, but more will unboubtedly develop as the crop becomes well established due to the vicinity of exporting facilities. L 95 5 V160 1965 1970 197-14 Ac a d ia 1,000 t .5, goo '05, 000 751000 Ascensiin 100 200 3,900 4,500 As-, ump t i 300 511) 3,500 2,500 Calcasieu 6,500 ..35,000 38,500. 0 e r on 3,200 10,000 S.,500 50 150 5,500 4,000 lboriA 600 "150 300 2,500 2,000 lberville 300 100 50 13,000 11,000 Jaff DaVLs 130 240,000 $30 IDOO 108,000 Lafayette 250 500 .69000 12,000 Lafourche Boo 1,900 42000 Plaquemines. 500 500 St. Charles 1,000. 400 St. James 200 1,400 31300 St. John 3,000 3,600 St. 'Nartin 650 ISO 3,000 7,500 St. Marv 300 5,500 3,000 St. 'fannany 3,000 250 .8do langipahoa 2,500 1,800 Terrebonne 2,500 1,700 Vermilion 90 600 21,000 25,000 5,000 Eaton Roup -3,500 -1 am Parish 1955 1960 1965 1970 1974 T 0 T A L 2,400 3,070 529100 277,700 318,100 STATE 13TAL -95,000 216,000 622,000 1,688,0GO 1*760,000 04 State Total ir. Ifetlaals 2.5 1.4 8.3 16.4 1 State Average. Yield Rer Acre 22.0 24.0 21.5 22.5 25.5 *Source D.A.E. Research Report No. 436 "Louisiana Crop Statistics, by Parishes, Through 1970" except for 1974 which came from Louisiana Crop and Livestock Reporting Service. USN% Statistical Reporting Service. 47 SOYBEAN ACREAGE TRENDS LOUISIANA COASTAL ZO NE 1955- 1974 16- 14 c@ 12- 0 STATE TOTAL to- 30 4- 20 COASTAL.% OF STATE TOTAL 2 -to -@5f@OASTAL TOTAL 1955 60 65 70 .74 FRUIT-NUT-VEGETABLES The climate conditions of the coastal zone and the numberous soil types permit production of a unique variety of horticultural crops such as tung nuts in St. Taumany Parish and perique tobacco in St. James Prarish. The production of fruit, nuts and vegetables generally requires considerable hand labor and even though potential production of numberous vegetables in various parishes has been well demonstrated in the past, high labor costs and limited mechanization (particularly at harvesting) is major factor in the decline of acreage devoted to this purpose.; Accurate recent in the decline of acreage devoted to this purpose. Accuratae recent data on a parish basis are very difficult to obtain for specific vegetables and much conflicting data were found. Table I, Page 7, was taken from the 1969 Louisiana Census Report. As can be seen the coastal parishes no longer have extensive acreage devoted to vegetable production. Since 1969 there has been a rapid increase in the price of fresh vegetables at the retail level causing an increased interest in home gardens and farmers' markets. Unfortunately, samll producers are seldom trained to stage production, anticipate market demands, and co-operate with other producers in developing a successful market operation. Nevertheless, intereset is so great it appears the larger towns in the zone will develop or attempt to develop a farmers' market where producers do not have a local market. Six cities operated such markets in 1975. The "Giant Step II" report for St. John Parish indicated 45% of the produce from 725 acres was sold thru the French Market in New Orleans. Similarly, the outlet in Lafayette was generally short of producers. Such a trend in marketing is too recent to be 2 considered well established but basedon 1975 retail vegetable prices, energy, transportation, and labor demands should continue to increase, making locally grown vegetables competitive with large, out-of-state producers. Many vegetables that cannot be shipped or compete with other areas of the country for processing can be grown for such an outlet. The interest in home gardens has also increased as expensive, forced-ripened vegetablees become common in the supermarket. A large number of these gardens are grown in urban areas on land that would be classified as cropland from the standpoint of soil type had it not been utilized otherwise. The value of the home garden is substantial. Seventeen "Giant Setp II" reports included an estimate of home garden values that totaled some $44,962,000. Major fruits and berries grown in the area are citrus, strawberries, figs adn blackberries (prinicpally wild). A major freeze in 1962 plus two hurricanes caused a major setback in the citrus industry, but a considerable portion of the zone can produce this product profitably. Availability of trees had limited replanting but 2000 acres are in production in Plaquemines Parish, the major growing area, in 1975, compared to 568 acres in 1969. As with pecans, all parishes in the zone produce some citrus but local consumption and marketing methods do not permit an accurate estimate of value. Strawberries are best grown commerically on sandy soil. Some 500 producers in Tangipahoe Parish farmed 1000 acres in 1974 where marketing facilities have been long established. A few other perishes of the 3 coastal zone have suitable soil, but high labor cost limits interest, and the acreage devoted to this crop commercially may continue to decline or become a family enterprise. Statewide statistics indicate a stabilization of acreage thru 1972. The pecan is the most widely grown nut in the coastal zone. Since few orchards are planted and most production comes from scattered native trees instead of planted varieties, estimates of value are difficult. In addition, production tends to be an alternative-year basis so that yield data collected one year would be vastly different from a year later. The "Giant Step II" report for Iberville Parish attempts to evaluate production in that parish and discusses some of the difficulty in obtaining yield information because of the marketing method. A dealer estimate of 2 million pounds of production is given for that parish. Mechanization of pecan production has been successful and it is quite possible that orchards will be planted in the region on suitable soil types. A well drained deep soil is best suited for this purpose. Flooding for one or two days can be tolerated on soil with good internal drainage. The tung nut orchards grown in S. Tar----- Parish are rapidly being replaced by another enterprise. Table I, Page 7, shows about a 2/3 reduction in acreage between the 1964 and 1969 value in 1963 was only 7% - 8% of the 1965 value (1). Sweet potatoes once were a major crop in some portions of the wetland where suitable soil types exist. Soils with a high percentage 4 of sand and silt are considered desirable for this crop. However, an area around Arnaudville having finer textured soils has consistantly produced the earliest potatios which bring higher prices on the fresh market. Production on soils with a poor internal drainage is hazardous should rainfall persist at harvest time andm ake loss of the crop from rotting more likely. The production of sweet potatoes for the fresh market has declined but areas close to a canning plant have experienced some increase in production as indicated by Table I, Page 7. In the opinion of one processor interviewed, the future of this crop is dependent upon development of suitable harvesting machinery to reduce labor costs. It will be necessary to meet competition in other sections of the United States for the present acreage to increase. Processing plants for vegetable are located at several points in the coastal perishes as indicated in the section of this report dealing with processing facilities. Present and future demands of our urban society indicate a need for increasing output from these plants but economic aspects of the canning industry direct that mechanical harvesting techniques be developed for the industry to survive. Like sweet potatoes, ---- is a crop well adapted to production in many areas of the wetlands. In fact, it can be successfully grown in any area that will grow cotton. Because of labor costs, competition and lack of mechanization 50$ of the processed ---- from one plant is now being trucked in from Mexico. 5 Another horticultural crop produced and sold world-wide from the ------------ area is the hot pepper. Soil requirements for this crop are more restrictive particularly for best quality tabasco sauce. As with other processed vegetables labor reduction is important for future growth. Vegetables such as cabbage, ---llots, squash and bell peppers can be grown readily in some areas of the region under study as well as numberous other crops. For these vegetables to be sold for fresh market use outside the region on a scale that would expand acreage significantly would require a co-operative effort and mechanization that shows little signs of developing. Recect interest in greenhouse production of tomamtoes and cucumbers has resulted in rapid expansion of this enterprise. Most growers use some form of growing media other than soil which solves some problems and creates other. One operation in Acadia Parish consists of more that 350,000 sq. ft. under glass and the total in the coastal zone has increased from no growers 10 years ago to about 30 growers and approximately 500,000 sq. ft. as indicated by the secretary of the Louisana Greenhouse Vegetable Growers' Association. This type agricultural operation allows control of some climatic conditions but requires a great deal of technical training and management skill to be successful. Better varieties of fruits, nuts and vegetables are continually being developed by agricultural researches to overcome some of the 6 hazards of a climate to which they may not be well adapted. The advantage of a long growing season, development of better pesticides, ability to grow fall, spring and summer crops on the same land, a large and rapidly growing consumer population in the same area plus better trained growers lead to the conclusion that this asset of the coastal zone will be more valuable in the future as energy and food become higher in price. 1. D.A.E. Research Report No. 458. Agricultural Statistics for Louisiana, 1964-1972, L.L. Fielder and S.L. Gug. Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Louisiana State University and U.S.D.A. VZi;FTA?jL'--* O,1Mi%RD POTATO ACRE:kES ORCILAFLDS POTATO ?ALI' IT12S 1969 1()64_- 1961) 1964 1969 1964, 34 33 10628 1,051 Ascension 34 30 3 NA Asswapt' ion .2 21 103 20 calc4sieu 12 99 90 2 5 Cameron 4 8 39. 15. NA E. Baton ROu3e 679 .787 27 44 534 298, Iberia 367 .-299 139 194 77 .8 Iberville 27 6 418 82 18 33 Jeff DavLs 2 34. 138 49 196 ik- Jefferson 423 704 103 12 1 Lafayette 192 208 23 34 10069 379. Lafourche 794 587'. 8, 4 481 517 Livin,ston. 15 102 24 36 21 164 Plaquemine-s 642 620 568" 1,39'6 2.: 4 St' Bernard .178 236 127% 37 St. Charles 31 278 11 22 36 St. James 449F 558 12 14 16 St. John 285 514 33: NA 4 .9 St, 1-fartin, 309 654 391,@ 273 19538 901 St. Mary 5 3 19'.. .14 13- *Z3.-.mmny St. 35 48 4,092 11,256 8 7 8 VEGETABLES ORCHARDS POTATO PARISHES 1969 1964 1969 1964 1969 1964 Tangipahoa 562 664 117 4,316 46 95 Terre----- 100 109 42 12 110 510 Vermilion 37 51 24 112 15 28 W. Baton 110 100 59 2 12 Rouge TOTAL 5,326 6,495 6,402 18,192 5,780 4,290 ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURAL -- SOD A very valuable agricultural enterprise frequently overlooked because of small acreage requiements is the production of ornamental horticultural crops and sod for home lawns. For example, the "Giant Step II" publication for St. Tammany Parish indicates some 38 producers in that Parish with only 5.75 acres of greenhouse space, 1178 acres of nursery stock and 425 acres of sod producte dollars. About 45% of the nursery production from that parish is now sold thru chain stores. The coastal zone has an advantage of a long growing season, low energy requirements for greenhouse heat and a plentiful supply of water. Although many areas are capable of production the industry has tended to band together in certain localities where buyers can obtain the specialty of various growers without undue travel and some co-operative purchases of input supplies can be attained. Most nursery acreages are located in St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Lafayette Parish. COTTON As can be seen from Table I, Page 4, and Figure I cotton was once a very important crop in the coastal zone and in 1930 was produced in 25 of the 26 parishes. The area produced almost 11% of the state total and Lafayette Parish alone produced 2.67% of the state total. Since that time the crop has been almost completely lost as an agricultural enterprise even though it would not be unreasonable to assume the crop would gross 40 to 50 million dollars if the 1930 acres were planted and grown using the technical knowledge availabe. The sharp decline in acreage since 1930 indicates other land uses have proved more profitable since cotton was well established in the area by tradition. At one time cotton required a great amount of hand labor but the advent of chemical weed control, the use of airplanes to apply insecticide and mechanical harvesting greatly changed this need. For examply a two row harvester can replace 100 hand pickers and under Arizona conditions has been found to pick up slightly less trash (1). Cotton grown in south Lousiana is the medium staple type and requires a well drained root zone for optimum production. On the flatland areas this requires the preparation of an elevated seedbed with a lister and/or bedding disks. Modern operations plant three or four acid delinted seed in hills about 16" apart on the elevated beds when the soil is warm enough for germination and apply a pre-emergence herbicide for weed control. Recommended fertilizer may be applied at or before planting with possible side dressing later in the season. 2 One of the chief problems encountered in producing cotton in the coastal zone is insect control. Warm winters many insects to survive and start multiplication early in the spring. Spraying for boll weevil control at an early date frequency kills desirable predator insects that are helpful in controlling the boll worm. Eradication of the weevil now under study, would greatly simplify and reduce the cost of controlling cotton insects. Once a week spraying is frequently required at the present time and lack of a suitable insecticide for control at the present time and lack of a suitable insecticide for control of the tobacco but worm has greatly reduced the cotton grown in the state during 1975. Factors that have influenced the decrease in cotton acreage in the coastal zone besides the insect problems are: 1. Small plots of land not well suited to mechanization. 2. High production costs such as labor cost and machinery cost. 3. Climatic conditions not well suited for mechanical harvest or for field storage to extend the ginning season. 4. The availability of herbicides for weed control in soybeans grown as a substitute crop. 5. A decrease in the accessibilty of gins. 6. Low yields per acre in some areas. 7. Cost per squeeze. It is quite probable that cotton will increase in price in future years since competition for clothing fiber has been from synthetic fiber which is dependent upon the oil industry. As the price of oil increases 3 synthetic fiber prices should increase placing cotton fiber in a more favorable position. In addition oil and protein prices have shown an upward trend making cotton seed more valuable. Even though most parishes in the coastal zone have some potential for cotton production and assuming the insect problems can be overcome there will have to be a substantial increase in cotton price coax any of the acreage back into cotton. This will be difficult since there are only four gins listed in the entire area in 1973 and thier output was so small that none of the 26 parishes were lised "Report on Cotton Ginnings for the Crop of 1973, by Counties" (2). As an example, it appears that the 1975 Lafayette crop of 200-400 acres will have to be transported to Opelousas for ginning. Without a gin within a reasonable distance where cotton is grown it appears that it will become a crop with little more than historical importance in this zone. (1) Engineer's Corner, "A Mechanization Case History - - Cotton", by Kenneth K. Barnes, Implement and Tractor Magazine, Page 44, May, 1963. (2) Cotton Ginnings, U.S. Department of Commerce, Social and Economic Statistics Administration. Bureau of Census, Report A 20 73-7, April, 1974. 4 UBLE COTTON ACR&NGE* I i S 1930 t940 1950 1960 1970- 1974 Acadia 42#300 26-s9OO 17j2OO 10&000 52800 3,139 Asconsion 1,325 476 495 15 Assu-ip@ion ISO 5 30 Calcasieu 11,700 3,650 410 Cameror 7,700 3,900 730 E, Baton Roup l1t40O .4,630 940 1'60 28 The r ia, 40400 2 p I 0o 0 2'PIOO 590 lberville 800 690 940 235 Jefferson 20 14 Jeff Davis 11,400 7,,020 1,080 100 10 Lafayette 53,000 299600 20,500 12,000 5,750 2,044 Lafourche 3,870 10108 430 Livingston 300 2,070 260 50 Orleans 10 23 JO St. Bernard 10 St. James 10 4 5 St. Jd@n 30 St, @Martin 15j500 .10t790 10,550 6,150 29630 @19566 St, Mary igloo 95 St, Tamany 1,500 Is480 390 85. Tangipahoa .8,000 7,080 1,220 305 1940 1950 196-1 1970 1974 11,5 Ve mil loi 3 6 4 0 0 I's, 'L. 00 8, qoo 3,100 -1,100 -303 1. V@O 1.31 7 V. Baton Rouge i, a .530 T XIA L 2121100 '121,2G5 671,410 33,370 15,280 62362 5 VX T E T 0 -104 L 1,933,000 1,199,00) 7/39,000 525,000 465,00o 649,036 of State Total Planted in Wetl.,nJs, 1017% 10. 117; 911% 6.4% 3.3% 1% Ham.-sted of lint) 175 194 28-1- 470 555 *Source D.A.E. Research Report No. 436 "Lovisiaaa Crop Statistics by ?arish, Throu.,,,h 1970" except for 1974 which came from the 10.74 ASCS Annual Report. FIGURE I COTTON ACREAGE TRENDS 2 20 STATE ACREAGE 16 014 CT. .20 COASTAL ACREAGE % 10 2. A-15"COASTAL ACREAGE -5 1930 1940 1950 fg"-, WHEAT Wheat is a minor crop in the coastal zone but the acres planted have almost tripled since 1965 as indicated, in Table I, Page 4. Plant disease has been a factor restricting wheat prodution in humid climates such as that of the coastal zone. Development of varieties with some disease resistance, the increased selling price of wheat as a grain, and the possibility of double- cropping wheat with soybeans for grain or pasture point to increased interest in this crop in the coastal zone. An additional factor that would cause increased interest would be removing the disease limitation by development of an econimical and accpeptable fungicide. At present only about 1/3 to 1/2 the acreage planted in the coastal zone is harvested for grain. Most of the remainder is used for pasture, particularly if rust disease attacks the plant. It is interesting to note that wheat has been planted in 21 of the 26 parishes under study and the largest number of acres planted waas in 1974 as shown by Table I, Page 4. Even though wheat is not well adapted to the climate, yields per acre harvested for grain in some years have compared quite favorable with yields in the wheat belt. This suggest continued interest in production of this important world food crop particularly if pesticides are approved for control of disease and if the price level is maintained. Many farmers already have the necessary equipemtn for wheat production. On certain soil associations prior to soybean harvest, wheat may be planted among soybeans by 2 airplane, --------- double use of the land, reducing winter erosion and increasing farm profits. In 1967 the value of the wheat crop planted in the coastal zone, if harvested for grain, would have been approximately one million dollar assuming a healthy plant and ------- on recent selling prices. Its value when grazed off would have been considerably less. It is doubtful that wheat will replace other crops at the present time but may be used as a double crop more often, when soil types and farm management systems are suitable. Sorghur As with wheat, grain sorghum is a minor crop in the coastal zone and most varieties are better adapted to a dryer and less humid climate. Research by plant breeders to develop disease and bird resistent varieties has made considerable progress. A large percentage of the sorghum acreage is planted for silage instead of for grain harvest. Sorghum can be produced with essentially the same machinery used for rice and soybeans. Recent yield averages have increased considerably: the 1960 state average yield was 27 bushels per acre, compared to the 1974 average of 40 bushels per acre. Sorghum plantings have decreased since a 1970 peak both state-wide and in the coastal zone, as shown in Figure 2 and Table II, Page 6. It is not a well established crop and its future use as a grain crop would be difficult to predict. It will no doubt continued to be used FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROCESSING IN THE LOUISIMA COASTAL ZONE* While many kinds of fruit and vegetables are marketed as fresh produce, Louisiana fruit and vegetable grotiers are fortunate to have a stable fruit and vegetable processing industry as a potential buyer for their produce. The Louisiana fruit and vegetable industry is located essentially in the Coastal Zone, having only four.plants in the state which are outside the Coastal Zone. The plants were classified according to their primary operation and are listed as follows for the 1971-1.072 season: Wumber of Plants T12e of Plan, in Coastal Zone Canner 6 Freezer 1 Specialty Items 4 Canner and Freezer 2 Canner and Specialty 4 Miscellaneous 2 T 0 T A L 19 The location of these plants in the Coastal Zo'ne.is depicted in Pigure T. The estinated.aggre-,ate wholesale value of fruit and vegetables processed in Louisiana in the 1971-1972 season was $54,669,180. Of this., *Coral Francois and Jerry M. Law@ Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Processin?, Overations in Louisiana 1971-72 Season, A.E.A. Information Series No. 26 (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Agricultural E-Aperiu*nt Station, February 1973). as a allege crop particularly if the area experiences a drouth period since it is more productive than corn under dry conditions. Sorghum can also tolerate a wider range of soil types than corn with fewer production problems. The value of the 1974 coastal zone sorghum crop is estimated from Table II, Page 6 data at about $200,000. The 1970 planting was about five times the 1974 planting. The crop has been grown in 21 of the 26 parishes and has definite potential on some soil associations, if disease problems are overcome and market price is high enough to interest production. TABLE 't 1-MEAT ACREAGES* W%RISHES 1955 1960 1965' 1970 t974 Acadia 1,700 2,000 1,100 2,100 2,800 Ascension 50 10 0 700 10400 Assumption too 200 Calcasieu so 100 200 900 1,100 Cameron 200 200 2GO E. Baton Rouge 400 300 500 400 Iberia 50 Iberville 100 100 300 200 700 Jeff Davis 900 1,200 600 1,300 1,400 Lafourche 300 Lafayette 100 200 300 300 Livingston too 100 St. Charles 200 zoo St. James 90 100 100 600 St, Martin 100 100 St, Mary 200 200 St, Tammany 200 400 Tangipahoa 100 100 300 Terrebonne 500 500 Vermilion 500 18100 600 1,400 Irloo. W. Baton Rouge 500 800 400 1,000 700 T 0 T A L 40350 5,450 4,200 10,010 13,300 STAT-v TOTAL 35,000 63,000 90,000 78,000 809000 PARISHES 1955 1960 1965 1970 1974 % of State Total 12.4 5.6 4.6 12.8 16.6 *Source - - D.A.E. Research Report No. 436 "Louisiana Crop Statistics, By Parishes, Through 1970" except for 1974 which came from Louisiana Reporting Service - - Louisiana Wheat: Acreage, Yield and Production, 1974 Preliminary Report. TABLE'11-- SORGHM-1 ACr&%GZS* 1960 1965 1970 1974 Acadia 150 300 500 Ascension 40 700 Assumption 40 50 Calcasieu 200 300 1,500 Can-,eron----' 20 40 100 E. Baton Rou,e 40 250 1,700 Iberia 150 400 100 Iberville 150 1,300 400 Jeff Davis 100 300 Boo Lafourche 40 Laf4yette 40 150 Livin.aston 10 40 St. Charles 40 150 St. James 20 50 St. 1-tartin 5.0 80 150 S t. '-Sary 150 St. 'Aamany 20 2@50 1,100 Tangipahoa 150 I'V700 5 00 400 Terrebonne 400 Ver-milion 50 100 1,200 300 7 *S 1960 1-0165 1970 1974 Baz;vn 10 10 300 T 0 T A 10100 4, 19 0 10,900 22200 STA7r TOTAL 11,000 17,000 37,000 42,000 % of State Total 10 24.6 12.5 5.2 *Source D.^*.E. Research Report No. 436 SIT &.ouisiina Crop St3tistics, By ParitFhes, Through 1970" except for 1974 which came from Louisiana Crop. and Livestock Reporting Service, USD.--% Scatistical Reportin- Service -- Louisiana Sorghum: Acreage, Yield and Production, 1974 Preliminary Report. FIGURE I WHEAT ACREAGE TREND STATE ACREAGE 9- 7- 0 c; 6. w 5 z < -16 CL 4- -14 w COASTAL ACREAGE % -10 2- LL 0 @6 00 -4 ,Irn COASTAL ACREAGE 1555 1960 1,965- -1-9"70 1975 FIGURE' 2 GRAIN SORGHUM ACREAGE TREND 90. 90 80 80 STATE ACREAGE .70 70. 60 60. 50 50 4 40 CL LL. 50. 3 o o"A <,,rCOASTAL ACREAGE % 2c. .20 Nb 10 10. ...,..-<COASTAL ACREAGE%----. 1-7 6 CORN 17@ Acres of corn planted in the wetlands have decreased rapidly in the last 14 years as shown in Table I. Page 4. but not as rapidly is has the '77 acreage of the entire state, since the coastal parishes have increased planting percenta;es ftrcrm 18.17. of the state total in 1960 to 29% in 1974. L-J Yields per acre are not high idompared to corn belt producers but the high price of grain since 1972 bas-resulted in use of better cropping p ractices and much higber yield averages for-the state (51 bushels per acre for 1974 compared to 27 in 1960), Corn belt state averages may exceed 100 bushels per acre, Corn grows best on soils that are well drained both internally and externally. In the wetlands many of these soils are producing sugar canes generally a more profitable crop. Soybeans can also replace corn and can be harvested with no major revisions in the combine whereas corn harvesting with a combine requires purchase and changing of the header. Without a strong market demand and relatively large acreage for efficient mechanized production, corn in the coastal zone can not be economically justified, la addition, the rapid increase in the cost of nitrogen fertilizers a required ingredient-for high yields, has undoubtedly influenced the farmers' decision to substitute another crop for corn. Constant research to develop better adapted varieties and cultural practices that increase yields while minimizing production cost indicates potential for this crop in an environment not ideal for corn production. One promising use of corn is as a forage in production of silage. This use is largely limited today to dairy farms in the coastal zone but shows 2 considerable prc-mise for beef production. It has the advantage compared to hay as a-fora-e of a high production of total digestible nutrient per acre io a short ti:-ae period. Corn also may be harvested without fear of loss irom rain after cutting, and has adaptibility to mechanical feeding with auto-matic controls. The chief disadvantage of silage as a processing. method for corn forage is the high capital outlay required for equipment* The-recent closing of feedlots in Texas and Oklahoma, alms with research results designed to fatten beef with minlim- grain input, point to more interest in silage use in years to corm for the beef producer. Silage nanufacture is not limited to using corn as a forage, cool season crops gTown in the long warm Winters of the coastal zone can also be utilized when growing exceeds grazing needs. An attempt was made to determine the extent of the uae of autor tic feeding silos in t1v coastal zone, since high labor costs and competition from other areas of the United States are necessitating this device in the local dairy industry. Very few silos are in use at pretent, but the trend to their use is indicated by the recent origin of those employed, Use of land for production of corn for grain appears to be under sufficient competition to cause a continual decrease as shown by the curve in Figure 1. Although individual records of yields per acre exceeding 100 bushels are recorded in the coastal zone, corn is hindeTed by mechanization costs with regard to barvesting and storing and lack of dependable weather 3 during critical stages of growth. Additionally,the use of wide rows to form the beds needed to meet the drainage requirements of,the coastal zone usually results in lota plant population per acre and veed and in@sect. control require considerable technical knowledge, The value of the corn crop in the coastal zone In 1974 Ua3 approximately 2.28 million dollars. If the saus yield per acre could have been obtained on the acreage grown in 1960, the value would have been about 6 million dollars. Although both t1a market price and yield per acre have increased in the last 15 years the net profit has not been sufficient to keep corn acreage from shifting to other uses& L960 196.5 19-10 1974 Acadia 6)20f) 5,800 2,700 2$900 Ascensimi 2,-)00 2,100 1,700 1,200 3,100 900 600 200 Calcisiou 250 300 300 300 C a t,,,,e On 400 500 200 150 E. Baton 1-Zouge 1,400 2,000 1,300 1,100 The r ia 7,600 3, 300 2,000 1,200 lberville 5,000 2,800 2'9 300 1,100 Jefferson 100 30 jeff Davis. 500 800 400 250 Lafayette 14,200 10,800 7,300 3,500 Laz'ourche 7,000 2,200 1,800 2V400 Liv Incstan 1,900 1,300 900 450 Plaquemines i0r) i0o St. Bernard 20' 20 100 St. Charles 250 250 300 7.00 Sc. James 11000 Soo 450 Soo St. John 700 550 250 600 St. %artin 17,000 12,300 7,900 4,100 st, 'C%ry 400 St. Ta.!M@ny 2P000 800 700 850 Tangipalioa 3,900 2,900 1,000 1,300 5 P11111.11ISHES 1960 1965 1970 1974 Terrebonne 2,450 650 800 700 Vermilion 6,400 3,800 2,400 3,600 W. Baton Rou*e 3,100 1,40d 900 550 T 0 T A L 71,470 56,100 37,300 27,550 STATE TOTAL 3959000 213,000 172jOOO 951000 % of State Total Plant in Wetlands 18.1 26.3 21.7 29.0 State Average Yield Per Acre Harvested (Bushels) 27.0. 35.0 34.0 51.0 *Source D,A,E. Research Report No. 436 IlLouisiana Crop Statistics, By Parishes, Through 1970" except for 1974-which came from Louisiana Crop and Livestock Reporting Service, USDA Statistical Reporting Service -- Louisiana Corw Acreage, Yield and ProductionD 1974 Preliminary Report. FIGURE I CORN ACREAGE TRENDS LOUISIANA a COASTAL ZONE 1960-1974 40 36. 28 STATE ACREAGE 0 0 0 2c - 16 -40@- COASTAL ACRF-AGE % --30, 12 et cr -20 COASTAL ACREAGE -40 4- 1960 1965 1970 CATTLE POPULATION IN THE COASTAL ZONE Cattle production in the coastal zone has followed state and national trends with a 103 increase in cattle numbers. This trend is refloated in Table I, Page 8, which shows an increase of fifty-four thousand head in 1974 as compared to 1969. The total figure of 600,000 head represents 32.7% of all cattle in the State of Louisiana as indicated in Figure I. To aid in analyzing data contained in Table I, Page 8, this report will group parishes into the official state planning districts. ------: This district has approximately 200,000 head of cattle, the largest number in the coastal zone. Eighty-one per cent of the cattle in this destrict are in the parishes of Vermilion, Acadia, and Lafayette. Lafayette parish is the only parish in the district with a large dairy cattle population , 10,320 head. 2 Beef cattle are predominate in other parishes within the district. FLORIDA DISTRICT: This district has experienced the largest increase in cattle numbers over the last six years with an increase of 24,000 head in 1974 from 1969. This district has a large population of dairy cattle in Tangipahoa parish, approximately 30,000 head, with beef cattle predominate in other parishes within the district. 1 Giant Step II, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service 1973-1978, p. 10. to smaller dairy farmers connecting to beef operation and the high meat prices in 1972 and 197 . :Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis are the only parishes in the Southwest district located in the coastal zone. Cattle members in these parishes have shown a moderate increase of seven percent over the past six years. Total cattle numbers in 1974 were 161,000 head as compared to 132,000 in 1969. Beef cattle account for practically all cattle within the district. TECH: The Tech distric has 41,000 head of cattle of which 24,000 head are located in Lafourche parish. Cattle numbers in all parishes except Lafounche have not grown sizably over the past six years. St. John is one of two parishes in the coastal zone that does not list cattle as a agricultural enterprise. METROPOLITAN; The smallest number of cattle in the coastal zone is located in the metropolitan district. The six parishes have a combined total of 30,000 head. Eighty per cent of the total are in St. Tammany parish. The 1972 Giant Step lists 1,600 head of dairy cattle in St. Tammany, other parishes have no significant numbers of dairy cattle. 2 Giant Step II, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. 1973-1978. 3 Livestock Marketing The beef cattle industry in the wetlands is geared to cow-calf operations in which calves are weaned at relatively light weights and shipped to out-of-state feedlots. There are on major feeding operations in the coastal zone and few calves are carried on the farm beyond weaning. According to Paul Dominic, President of Dominic's Stockyards, Inc., eighty-five per cent of the cattle in the coastal zone are marketed through local stockyards. 3 The remaining fifteen per cent are sold directly to local butchers or contract buyers. There are ten stockyards in the coastal zone marketing an average of six-hundred head per week at each facility. The major auctions are located in East Baton Ruge, Calcasieu, and Lafayette parishes. It appears obvious to this writer that cattlemen will continue to utlize local stockyards to market their livestock. Trends indicate that larger producers will truck cattle to larger stockyards that attract out-of-state buyers. If livestock prices continue to fuctuate, many ranchers will turn to contract marketing to stabilize prices. This system of marketing is limited in the coastal area by the relative small size of inidividual operations. 3 Paul Dominc (President of Dominic's Stockyard, Lafayette, Louisiana). Personal interview, July 17, 1975. A meat processing industry in the coastal zone is composed of slaughter plants has declined since 1972 primarily due to state inspection laws passed in 1969. Some small abattoirs were forced out of business because of strict state health coded which they could not implement. However, according to Dr. James Broussard of the State Department of Agriculture, the total capacity of the industry has not been reduced and he projects an increase in the number of small inspected plants over the next five years. Page 9, provides a comparison of the number of slaughter houses in the coatal zone that are under state inspection. The data indicates a decline of 25 from 1972 to 1975. This figure is misleading because a number of establishments lost under state inspection are still operating as Custom Exempt Plants not requiring inspection. USDA figures list three establishments in the coastal zone under federal inspection. The largest plant is located in Lafayette parish with a hill capacity of one-hundred cows per day. This plant has processing facilities for beef and pork and furnishes meat products to their out-of-state plants. Dr. James Broussard, (Louisiana Department of Agriculture), Personal interview, July 21, l975. 5 Table III, Page 10, indicates that 73,714 head of cows and calves were slaughtered in state inspected coastal zone plants in 1972. This figure represents 437 of total cattle slaughter in Louisiana. Trends and Projections The cattle industry is currently in a period of over-supply resulting in depressed prices nation wide. Cattle numbers will have to decrease substantially to bring the forces of supply and demand into a balance more favorable to cattle producers. Cattle production in the wetlands will follow national trends and numbers will be reduced by 1978. However, cattle production in the wetlands has tremendous potential and higher meat prices and expanded markets could result in substantial increases in cattle production in the coastal region. Cattle and soybeans have competed for acreage for the past several years. Increased prices for soybeans have caused many farmers to plant beans on fallow land instead of raising cattle. However, if bean prices fall and production cost per acre for rice and sugar can continue to rise, additional grazing land will become available and cattle numbers could increase. Decreased cotton production in the wetlands should supply additional land for pasture. Non-tillable land in the coastal zone will continue to supply land for cattle production. Research in animal breeding and insect control has increased most production in these areas where parasites and insects have reduced projuctoin in the past. Brahman hybrid cattle adapt well to marsh land due to their heat and insect tolerance, and can produce a quality ------ss. 6 Cattlemen in the coastal zone could realize a substantial increase in the pounds of meat produced without increasing acreage or cattle numbers, Under present management practi@es in the coastal zone,* the average calving percentage is 607. with a weaning weight of 350 pounds. 5 If calving percentage were increased to the national averaget of 80%s and weaning weights increase to 450 pounds, a 25% increase in.production could be realized without increasing cattle numbers or acres of grazing land. Increased production per cow and per acre is closely related to the following factors: 1. A larger percentage of grazing land must be established into improved permanen t pastures to supply a higher level of nutrition. 2, Management practices improving health, reproduction, and parasite control must be adapted, 3. Systems of breeding should be geared to maxim= beef production under existing.climatic conditions, 4. Feedlots using silage and hayage should be established to reduce dependence on out-of-state feeders and grain producers. 5. There is a need to increase the number and quality of purebred herds to furnish breeding stock adapted to existing climatic conditions, 6, Prices payed to cattlemen must increase to off-set the cost of improved management practices and Increase return per acre, 5 Giant -Service, 1973-1978. Ase 11 Cooperative Extension Louisiana 7 The wetlands have an abundance of natural -------- needed to support cattle production. Improved varieties of bermudagrass recently introduced to the region have adapted well and have increased meat production per acre. The increased consumption of grass-fed beef provides the greatest potential for increased cattle production in the coastal zone. Long grazing seasons and wild winters facilitates grazing cattle year round with minimum grain feeding. Consequently, if all factors involved materialize over the next five years, the coastal zone could become a major producer of grass-fed beef. TABLE I CATTLE AM CALVES -- tSTIMATED NUHBER ON FARMS FROM t969-1974 (PROH AGRICULTURE ECONC)MICS DEPARTMENT, LOUIS-ZA14A COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE) 1969 1970 t971. 1972 1973 1974 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 AREA PARISH HEAD % 11rAD % HEAD % HEAD % MAD % 14 5% D % Metropolitan 2 0.1 2 011 2 0.1 1 0.1. 1 0.1 1 0.1 Jefferson Cricans 0 010 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0,0 0 0.0 11laque.mines 3 0.2 3 0.2 3 0.2 3 0.2 3 0.2 3 0.2 St. nernard t 0.1. 1 0.1. 1 0.0 1 0.0 1. 010 1 0.0 St. Tammany 26 t.5 24 t.4 25 1.4 25 1.4 24 1.4 25 1.4 Ascension 12 0.7 t2 0.7 t2 0.7 12 0.7 t2 .0.7 12 0.7 U. Baton Rouga 37 2.3 36 2.2 38 2.2 38 2.2 3R 2.2 39 2.1 Iberville 20 t.2 20 1.2 22 1.3 22 1.3 22 1.3 24 1.3 Living--ton t3 0.8 13 0.8 t4 0.8 14 0.8 14 13 0.8 0.7 Tangipahoa- 75 4.6 76 4.7 82 4.7 85 4.8 85 4.9 .9t 5.0 W. Baton Rouge 7 o.4 7 0.5 8 0.5 8 0.5 8 0.5 a 0.5 Assumption 1 0.0 1 0.0 t 0.0 1 0.0 t 0.0 L 0.0 Teeb Lafourche 21 1.3 21 1.3 22 1.3 23 1.3 23 1.3 24 1.3 St. Charles 6 0.4 6 0.4 6 0.4 6 0.4 6 0.4 7 0.4 St. James 3 0.2 3 0.2 3 0.2 3 Oo2 3 0.2 3 0.2 St. John 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 Terrcbonne 6 0.3 6 0.3 6 0.3 6 0.3 6 0.3 6 0.3 Acadian Acad ia, 42 2.6 41 2.5 43 2.5 44 2.5 43 2*5 45 2.4 Iberia 17 1.0 17 1.0 18 1.0 18 1.0 18 t.0 13 1.0 Lafayette 3 R Z.3 28 2.4 41 2.4 42 2.4 42 2.4 44 2.4 St. Martin 15 0.9 15 0.9 t5 0.9 t5 0.9 15 0.9 16 0.9 St. 1111ary 3 0.2 3 0.2 4 0 - 2 4 0.2 3 0.2 3 0.2 Vernilion 68 4.2 67 4.1 71 4.t 72 1!.! 71 4.t 74 4-.0 Calcasieu 53 3.3 53 3.3 56 3.3 57 3.3 57 3.3 511, 3.2 Cameron 45 2.8 44 2.7 46 2.7 46 2.6 45 2.6 A 7 2.5 Jeff Davis 34 2.1 33 2.0 35 2.0 )!i 2.0 34 1.9 35 1.9 T 0 T A 1, 546 1 .5 542 33.0 574 33.2 521 33.2 574 33.2 500 !3w7 Ol.' STATE INSPEC-l-ED 133L@UGHTZr 1-1-OUSES LIST70 BY PARISH, t971 AND 1974 (F2.-O-el LOUTSLANA DE?ArVr1XNT OF AGRICULTURE, Mr-AT AIO POULTRY DVISIJN) pil is'll 1972 1974 Acali--, 6. 4 Calcasieu 4 3 Ea s L @ B-, ton Rouve 4 2 Iberia 3 2 Jeffe rson Davis I I Lafayette 9 6 Lafourche 4 5 St, James 2 2 St. Martin 4 3 St. Tamnany 1 2 Tangipahoa 3 3 Terrel;o-nne 5 2 Verniiio-n 5 West Baton Rouge I T 0 T A L 52 40 10 TABLE III HF-XT AND POULT" DIVISION) (I"ROM LOUISIANA. -JEPART'HENT Or, AGRICULTURE, JUIN, 1971 June 1972 Pa r is 1, State inspected Plants Federal Wumber of Cattle Killed Acadia 6 31S36 C21casieu 4 141048 E. Bator. "Rouge 4 17,997 I'Deria 3 3,184 Jeff Davis 1,575 Lafayette 9 9,087 Lafourche 4 5,93Z St. James 2 640 St. Martin 4 1,220 St. Tar=any 1 618 Tangi,?ahoa 3 2,936 Terrebonne 5 15,290 Vermilion 5 2,324 W. Ba,ton Rouge 1 27 T 0 T A L 788714 (This figure repr03ants 43% of the cattle slaughtered in the state of La.) FIGURE I BEEF CATTLE TRENDS LOUIS IAN A a COASTAL ZO NE 1969- 1974 700- 40 0 0 COASTAL % OF STATE TOTAL 600 -300 . . ..... COASTAL TOTAL;;-e- 500 20 c; 400 at z 10 1969 70 71 72 73 74 HORSES The horse population in the coastal zone of Louisiana has maintained a constant growth and is presently a milti-million dollar industry. Table I, Page 3 indicates that in 1971 there were 62, 630 horses in the coastal zone, thirty-five per cent of which were quarter horses. Current date on horse numbers are not available, however, Mr. C. O. McKerlly with the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service estimates horse numbers in the coastal zone will increase 10% per year over the next five year. 1 In the opinion of the writer, South Louisiana is considered a major producer of quality quarter horses in the nation. Table I, Page 3 indicates that Lafayette, Caleasieu, Vermilion, and East Baton Rouge are the leading parishes in quarter horse production. Most quarter horses in the coastal zone are used for stock horses and pleasure horses, however, an increasing number is bred for racing. Horse racing has become a popular sport in the region with "big-time" racing facilities located in Orleans, Jefferson, Lafayette, and Calcasieu parishes. Each track has a pari- mutuel system of betting and racing dates arranged to provide year-round racing in the coastal zone. Racing has not only increased horse numbers but has had a dramatic economic effect on the horse industry. This is evident in the results of the 1975 Louisiana - Bred 1 C.O., McKerlly, (Horse Specialist, Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service), Personel interview, September 10;, 1975 2 yearl--- sale for thoroughbreds held in Lafayette, where seventy-nine horses grossed $245,750; and average of $3,111 per head. 2 The number of thoroughbreds will increase substatielly over the next five years while the quarter horse population may decline. This is primarily due to racing conditions favoring th ethoroughbred, with tracks in Orleans, Jefferson, and Lafayette parishes offering strictly thoroughbred racing. Deltal Downs in Clacasien parish runs an equal amount of thoroughbred and quarter horse races in the fall, and plans a special summer meet for quarter horses. Calcasieu and other parishes in Southwest Louisiana will become the center of quarter horse breeding and racing. Orleans, Jefferson, Lafayette, and st. Tammany will increase thoroughbred numbers to facilitate racing in those areas. Although racing offers the major inpetus for the horse industry, there is increasing interest in horses for showing and pleasure riding. Boarding and riding stables are thriving in metropolitan areas of the coastal zone, while in other areas riding clubs have organized and are producing horse shows at a growing rate. This renewed interest and enthusiasm in horses will increase numbers over the next five years and will accent the economic importance of the horse industry in the coastal zone of Louisiana. 2 "Sale Results, " Louisiana - Bred Yearlings Sale, Lafayette, Louisiana, 1975. 1971 Cooperative L--.t(.!*IsioTl ServicO:, of liars-is i n Lottisilna, shes 'Larrcr It-.)rses Tbarough*firel' Total I(Orsou elfersc" 4`4 669 1,018 c -I ..,an 34 789 i--w- s 9 6 388 St. Be:-:Ia-r-; 17 2. 32 493 7 9 1 1,110, 4,544 s ce ns 1'.i 632 to 1,895 Z. Bator -I@oucc 1,855 84. 63,136 Iberville 573 20 1,572 Livinp I# on 624 6 2,576 Ta n i -p a';.,zw- 3 12 153 4,312 223 5 771 Asswiption 100 10 19895 Lafourclic 259 23 11,525 'J" St. c'!arles Its St. J,,-:-,es 46 0 194 St. John 31 3 279 Terre'Donne 541 83 1,611 Acadia 259 3,337 1,531 1,073 305 2,213 Iberia Lafayctte 3,02 1 .1,141 6,292 St. !Sartin 1,236 218 2p68Z St. Mary 359 34 Vermilion 2,200 211 4,237 Calca s inti 2,912 76 6,110 came-in 1,067 4 is-856 Je 'Alf c san 3avis 95 71 2,078' T 0 T L 21,824 4p694 62*639. THE DAIRY rNIDUSTIRY OF THE LOUISIANA COASTAL ZOILME In 1974 the cash iacome from milk accounted.for 8.2% of all Louisiana farm income. A total of 1,059,000,000 pounds of milk was produced in Louisiana in 1974 valued at $102,843,000 according to 1 U,S.D.A. statistics. About one-third of this amount, or 375,787,852 pounds was produced in the 26 parishes of the Coastal Zone, There were approximately 117,806 cows in comercial dairy herds in Louisiana in 1974 with 44,726 cows in the Coastal Zone, Farmers had about 2 $2,,500 per cow invested in their enterprises, Production - Trends Table I,, Page 7. contains data on the number of farms, the number of cows and the estimated pounds produced In indicated years from 1959 to 1974. The trends are summarized in Figure 1. Page 11 and @igure 11, Page 12. Trends will be discussed for the state and the Coastal Zone in general and specific reference will not be made for individual parishes. The picture for all parishes in the Coastal Zone is almost identical and the totals parallel state and national trends, Numbers of dairy farms, and nu:mbers of cows have been declining while total production has remained stable due to higber productivity per cow. Figure III, Page 13,, gives a pictorial display of the concentration of milk production in Louisiana, It is readily evident that milk production in the Coastal Zone takes place on high ground near the population centers of Lafayette., Bacon Rouge,, and New Orleans. 2 The United States and the State of Louisiana have been not importers of dairy products in recent years. (Table 11,- Page 5). Figure rV portrays the location of dairy and other processing facilities in the Coastal Zon e, The number of processing plants in 3 the Coastal Zone has declined from 27 in 1969 to 18 in 1975, Consumption - Trends Per capita consumption of milk equivalent in the,United States has steadily declined from 818 pounds in 1940 to 543 pounds in 1974. Total milk consumption has remained relatively stable because of a rising population, Since some authorities feel the U, S. may be approaching zero population growth, larger p, ercentages of the population will be in older age groups which historically have consumed less milk. A forecast for continued* decline in per capita consumption can be made if one assumes past trends will continue, Promotion, however, is an important factor in enhancing milk consumption and in some areas has reversed the downward trend of consumption. 'The U. S. produces about the same*amount of milk as it consumes but this level does not 5 provide the optimal one quart per person per day, Of the major Western countries, only Italy has,a lower per capita consumption that the U, S, Several countries have twice the per capita consumption of milk as the. 6 U, S, Consumption levels cannot be mandated3, but for the public welfare, policies adopted by government should tend to encourage milk production and consumption@ 3 Consumption Projection Per capita milk consumption may be near its low point and should remain stable or decline only slightly. With a rising population in the Coastal Zone, the future demand for fluid milk and manufactured dairy products will remin at or above present levels. Production Projections A continued trend to fewer, larger dairy farms with higher production per cow is likely. In 1975 the state milk production average was 7,730 pounds while the national average was 10,286 pounds. 7 The producers remaining in business will be the more efficient ones who are capable of producing the higher levels and have the desire to expand to meet market demand for milk. Larger operations will have the advantages of better quality control, greater efficiency, and the ability to afford better labor and management. The difficulties will be in obtaining qualified labor and management, obtaining adequate capital investment of about $2,500 per cow, and coping with the environmental problems caused by concentrating large numbers of livestock. Disposal of waste is a solvable problem, but will take additional capital and management. The proximity to populated areas will be more critical number high density dairying. Continued production at any level is more likely in the parishes where the dairy industry is presently concentrated. These pariches have the trained and experienced people, they have the educational program of the Cooperative Extension Service in place, and they have a 4 milk procurement system established. The parishes of the Coastal Zone that have substantial dairying activities probably already have inherent com-------- advantages over other parishes. The dairying parishes generally have the more elevated, better drained soils. These ares have fewer problems with waste disposal than land near or within wetlands. They also have fewer past and disease probelms than low lands. Health Department statistics suggest that animals kept in lower elevation areas of the state may be more susceptible to mastitis, and udder infl-----tion that severely reduces milk production. 3 The parishes of the Coastal Zone where dairying is concentrated are also conveniently located with respect to markets, thus minimizing trasportation costs. Traditionally, fluid milk dairying has had to be near the consuming population, but with good roads and modern tank trucks populous areas receive milk from wider areas despite high transportation costs. Fluid milk is differentiated from manufactured milk since about 70% of the milk produced in Louisiana goes in fluid products, and farmers are paid higher prices for milk used in fluid form. 9 Finally, dairy farming is a logical choice for land that is rolling o not otherwise level since pastures minimize soil erosion. The low, flat areas of the Coastal Zone give the comparative advantage to rice and other field crops. Summary of Projections 1. Continued trend to fewer, larger dariy farms with higher production per cow is evident. 17. o -lee c na COr,A!-U,@d P170-1UC IiCii Ind for -All. W. e place in pnrislies v)'ierc dai.ryin, is presently concentrate.!. TABLE II U, S. and Louisiana Milk Imports Year Imp-irted Zlilk UOSO im-norted- Milk L*a.2 mil. 1b. Ib. 1969 1, VA 143,401,982 1970 1,833 154,321,021 1971 (617) 181,419,896 19, 7 2 810 187,606,895 1973 3,781 172,846i881 1974 2,626 170,664,246 *Includes only milk regulated by the Federal Market Order Milk Industry Foundatiou, Mill( Facts 1975 (Washington, D.Co. 11-1ilk Industry Founiation 1T7-5),-F-.22-,-C13tins U.S.D.A. statistics. 2vlvin L. Hollon, "Pictograph of the Louisiana Dairy Industry 1970-1974" (Bacon Rouve: llilrb-i-viaion Louisiana Department of Agricul e), (mi-,ieo* graphed), citing data from Federal Uilk '-Isrkat Orders 1094 and 1096, and the Louisiana Department of A@;riculture, 6 References 1. Milk Industry Foundation, Milk Facts 1975 (Washington, D.C.: Milk Industry Foundation 1975), p. 26, citing U.S.D.A. statistics. 2. Elvin L. Kollon. "Pictograph of the Louisiana Dairy Industry 1970-1974 (Baton Rouge: Milk Division Louisiana Department of Agriculture), (mineogarphed), citing data from Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service Census. 3. Louisiana Health and Human Resources Administration, Division of Health, Milk and Dairy Products Section (New Orleans; unpublished file date, 1975). 4. Milk Industry Foundation, op. cit., p.22. 5. John R. Campbell, Robert T. Marshall, The Science of Providing Milk for Man (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1975), p. 17. 6. Milk Industry, op. cit., p. 19. 7. Ibid, plp. 26-27. 8. Louisiana Health and Human Resources Administration, op. cit. 9. Louisiana Department of Agriculture, Louisiana Annual Milk Marketing Report 1974, (Baton Rouge: Milk Division, May 1975), p.11. M mom M M MIMI= TABLE I IMMER DAIRY HERDS, NIA-MER COI*ir.RCL-%L DAIrY COWS,, POUNDS OF HILK PRODUCED, UNITED STATESO LOUISIANA, COASTAL ZONE 1959-1969 1959 1964 1969 2 110, NO rOUNI)S HILK N04 NO. rouvin MILk No. NO. rouims nim HERDS COWS PRODUCED IILT%DS COVIS PRODUCED HERDS COWS PRODUCED u1nited 0states 183,220,000 123JO4,000,000 or 15,960,000 126,967sOOO1000 12,550,000 116,108,000,000 Lou is ia na 3,3107 205,433 55ts736,841 2,595 187slO2 792s7240131 lj846 136,517 979,475,346 c9astal Zone piri-Alt-IL, ' I 1 10,i 78,056 Z19,282,501 10557 73,072 314s289,435 792 54$967 394,374,484 A c a(,. In 56 7,033 5,396,560 24 3,525 6,157,153 17 760 5,,452,810 3. 1,232 (mz) t 542 (NR) 1 100 717 475 Assumption I'l 395 797,650 4 334 42SO20 .0 0 0 17 M 42329$2.1,5 a 454 1,134,635 7 280 2,008,930 Cann r o in 1 409 12,900 0 0 0 0 0 0 U. PCLon Rou'.je 1 30 4,293 10,743,255 45 4,438 22,156.760 47 6*127 43,9592693 !be r la 500 12,861,647 51 4 8vt 23,295,412 43 3,000 21,524,230 36 Vwrville 1 556 135*000 2 305 (NR) 0 0 0 5 6 63 3,766,800 6 363 1,757,097 0 0 0 j f irl 16 10 5 7 6711015 11 975 5G9,697 2 90 645,728 201% 20,354,9.5() lic .1,643 36,554,955 98 60100 48�788,100 Adbk AWL 2 1959 1964- 1969 Nob NO". POUIMS MILK NO, NO, POUNDS MtLI( NOO NO& rouNDs miLK HERDS COWS PRODUCED HERDS COI-15 PRODUCED HERDS C014S PRODUCED fourche 15 904 1100600 2 563 130657- 0 0 0 vinsaton 30 20319 21563,150 21 lj,922 7s8440232 17 765 5,488,684 loans 15 747 3,605j640 5 218 832,399 0 0 0 aquerlines 0 0 0 1 30 (Im) 0 0 0 Bernard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ClIarles 2 309 645,000 2 55 (NR) 0 0 0 Jame 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 John 5 76 155#000 0' 0 0 0 0 0 720 12 340,570 r1a r tin 26 3,339 5,896,300 36 33-742 10,50.6,835 27 is Itary 6 361 555,480 1 153 (NR) 0 0 0 Tarimany 62 22608 7,648,706 52 2,700 11,095,575 28 21,000 14049,500 ngip4bo-a- 728 29 #019 123$180,725 043 33,826 176,358,720 470 30,000 215,242,500 rrebon-ae 10 113 433,050 5 590 637,976 1 50 358,738 123 1.01,,85 133,579,503 55 4,507 14,050,252 30 3,000 21,524,250 Bitoll SlIoUce 11 573 1,727,200 4 303 131232,060 4 275 1,9731056 United State@s Bureitt of-.* Hie Ccnius, Census of Arrictilture: 1964, Statistics for the State zind Counti-es, Loiiisiam., V?I. 1, parL :15 (War-hington: U. S. Goverm Printing Office, 1966), pp. 334-387. L. llollonj "N.ctonraph of the Louisiana Dairy Industry, @970-1974" (BilLon Rou-c: Mill. Division Loitis@ana of A",'-icuILur(.,), (!Nrreo-raphed), citin,- data from, Louisiana Cooperative Lmtumior, Service Ccn!'-us. FIG U'R E I DAIRY INDUSTRY TRENDS LOUISIANA a COASTAL Z ON E 1959-1974 220 200 0 0180 x 160 TATE T OTAL 140- 0 120 cr. loo- 0 COASTAL% OF STATE TOTAL -40 0 80 so- _ZCOAST .AL TOTAL 40- __30 OR 'A ---------- COASTAL %OF STATE TOTAL _401- co 0 cc w 3500 - 2500- __30 cc STATE TOTAL 4 15 OC 0 @S T @AT E@T O@ 6 COASTAL TOTAL,;P- z 500 1959 64 69 71 7374 1971 2 1971 .19 7A 2 NO, NO. POUNDS HILY NO. NO. rOUh1)S MILK NO, NO, POWN-DS MIL11" HEIZDS COWS PRODUCED HERDS -COWS PRODUCED HrHDS COWS PRODUCED Livingston 16 800 6,497,600 13 950 7,369ol5O 12 700 5,881.1--0( Orleans 0 0 0 0 0 0 01 0 PlaqittrAnes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 St. 3 c r na rd 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 St. Cbarles 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 St. j a me 3 0 0 -0 0 0 0 0 0 St., j t-A, n 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 '17 7 2 @3 St. @Lvrtin 1@785 it! 1111@97,770 13 1,150 8,920,550 9 640 S to itary 0 1) 0 0 (1 0 0 Sto Ta@mnnny 26 2,100 t7,d56j2O0 20 1,800 13,962,600 20 1,P600 1-3,443,20i Tangipelioa 43S 303-660 2?@9'620,520 425 31,975 247,254,375 4-05 31,000 260,462,001 Terrebonne 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 vermil ion .74 1 QC00 111,619,600 16 2,000 15,514,000 13 7,099,69 @66 2,160,452 2 238 1,846,16G 2 150 1,260,30 Ce-1-1-in of !@j!TimilLmre.' 1964, St,2ti--vic. for tha o t n I- r: nnd i5 (14cshmtton: U. S. Gnv(!rnment Printing Office, 1966), pp. "84-33-7. 101. 1, part '0 t',je J'L@ky i -3. J'inza Dalry Indwstry, R!"ill"C-1 --n j+ (:t' c t. i da ut f Lt..)I I is n C!-,. 13 Fig.- CONCENTRATION OF DAIRY INDUSTRY 41 W 4 4R.. Y. @X 1. 1 ,. r'. , 'I .; 0 f44 POUNDS SHIPPED ANNUALLY CODE NUMBER OF PARISHES iDairy Farms 20 0 - 1 Million 4 1 - 5 Million 5 - 10 Million 13 10 - 20 Million t M7 10 20 - Above Million 9 Prepared from Files of the Louisiana Milk Division of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture by Elvin L. 1101lon. FIGURE 11 MILK PRODUCTION TRENDS LOUI.SIANA COASTAL Z 0 N E 1959-1974 0 0 0 x 1000 0 900- STATE TOTAL 0 800- 700- 40 r 000 0 U. COASTAL % OF STATE TOTAL 0 500 30 Lu co 400 0 300 2 0 0 z::;:s-C 0 A S TA LTOTAL 200 OR AM, 1959 64 69 71 7374 1% CAST EST IIATOW LIVINGAT a TjJ41PAHOA ST. TAMMANY ATOM mousit ACADIA CALCASISO A Al DAVIS ISERV4LL; LAPATE 'a It MARTIN tauslom if A. THE APTIOT It Age It I I A A R 0 V 9 9 T. AS SUMPTION CHARLES AN I L a 0 -1 ca MARTIN 4, M A Y is iv-4416cm apial NAAKSTU111 paoce"Ift FICILIT498 0 p LOU19MOA COASVAL lose 9 A 2 4 A T a It K 8 --0490PAN PLANTS ft.-A if 6#8--g- I LA.e,,4A,N. @1_ Wel 4 CAST IIATO Its TARGIPAPIDA ATOM ROU :t LIVIMSSION St. TA UM A It oust A olprallsom AGVIA CA LG A 8 1 It V DAVIG LAFAVI al sy. MATIS IDERVILLE CENSION pf THE 0 APTIST I 00 a T. Assum WN CHARLES a PT a A R 0 0 V 9 2 Is I L 10 a 0 MARTIN 11.1 A v 0 to p FRUIT is VaGETADLE PROC93SING PLANTS LOUISIANA COASTAL ZONE It a 0 is A "two.. .612 0 @..f It. 0 mvia : 4=41. 0. C`.,It!C,I. .19.9 0 L.W6.. lft@. ---- ------ 2 the canned pack was $38,828,180, the specialty items pack was $14,ZO5,000, and the frozen pack was $1,636,000, Table 1, Page 4. shows the volume and,value of fruits and vegetables frozen in Louisiana during selected seasons from 1950 to.1972. There is no significant trend indicated by these datao The volume of the canned pack has been increasing since the 1951-1952 season and the main products packed have been sweet potatoes and okra. (Table 11, Page 5), This increase has come despite a decline in the amount of fruits and vegetables grown in Louisiana and the Coastal Zone as indicated earlier in this report and by Table III, Page 6. Apparently the processing plants are staying in operation by purchasing farm iroducts *L from other areas. One processor interviewed stated that the local harvests were inadequate to fill specific needs and so products x4ere purchased from out of state. As long as the processors can remain in business, they are a potential buyer for the farmerls produce. Table IV, Page 7, shows'the number of plants in Louis iana that processed various commodities in certain seasons since 1951-1952, Table IV, Page 7. also defines each processing category by the products that are included.in each category. While the number of plants has remained fairly stable, it should be noted that for the 1968-1969 and 1971-1972 seasons, specialty items were counted for Vne first time. The volume and value of the specialty items pack appear to be increasing althou7h this a fairly new category and data are not readily available. 6 a 3 Processing plants have had to spend a significant amount of money in order to clean up their effluent to meet standards of the Environmental Protection Agency. Those plants that have made*large investments are mos Q t J certainly interested in staying in business and would like to have a local supply of raw materials for processing. Proiection The existence of processing plants-in the Coastal Zone represents a potential for expansion of fruit and vegetable production. Fruits and vegetables generally produce high returns per acre but also incur high labor costs, With successful mechanization, these crops could be gr(ran econo-mically on high value land in the Coastal Zone. Large production a C7 4 units would be needed to justify the high cost of harvesting machinery. The potential for groith of fruit and vegetable production in the Coastal Zone exists, but it is difficult to predict to what extent this potential will be exploited. TABLE I VOLUME AND VALUE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FROZEN IN LOUISIANA PLANTS DURING SELECTED SEASONS, 1950-1972. A/ Volume Value Season (1000 Pounds) (1000 Dollars) Products* 1950-51 13,60060 49000 Strawberries, o1cra,, 2qar vegetables,, sweet pota 1956-57 129000 20000 Strawberries, sweet po other items packed in 1959-60 11,800 1,900 Sweet potatces, okra, spinach, blackeyed pea peas, mustard greens, 1962-63 17,218 2,222 Sweet potatoes, strawb vegetables, squash, pqe 1965-66 8,,494 1,018 Sweet potatoes, squash blackberries, okra, o 1968-69 11,748 1,521 Blackberries, banana p okra, okra in bulk sol 1971-72 8,962 1,636 Blackberries, banana p squash, mangos, okra, Includes okra cooled in bulk solution for further proces .1968-692 and 1971-72 seasons. Finished product weig2bt. Estimated wholesale value of finished product at plant, TABLE 11. NUMBER OF CASES OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CANNED BY LOUISIANA PROCESSORS DUR3M SELECTED SEASONS., 1951-1972 Season Product 1951- 1953- 1954- 1955- 1956- 1957- 1958- 1959- 1962- 1965- 1968- 1971- 1952- 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1963 1966 -1969 19720 Thousand Standard Cases Sweet Potatoes 1360 2131 1649 2728 2241 2462 3377 3168 4427 5624 -5646 S345 Okra 354 347 205 17t 164 189 299 193 256 310 337 323 Okra Mixtures 157 164 188 Green Beans 53 37 88 54 26 20 43 34 0 0 Beets 0 48 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 Spinach 7 0 0 0. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 All Others -373 318 148 181 331 409 465 137 262 184 265' 1632. T 0 T A L 2147 2881 2118 3134 2762 3080 4184 3532 4945 6275 6412 7488 I/ Basis 24/303 cans. 2/ Okra mixtures are included in "All Others" prior to 1965. -3/ 1962 and 1965 green bean pack included in "All Others" to avoid revealing confidential-information. 6 TABLE III VEGETABLES FOR COI-21ERCIAL PROCESSING - ACREAGEP PRODUCTION,, PRICE@ AND,VALUE, 1964-1972* Acres Year Planted Harvested Production Value 1,000 Acres Acres Tons Dollars 1964 530 460 1390 68 1965 1460 1330 2740 177 1966 2330 1220 1590 142 1967 1860 1530 4080 388 1968 2360 1850 4590 341 1969 1720 1340 3000 218 1970 1240 1140 2750 212 1971 1140 890 2800 338 1972 710 400 2000 17Z *-Lonnie L Fielder and Sam L. Guy, A,--ricultural Statistics for Louisial 1964-197 DA,E, Research Report No, 458 (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Agricultural Experi=ent Station,, October 1973). TABLE V NUMBER OF LOUISIANA PROCESSING PLANTS MCKING SPEC3:rIED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES DURING SEIECTED SEASONS, 1951-1972. Season - Products 1951- 1953- 1954- 1955- 1956- 1957- 1958- 1959- 1962- 1965- 1968- 1971- -Packed 1952 19-54 1955 _1956 -1957 - 1958 1960 1963 1966, 1969 1972 - Canned Sweet Potatoes 15 16 14 16 16 16 16 14 14 10 12 10 Green Beans 6 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 1 2 0 0 Okra@ 9 9 8 5 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 6 Okra Mixtures Y v 5 5 5 1rozen Sweet Potatoes 1 3 2 2 1 Okra 1/ 2 4 4 2 3 Banana Puree 0 0 0 1 1 Blackberries 1 0 0 Squash 1 1 3 2 0 1 Blackeyed Peas T / T 1 1 2 1 0 0 Crowder Peas T/ 1 2 0 0 0 f/ Leafy Greens 1 1 0 0 0 Mangos JL/ 0 0 0 0 Specialtx Items ,Table Sauces 8 7 Pickled Products 7 7 Total Number of Plants 6/ In State 22 25 21 20 20 19 18 18 19 20 25 23 In Operation EFuring.the Year 18 19 19 19 18 18 17 16 18 15 25 23 11-Data not ascertained for these years. Includes frozen okra a 5 we 11 as okra cooled In bulk solution for further processing. T=ludes mustard greens, collard greens, spinach, etc. Z"/ Includes primarily hot pepper sauce, but also other sauces,, and semi-processed hot sauce in bulk. Includes all pickled hot poppers, pickled peppers, cucumber pickless and pickled okra. T i T 6/ Does not include specialty items plants prior to 1968-69 *eason, PESTICIDES Most efficient farm enterprises in the coastal zone region are highly dependent upon the effective use of agricultural chemicals. Agricultural chemicals include pesticides, plant growth regulators and fertilizers. Presently pesticides are fertilizers are the principal agricultural chemicals used in the coastal zone region. Pesticides are defined as those chemicals used to control or destory harmful insects, weeds, plant diseases, rodents and other types of pests which attack living things or speard disease among plants, animals and mankind. Climate factors in this region are ideal for many forms of agriculture, but these same conditions are likewise ideal for agricultural production, and the losses in the coastal zone region of Louisiana are proportional if not greater. However, with the implementation of modern pest control techniques and the development of new and improved pesticides, crop losses may be reduced significantly. Improved pest control measures may also allow commercial production of crops new to this region. Although Louisiana farmers utilize a variety of pest control techniques, most rely heavily upon the use of pesticides for insects disease, and weed control. In spite of greatly expanded research efforts directly toward development of alternative pest control measures, it is likely that pesiticides will remain remain the principal pest deterrant for the 2 next decade or more. Current trends indicate an increase in pesticide use during this period. Pesticides frequently used for production of major crops grown in the coastal zone region are listed in Table I, Page 5. Pesticides are also used extensively for weed control in industrial areasl, on rights of way, for aquatic weed control, for mosquito and fire ant control and for home and garden pest control. While pesticides play an important role in agriculture and in maintaining living conditions for coastal zone residents, there are hazards associated with this form of pest control. Pesticides can be harmful to humans, livestock, crops and to the environment if improperly used. This question of pesticide hazards has been the subject of much controversy durng recent years. If agriculture is to maintain its present status or to expand within the coastal zone region the industry must be compatible with the environment and with other area industries such as commercial fishing and trapping. Agricultural pesticides if not properly controlled could conceivably conflict with our wildlife and fisheries resources. Pesticides may be immediate and longterm danger to man and the environment. Pesticides with potential for immediate hazard may be highly toxic but of short duration and will breakdown into harmless products in a matter of days or weeks after application. These types of pesticides may be safely used by application techniques which insure that they are precisely placed on the proper target areas. 3 Long term pesticides hazards result from chemicals whicha re peristent in the environment. Some types such as DDT may persist for 10 or more years after application and their full effects upon the environment are yet unknown. Whethr the hazards of these pesticides exceed the benefits provided is a matter of much conjecture and may never be totally resolved. This point is largely academic since registrations for most of the persistent pesticides have been withdrawn and it is not likely that persistent pesticides will be registered for broad field usage in the future. The most common persistent pesticides are of the chlorinated hydrocarbon group. Among these are DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, and chlordane. Biomagnification is a term used to explain some of the hazards of persistent pesticides. This term refers to the accumulation of pesticides within lower life forms which serve as food for higher life forms. As residues move upward through the food chain they become more concentrated or magnified in the higher life forms until dangerous levels result. Some propose this theory to explain diminishing numbers of brown pelicans and certain other wildlife. The extent to which pesticide residues occur in the Louisiana coastal zone region and the hazards involved are difficult to assess. Data were compiled on pesticide residues in waters at various points within the state by the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey and are reported in the 1974 volume of "Water Resources Data for Louisiana". These data indicate that water samples contained either no residue or only minute amount (less than 1 part per billion) of a number of chlorinated hydrocarbon and organic phosphate pesticides. 4 Table II, Page 6, contains data or pesticide residues in waters from the flat lake site in the Atchafalaya River Basin which are generally typical of data recorded for other sampling statins no residues of aldrin, chlordane, DDD, DDE,DDT, diazinon, endrin and heptachlor were detected, and only .01 ppb of dieldrin residue was found. With the recent banning of DDt,Dieldrin, aldrin, chlordane, heptachlor and certain other persistent pesticides by the Environmental Protection Agency future residue problems should diminish to neglibable levels. Judicious use of pesticides will also contribute to a clean environment. Under the New Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act hazardous pesticides can only be applied by or under the supervision of "certified applicators" who have been examined and found competent in the use of pesticides. These regulations become effective in October of 1976 and will insure that pesticides are used safely and judiciously with a minimum of harm to the environment. Agriculture in the Louisiana coastal zone region is compatibel with the environment and iwth environmentally dependent enterprises. Future expansion of agriculture should not contribute under pesticide hazards to the environment if present laws and policies ar enforced. Tid:L. 1. LIST Jr P:11::Cli'V,.L P-"JTIClDZ.)' UM) 0,: Jo,." C"@ 11' T'll _@e Iris cc Lic, j j4CS I'lerbicides --7 atrazine sim-azine alachlor czanazine Cotto"'I C, !3 Uethyl parathion trifluralin parathion diuron t =ail, e ne fluom..turan raonoc.rotophos pr Ome tr-Ine azinpbosme.zhyl Ns"A propanil l.ice 5 00 35 vi-I I I'th ion cirlb-aryl molinate int'@yl parathion 2,4-D carbofuran ZV4,5-T S 0 ye a *;,.,s C.1 a-..- pa ra qua t vaelthyl parathion trifluralin Buthion alachlor' me th Omyl dinoseb 'linuron tratribu=in 2,4-DE bentazon Suza-- Cz na 275,000 suthion f e na c diazinon terbacil TCA trifluralin 2,4-D flalapon atrazine simazine F rn TABLE Il* ANALYSES OF SARPLES, COLLECUM AT taSCELIANEOUS SITES ATClia-MAYA.UVER DAGINs LOUISIAM 11EPTA- DI- Di- I LEM - CHLOP, ALDP.731' CIU.0r,- DDD DDE DDT Azmoti ELDRIN Etmllmi; C11 R EPOXIDE 1,1111MIM DAM ILO (UG/L) (UC/L) .,(UG/L) WG/L) (UG/L) (UG/L) (UG/L) (UGIL) (UG/L) (UG/L) (UGIL) 2943530911140DO - ATCHAFALAYA RIVE, R BASIN FIAT LAKE (LAT 29 43 53 LONG 091 11 40) ocl. IV, '7 3 .00 'o .00 .00 .00 loo .01 loo loo 000 .00 1 V.R. 12 174 .00 .0 loo .00 .00 .00 .00 1100 loo .00 .00 JULY 09 .00 60 .00 loo .00 .00 --- loo .00 loo loo DIS- 11EXA- DIS- SOLVED VALENT DI5- DIS- H 'TllYL L SOLUD IMAL CAD- CllrO- ASOLVED SOLVED V. " i - Pil PIA - pen 2j4,5-T SILVEX ARSENIC BORON lilull Mull col"PER LLAD 1111011.1 TH1017 (AS) (B) (CD) (CR6) (CU) (1,13) (Ur,/L) (UG/L) (UG/L)@ (UG/L) (UG/L) (UGA) (UG/L) (UC/L) (UG/L) (UG/L) (UC/L) 42.94353091114000 ATMVi@IjIYA RIVER MS IN FIAT LNKL (LIT 29 43 53 LONG 091 11 40) SU. 2n, '73 50 -- -- -- -- C-ci. 1.3 .00 .00 .00 .01 1 120 1 0 5 4 Fov. 15 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- VE . C , 13 24-0 J.'";. M '74 40 r"!,A,J". 12 -- -- -- -- 50 %1", , 12 .00 oo .0 .00 .00 10 10 "'Y 30 ll.i6 07 JMX 11 -- -- -- -- 20 -- @;Ul-y oll 0 .00 .00 1 60 0 3 2 .,.UC. U7 -- 30 -- -- -- 17 -- .01 00 11) 50 -paruiv--ot of InLerlot. G 0 0 1. L I i. (.';'I Dzita for I-oitislana". 1971-. UllUk.- Cj S t! 4-C:; FERTILIZER Lack of sufficient plant nutrients is the major factor limiting yields for most crops in the Louisiana Coastal Zone. The area is blessed with a mild climate,long growing season, adequate moisture and long days, but many fields are deficient in some essential elements for optimum yields. The four elements commonly required in quanitity for agricultural production are nitrogen, phosphus, and calcium. The first three are commonly referred to as commercial fertilizer and sold under a designation such as 34-0-0 or 13-13-13. The first number is an indication of the nitrogen in the fertilizer, the second phosphorus, and the third potassium. If only nitrogen is desired a farmer would purchase a mixture such as 34-0-0 or 82-0-0. The extra material (66# or 18#) is a material that has little or no value as a fertilizer. Calcium is usually applied as lime to correct soil acidity and to supply calcium for plant nutrition. Soil acidity limits he availability of some plant nutrients which may be present in the soil but not readily used by the plant because of soil chemistry associated with low pH or acidity. Agricultural experts are well aware of the lack of proper utilization of fertilizer to supply plant nutrients and, almost without utilization of fertilizer to supply plant nutrients and, almost without exception, the "Giant Step II" publication prepared by the area county agents lists lack of fertilizer use as the major factor limiting yields. For many of the main crops the objective for 1978 lised in the 2 publication is to have 40 to 60 percent of the farmers use the recommended amount of fertilizer. Of the three major crops in terms of acreage; rice, sugar cane, and soybeans, the least amount of fertilizer is used by soybeans since as a legume it can utilize nitrogen produced by bacteria associated with its own root system. If the soil pH is maintained at the proper level, phosphorus and potassium may or may not be added for optimum production depending on existing levels already in the soil. In rare instances, one or two minor elements may be depleted and their addition is necessary in very small quantities for best yields. Sugar cane and rice respond well to nitrogen fertilizer however, and the amount of other elements required depends on the soil type and past soil treatment. An additional consideration is the expected crop price at harvest versus the fertilizer cost when applied. Since fertilizer prices have tripled in many areas since 1972, the investment required to produce a crop has increased enough to discourage growers without adequate financial backing. On crops such as rice and wheat the amount of nitrogen that can be applied is limited by the fact that high rates of fertilization will cause lodging, or falling down of the crop resulting in a loss at harvest that my offset the potential yield increase. Table I, Page 5, shows some census data indicating the use of fertilizer by parish. As might be expected the parishes with the highest agricultural production are also those having the highest 3 use of fertilizer. The 50% increase in money spent for fertilizer between 1964 and 1969 is an indication of increased use since the price per ton did not change appreciably during that period. However, fertilizer production is dependent upon the petroleum industry and the rapid increase in the price of oil since the 1969 consus has driven the price of fertilizer so high that use declined last year. There was a 24% decrease in statewide use between 1973 and 1974.1 Lack of knowledge regarding soil chemistry and plant needs frequently results in uneconomical use of applied fertilizer. Also, proper soil pH for a specific crop must be maintained for best yields. Soil tests will indicate if there is a need for application of lime for this purpose. When the soil becomes too acid, some minor elements needed by the plant are not available in sufficient quantity, thus restricting growth even though commercial fertilizer is added. As shown in Table I, Page 5, the lime added in some parishes is rather low and the "Giant Step II" publication indicates this is restricting crop yields in most parishes. When one considers minor crops such as vegetables and fruit, there is a tendency to use more fertilizer since this a minor cost of production. THe amateur gardener is probably the leading offender in 1 Minutes of the meeting of the Louisiana Fertilizer Commission held July 9, 1975. Presented by Mr. Robert Odom, Jr. 4 the excessive use of fertilizer. In some cases enough fertilizer is added to damage the crop or cause a temporary loss of land use because of excessive fertilizer salt. The loss of fertilizer in run-off water from soils in the coastal zone is minimal when applied at the recommended rate. Nitrogen is the element most likely to leach from the soil if excessive rainfall occurs before it is utilized by the crop. The present high cost of nitrogen encourages application timing that minimizes loss from farmland. Unfortunately the high cost of nitrogen also discourages its use on pasture and forage crops where yield potential is high but the future market price of meat is unstable. Since nitrogen finds its way into run-off water from other sources, such as decaying leaves and vegetation, it is difficult to determine the portion attributable to the use of fertilizers. Phosphorus and potassium, when applied as commercial fertilizers, are retained in the soil and subject to very little leaching. Fertilizcr Use".- Lime Anplication Lime Application (Census Data) (Acres) @Tons) Pa r -,:. 5 s 1969 1964 1969 1969 AcaJi-, $ 23 209,671 $1,258,310 1,376 1,526 A s c a. % s i n 176,303 113,204 375 695 A's S -,; -n; -,.a n 288,282 283,670 212 278 Calcasieu 11292,210 694,843 1,389 1,389 Ca=, r on 223,925 134,707 820 1,640 Eas t :'J.," ton Rou3e 2827235 100,950 3,841 4,872 Iber ia 876,878 796#339 1,541 2,955 The rv i I I e 220,675 184,019 265 254 Jefierson Davis 2,555,493 1,262,635 6,250 6,540 J e ,61 fe c s -xi 21,610 2,046 33 11 4,693 Lafa-,CtLe 635,959 313,740 2,868 Lafour-4hc 295,557 378,555. 1.94 157 ,Livin.,-ston 830753 32,897 279 501 Plaquc-iines 30,280 14,795 73 93 St. 3>--rlard 510-444 7,235 St. Charles 38,874 38,094 30 54 St. Janes 171,372 203,722 1,169 1,676 St. j No.-, 78,095 117,730 25 50 St. :.'.a rt in 403s,633 389,592 Ir686 3,853 St, 565,094 651,894 1,591 3,526 St. T a-..--.)a n y @37,327 243,341 -4,502 6,751 Tan-4--a'-ca 1,157,825 768,164 6,649 10,915 r..,.I*l Terreburne 124,597 118,680 170 281 Va =-IL I i on 2,007,603 1-401,758 6,478 7,507 38 76 Rest 3a:on Rou-e 134,323 126,799 T 0 !'A L $14,"18,593 $9,637,769 841,054 60j239 SECTION Il FORESTRY IN THE LOUISIM&A COASTAL ZONE By Emmett.F. Stallings Department of Social Studies (Geography) University of Sout1western Louisiana Lafayette, Louisiana 70501 TABLE OF COVIONTS Chapter Title. Forestry in the Louisiana Coastal Zone, 2 Processing Facilities 3 Projects Recreation in Louisiana Forests 5. Watershed 6 Growth Potential F(MESTRY IN ME LOUISLAYA COASTAL ZONE The explOiLation of the forests of the South-eastern United States was origninally of an entirely extractive nature. Menurent out and cut the trdes in an area usually within a shoit period of time, often as little as three to eight years, and then moved on. The time span for cypress was usually longer due to the difficulty of their removal from the s*4amps* The cutters would return again some thirty or forty years later when sufficient regr(nith had occured to once again make lumbering profitable, The co=aercial cutting began in earnest in Louisiana in the late 1800's. The prirr a species utilized was of course the pinee, This selective cutting gave other species, usually the hardwoods, a comparative advantage so thar. the forest type tended to change from softwood cr mixed to hardwood. This proceis is reflected to some extent in Table V111, Page 40, which indicates that even today there are larger stands of hardwoods in some of the South Louisiana Parishes than was the case before any 61 gnificant interference by van, This type of exploitation resulted in a boom and bust cycle for many srall towns as well as the eventual loss of the pine forests, With the removal of most of the vir-in forest in the Eastern U-nited States the realization eventually set in-that our forest resources were not inexhaustable and ehat something would have to be done to improve the supply of lumber and pulpwood. I-lien the increasing demaud for paper .2 and the improvement of the sulphate process in the 1930's it became profitable to grow pines solely for pulp and this could be done in a relatively short period of time. A large sulphate process mill was established at Panama City, Florida with other mills soon following vhich provided ready markets for the pulp wood, By this time the forests of Louisiana were in large measure cut over with little or no effort having been put into reforestation, Forest fires were also a major problem. There were no new areas of virgin forest within easy reach elsewhere in the United States to fill the demand, The foundation was thus laid for the advent of sustained yield practices. Timber companies understandably did not wish to see themselves go out of busintss because of a lack of wood. Therefore they began to seek ways of maintaining a steady yield of marketable wood& The most obvious, of course, was to plant new trees. Also attention was focused on the development of hybrid trees, the improve- ment of the forest habitat (primarily for pine), better fire prevention and control*, and more efficiency in the use of trees (one of the early cutting practices was to cut off the tree some distance above the ground because an old pine had so much sap near the bass that a log from that portion of the tree would sometimes sink), The forests of Coastal Louisiana fit into this picture in a variety of ways. Our cypress was cut rapidly and completely with little thought of the future. Today there are no virgin stands of any consequence lef t and much of the second growth will not be mature for another 200 years. 3 So--* of the smaller Irees-that were left standing from the early cuttings have now reached a size where limited harvesting is possible but the quality of this inmature wood is gqnerally low. The hardwoods that resulted from the selective cutting and those 77@ that were already present are being rapidly cut and the land converted to pine wherever conditions allow.it. The hardwood is valuable, however, it is often slow growing and a greater return can be gained by producing successive crops of pines. Aa noted in the section.on recreation many people are alarmed by this loss of hardwood forests because a pine forest supports very little in the way of wildlifee As noted above the pine has become the favorite tree of the forest industry in Louisiana. It grows off rapidly, even in thick stands, and can be thinned over the years yielding in the earlier period pulp and in later years.timber. There has been a notable degree of success in daveloping hybrid trees that grow off faster, produce better pulp and lumber, and have a higher resistence to.disease, The demand for wood and vood products is so great that we are forced to import substantial quantities annually into the.United States. The Louisiana Coastal Zone is not heavily forested with the exception of certain areas, Much of the zone is coastal prairie,, especially in the Southwest. Trees were not generally found here at th-a time of settlement except along stream however, when planted they do very well. These prairie lands also lend themselves well to agriculture so consequently there has been littleeffort at affore3tation,. 4 Table 1. Page 30,'sbows the area of each parish and the portion devoted to commercial forest as well as the change since 1964. These figures do not indicate the potential for there are many areas of low grade woodland that could be upgraded to levels of significant timber production. Of the parishes listedt the most valuable stands generally pine, are found in Livingston, Tangipaboa,, and St. Tammany. Some of One other parishes rank very high in hardwoods, Iberville for example, but the level of exploitation is not nearly as high, Table IT,, Page 310 shows growing stock volim on the commercial forest lands. One of the serious problem faced by the.forest industry is the loss of land to other uses and the difficulty of persuading many privata landowners to upgrade their forest, Table 11, Page 30,, shows this loss of co=aercial forest land since 1964, With five exceptions the trend is downward in the Coastal Zone, The Louisiana Forestry Commission reports that (on the basis of U. So Forest Service Surveys) of the original 23,,000,0001 forested acres in the state that l6j00.0,000 acres remained in 1964 and 14,500,000 acres in 1974. In the Coastal Zone the average loss in co=ercial forest land per parish was 8.1% ranging from virtually no change in Iberville to a loss of 51% in Vermilion,, Cmeron and Lafayette and to a ga;Ln of 14% in Laforurr-he,- This loss of c rcial Earles, Jacqueline M., Forest Statistics for Louisiana Parishes U, S, Forest Service, New Orleans, 1975. 5 forest land can '2e expected to continue as 83.69-7.2of the state's population growth from 1960-1970 was in the Coastal Zone.' This growth 17 pattern seems stable and can be expected tb continue although the rate may decline someVnat if oil and gas fields aredepleted and no new ones discovered. in view of these trends the Louisiana Forestry Association. has begun a public relations program centered around the theme "Louisiana's Thir'd Forest," *ThIe timber companies,, wbo own a relatively small proportion of timber producing land., are generally following sustained yield practices and associated upgrading of their lands,, primarily to produce pine. The purpose of this public relations program is to persuade private landowners to do the same thing. Table 13:1. Page 32, shows the specific amount of land held by the various sectors by pariah. If the present trend of planting more trees than are cut is to continue then there must be a large scale effort on the part of fa=iers and other forest landowners. As noted above the loss of forest land is especially great in the Coastal Zone (for the state as a whole the raost rapid loss of forest land has been in the delta area). Table IV, Page 33, and Table V, Page 34, show the specific species of trees in the Coastal Zone in terms of growing stock volume. The hardwoods still predominate,, primarily because of the Atchafalaya Basin. 2Jones & Rice, Ln Economics Base Study.of Coastal Louisiana, Center for Wetlands Resources, LSU, Baton Rouge. 1972. 6 However, they are being progressively cut and replaced by pines where land conditions permit. Table VI, Page 35, shows timber production and value by parish. A detailed treatment of the economic value of forest lands is included in another section of this study. 7 PROCESSING FACILITIES The contribution of the Coastal Zone in terms of its forest products is very significant to Louisiana. Tables I through V1 give a good indication of forest area, types, and species, Of the state's 3 commercial forest land 21%. or 2,183,200 acres, are found in the study area. In general, the forests of the coastal zone are not as productive as those in the rest of the state, For example, in 1974 the Coastal Zone accounted for the following percentages and values of the state total for the categories listed in Table VI, Page 35; saw timber 157., pine pulpwood 11%, hardwood pulpnvood 6%, total stumpage 14% and value delivered to mill 12%. This areas contribution should not be lightly 404k dismissed for the above percentages represent $27,955,909 for value delivered to the mill in 1974. As shown on t1v accompanying map processing facilities are spread across the Coastal Zone but with concentrations in Calcasieu and Tan-ipahoa Parishes. With the exception of the post, pole, and piling companies most of the facilitieSLrepresent primary processing rather than manufacture of a finished product. The paper mills, for example, concentrate mostly on kraft products. There are several furniture manufacturers in the state but none are in the Coastal Zone. A list of the types of facilities as well as specific pl2nts are included in M., Table VII, Pa-e 360 3 Earles, Jacqueline M., Forest Statistics for Louisiana Parishes U. S. Forest Service, Vew Orleans., 1975. L The state is a netimorter of wood. In the states, production, isn't high enough to supply the plants and mills. Thus there-is a .good incentive present for an increase in production, The second grm.;th cypress compose3 a forest of potentially great value. Whether or not the landowners, espcially the large ones,, will elect to institute sustained yield practices for the cypress remains to be seen, 9 PROJECTS Following is a list of projects proposed and in the-process of being, instituted in the Louisiana coastal zone that have significance to forestry interests. Projects are included that are of significance to co=ercial forest interests as well as to those who are concerned with areas of forest that may have little or no value for ti=ber production. Frequently forests of the latter type are of vez7 high value for flood control and watersheds, wildlife, and recreation. U. S. Corps of Engineers Projects Baton Rouge Harbor-Devil's Swamv Beginning in 1958 a 121 deep 2001 wide chaimel was constructed for a distance of 2-12- miles from a bend of-the Mississippi inland nearr the north city limits of Baton Rouge. Land clearing along this channel has taken place as various industries ha ve located there. The project calls for an ultimate length of 5 miles; the extension to be constructed wben there is sufficient demand for industrial sites, This extension, when and if constructed, will result in additional clearing of forest land for industiral sites. Lake Ponchartrain. Louisiana, and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Project New Orleans and its environs are not adequately protected at this tire from a strong hurricane in terms of flooding. This plan envisions the improvement of existing levees as well as the construction of new levees and water control structures. The new control-structures would 6 7' 10 be built across the Rigolets, Chef Menteur Pass, and in the Seabrook complex. There are two areas included in this plan where the increased and improved drainage is expected to result in a conversion of forest land to urban uses. The St. Charles Pariah levee, construction of which is in doubt, would involve the conversion of 24,770 acres of marsh, swamp, and open water to urban uses. An additional 916 acres of land would be required for right of way and construction. It is unlikely that this levee will be built because of the inclusion of Bayous Trepagrier and La Branche in the Louisiana Watural. and Scenic Rivers System, Currently this part of the project is indefinitely deferred. The Chalmette area plan would alter the condition of 16,312 acres of swamp and make it fit for urban land uses. It is expected that most of this area would eventually be converted to urban lana uses. These two areas are currently of limited value in terms of forestry and vill, probably remain so until the second growth cypress reaches a higher level of maturity. East Atchafalava Levee to blississivoi River Morganza to Gulf A Corps of Engineers study is underway in this area to see if actions can be talcen to alleviate future flood conditions similar to those occuring during 1973. A considerable portion of this area is forested both with hardwoods and cypress. Thus any flood control plan has the potential of changing the forest regimes. L Vew Orleans Baton Rou7,e Metropolitan Area Study The Corps is presently making a general study of this region to delineate prdbic-m areas. At a later. stage,specific problem will be examined and possible solutions outlined.' Until specific proposals are made it is impossible to determine the potentiai effects on the forests, The parishes involved are: East Baton Rouge,, West Baton Rouge, Orleans,, nerville, Jefferson, Ascension, St. James, St. John the Baptist, Assumption, St. Charles, Lafourche, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines. U. S. Soil Conservation Service Project Lat-4 Verret Watershed This proposed project represented a joint effort between three parish police jurie s and the U, S. Soil Conservation Service. In the proposal the area to be included is described as follows:* The watershed covers 246,000 acres in the southeastern part of the state, It includes 2Z1300 acres (34.84 sq. mi.) in Ascension Parish, 104,500 acres (163.28 sq. mi.) in Assumption Parish and 119,200 acres (186.25 sq, mi.) in Iberville Parish. Approximately 33% oE the area is cropland, 8% is pasture, 51% is woodland, and 87. is in miscellaneous use3. 7he@miscellaneous area includes roadsj channels, industrial sites, farmsteads, urban areas, etc. The heart of this plan involved -the channelization of about 230 miles of streams and waterways, Other measire3 would also be taken t o improve drainage. Should this plan be put into effect it would allow the conversion of a significant part of the forested land in this area to be converted to farmland and some of the areas presently in hardwoods to be converted to pine production, 12 It appears unlikely at the present time that this plan will be imple:aented. The mayor of Morgan City led a successfiA effort to stop it on the basis that the improved drainage.upstream along with increased siltation would only make the already bad flood problems of Hargan City even worsev This project is now in limbo. 13 RECREATION IN LOUISIANA FORESTS 4 The recreational value of forests varies according to: (1) How far people are willing to travel ior such recreation (2) What kinds of activities they prefer or demand (3) What kinds of equipment they wish to use (4) 'What seasonal use patterns they will insist upon (5) How much crowding they are willing to tolerate at the recreation. site and on the road to and from Barring an astroncmical increase in the price of gasoline a liberal interpretation of these factors indicates that the recreational potential of Louisiana forests is extremely high. In Louisiana 617.@ of the people, or over 2,300,000 individuals, live within the Coastal Zone. Thus there is hardly a shortage of people to utilize recreational potential whether it be forest oriented or centered upon other possibilities. Tourism and recreation are important sources of income in Lou isiana, however, they fall far short of the actual potential. Most out of state tourists are he=ded for New Orleans whereas residents make a propor- tionately greater use.of other areas. Our potential becomes evident when one takes the time to campare Louisiana to a state like Florida. The Coastal Zone ranks very higb in both total potential and developed 4Clawson, 'Marion, Forests for Whom and for Mat% -Tohns Hopkins. 1975. Jones & Rice, An EconorLic Base Studir of Coastal Louisiana Center For Wetlands Resources, LSUV Baton Rouge, 1972. 14 potential when con-pared to the rest of the state, although that isn't saying much. Most of the activity centers araund hunting and fishing as uvll as some of the historical sites, There are other cultural attractions not related to the coastal environment. much of the Coastal Zone is devoid of lar ge forests of commercial value with several notable exceptions, Most if not all of the pariihes have some forest that is of value from a recreational viewpoint. Forest related recreational activities revolve around bunting, hiking, camping, and in so=e of the swamp forests fishing. Most of the land is privately owned with the exception of several large wildlife refuges. Many of the more desirable tracts are leased out to Individuals or clubs or posted. The wildlife refuges and state parks tend to be in the non-forested areas, 7be paucity of forest related recreational dewlop--ent is shown by a survey of a tourist brochure compiled by the Evangeline Economic Developr*nt District under the direction of Tony Perot& This brochure covers the eight parishes of the Acadiana Planning and Development District. Of those Parishes in the coastal zone (Vermilion, Acadiaj, Lafayette, St, Mirtin,, roeria, and St. Diary) there were onlylour attractions *that could be,ter=ed forest oriented.. These attractions do not include several notable trees that were listed such as the live oak on the &rounds of St. John's cathedral in Lafayette. In one case, Sumamp Gardens in Morgan City, the setting is primitive stya=p forest with little modification by man. Longfellow-Evangeline, State Park 17 near St, Martinville maintains primarily native vegetation but in a 17: modified condition. The other two attractions, Jungle Gardens on Avery Island and Rip van Winklets Live Oak-Gardens on Jefferson Island, both have a forest setting but with a highly modified environment includin- the introduction of exotic species. Notably absent were forest preserves of any type that included nature trails, camping, and hunting and fishing (Swamp Gardens is a very small park entirely within the city limits of Morgan City and does include a natu re trail). A listing of state parks with a forest type environment is included on Page 13. One of the favorite forms of recreation for the state as a whole as vvll as the coastal zone is hunting. Most of the hunting is associated with waterfowl, however, several forest type areas rank quite high especially for dear and squirrel hunting, Onecof the more producti;;e type'areas for fish and wildlife is the swarp forest. The abili. of a body of water to support marine ty life is greatly.enhanced by the periodic flooding that is characteristic of this situation. Periods of low water in the swamp forest tend to inhibit the grototh of thick masses of water vveds, at least until the debut of the hyacinth, whereas during periods.of high water the marine creatures spread out through the area reaping a food bonanza. Such an area can support a standing crop of 400-600 pounds per acre of marine life with peaks during favorable periods reaching 972 pounds per acre, 6 6Winn, Bill & Palermo* Ray, "Acorns a la Carte," Louisiana Conservationist, May/June, 1975. 16 Much land of this type is found in the Atchafalaya Basin. Nowever, as is well kno,.m, the character of the great swamp is being rapidly chaned by siltationi, For hunting purposes the bottomland hardwoods are especially attractive. Here the presence of oak and other nut bearing trees in large numbers supports a dense and varied population of wildlife. More than 90 animals and birds, many of them valuable for food or fur., depend on oak mst either as a staple or as a supplementary food 7 item in their diets, '6ben selected cutting occurs the forest floor produces good br(x4sing plants for deer and rabbits. As long as varied stands of trees remain both in terms of age and species productivity remains high, During periods of winter flooding waterfowl will frequent the area to feed off acorns and other foods that are available. Several serious problems are in evidence concerning forest associated recreation in the state which are applicable to the coastal zone. These are the loss of forest land to agriculture and urban uses and the change in character of many of our forests, Table VIII, Page 40, sho%m the losses of bottomland hardwood acreage during the 1960's. As can be determined from this table the losses of this type @f land to other uses is rapid. The clearing 7 Yancey, Richard K. "Our Vanishing ds 9 , Delta Hardwoo Louisiana Ccn3ervationist, @@rch/April, 1970. 17 of the land is only one part of the picture, The other part involves a basic change in the character of the forest. As noted earlier the reason for this change in forest type is fo'und in the economic realm. Nartely, harCh4ocds are valuable but -tend to be slow growing. If the ormer is to maximize his income from forest land then it is 13i his - best interest, once the hatchioods have been removed, to replace them with the generally more rapidly grm;ing pines. Soon after a pine forest is established the lands ability to support wildlife becomes very Icr.# in that a pine forest provides almost nothing in the way of food for the animals. Sometimes the conversion is possible with the existing drainage whereas in other instances it is necessary to improve drainage, often through channelization, Drainage improvements normally mean a sharp reduction in marin'elife. Large timber producers have tended to follow this pattern with the resultant loss of our hardwood forests. 7he trends 0! the 1960's have continued on the 1970's and it is the opinion of many that we will -tritness the. demise of the hardwood forests as a major type in the state, The industry's attitude towards this problem and multiple use forestry practices in general is clearly shotin in the following quote: 8 Forest industries can help both the region and themselves by rAintaining attractive forested strips along road3 and in They may also wish to provide roadside view of scenic outlooks. 8Southern Forest Resource Analysis Co=.-1969, The South's Third Forest, 1969, p. 197. L parks that contain tables, water, toilets, and trash receptacles for travelers. Such facilities need not be expensive, and part or all of the cost might be paid by the public in exchange for the use of the land, Roadside strips can and should be converted into demonstrations of multiple-use forestry* Losses in timber production and added costs of harvest in these strips eventually shm-ld be ccr-pensated for by public funds or tax reductions. Louisiana has purchased some tracts in the northern part of the state to @nsure that we have at least a few areas of this type left, The state has also acquired large tracts of the Pearl River bottom lands.._--_In the coastal zone the major areas of hardwoods remaining are in the Pearl and Atchafalaya Basins where some land is under either public omership or control. Thus the possibility of saving some of the hardwoods in the coastal zone is still with us. Fortunately the swamp forest is more difficult to change in character througb cutting practices, 7he min dang ger to these forests is through drainage. Following is a list of publicly owmed or managed lands having in.who le or part a forest type e-swiroment: Laccassine National Wildlife Refuge This Federal refuge is mostly a r-arsh type enviro=--ent, however, so,--e sivarap forest is present in the northern part. Frivary activities are hunting and fishing with so-me commercial trapping. Bonnet Carre Wildlife Nanagement Area: 3,800 acres in St. Charles Parish. Hardwood terrain; center portion rich in aquatic and se--i-aquatic plants. Squirrels on both the east and west boundaries. Quail--fair. Dave, woodcock, duck, coot, snipe, and rail--found in varying numbers during 19 winter months. No deer on the area. Access via Hwy. 61. Interior dirt roads. Camping on designated areas--one public site on Hwy. 61 in Norco. Manchac Wildlife Management Area: 5,200 acres in St. John Parish between Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas. Marshland terrain. Duck, snipe, rail, and gallinule--good. Rabbit and woodcock--fair. Deer--poor. Entrance by boat only off Hwy. 55 at Manchac via Pass Manchac or North Pass. Interior lacks major waterway network. Limited high ground. No camping permitted at this time. Pearl River Wildlife Management Area: 26,986 acres in St. Tammany Parish. River swampland. Turkey--excellent. Deer and squirrel--good. Rabbit--fair. Unmarked hogs. Experimental raccoon season. Highway access excellent; I-10 bisects the tract. Interior access largely by small outboard boat. Camping on designated areas--one campsite on the west side of the area is opened for public use (Crawford's Landing). Point-Au-Chien Wildlife Management Area: 28,243 acres approximately 15 miles southeast of Houma. Slightly brackish marsh; timber stands adjacent to natural bayous and oil company levees. Deer, rabbit, squirrel, rail, and waterfowl--good. Morning hunting only for waterfowl. Rabbit hunting with beagles allowed after waterfowl season closes. Access by driving to Point-au-Chien from Houma on Hwys. 55 and 65. Boat ramp at the end of the road at Point-au-Chien. Marine access through Grand Bayou and St. Jean Charles Canal. No campgrounds. 20 Sabine Island Wildlife Management Area: 8,103 acres in west-central Calcasieu Parish. Mostly wetland habitat; some bottomland hardwoods. Rabbit--good. Deer, squirrel, duck--fair. Morning hunting only for ducks. Entrance via Hwy. 109; interior access mainly by boat. No major roads on the tract. No campgrounds. Salvadaor Wildlife Management Area: 27,500 acres in St. Charles Parish. Freshwater marsh type; numerous ponds; cypress stands along the northern extremity. Deer, rabbit, squirrel, rail, and waterfowl--good. Morning hunting only for all game species. Access via (1) Bayou Segnette from Westwego into Lake Cataouatche; (2) Seller Canal to Bayou Verret into Lake Cataouatche; and (3) Bayou Des Allemands to the south-west end of the area or on into Lake Salvador and back into the area from Bayou Couba and Lake Cataouatche. Interior access only by boat. No campgrounds. 21 Iisting of State--Parks With a Forest Type Environment 1. Fairview Riverside State Park (P. 0. Box 152, Mandeville, T.A 70447) is located two miles east of Madisonville in St. Tan--.any Parish on La. 22. The park consists of 98 acres of picturesque moss-draped oaks and woodlands near the banks of the Tchefuncte River., 2. Fontainebleau State Park (P. 0. Box 152, Mandeville, U 70448) is located southeast of Mandeville in St. Tammany Parish on U. S. 190. The park embraces over 2700 acres on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, Nature trails$, the ruim of a plantation brickyard and sugar mill, and an alley of live oaks lining the entrance road are popular assets of the park. 3. Lonsfellow-Evanseline State Cor=enorative Area (P, 0, Box 129P St, Martinville, LA 70582) is located three miles northeast of St. Martinville in St. Martin Parish on La. 31, along the banks of the Bayou Teche. Development is centered around an Acadian house of the late 18th century and its kitchan-garden. Also of'note is the Acadian craft shop, an accurate wood and mud replica of an old Acadian cottage. The.157-acres park and its structures interpret the history of the early.French settlers of Louisiana, 22 4, Niblett's Bluff State Commemorative Area (Route 4. Box 212, Lake Charles, 1A 70601), a 32-acre site located an the Sabine River in Calcasieu Parish, was the site of a Civil liar ammunition supply point, 5, Sam Houston State Par),- (Route 4, Box 212* Lake Charles, 1A 70601) is located twelve miles north of Lake Charles an La, 378 in Calcasieu Parish. Situated at the confLuence of the Eouston River, the west fork of Calcasieu River,, and Indian Bayou, the 1068-acre tract features several lagoons and many-nature trails which penetrate the densely wooded area. 23 I-ATERS11ED One of the most si-nificant values of a forest is its role as a watershed. Two iraior functions of a water6hed, streamflow regulation and nroundwater recharge, are of special interest here, Major determinants of str*eamflow are the nature of the precipi- tation (rate, duration, form, and extent) and the condition of the land. The condition of the land or soil is the major determinant of concentration time, flow rates, and infiltration. At this point man obviously has little control of clirAtic factors, therefore, the beat possibilities for control lie in the condition of the land. Groundwater rechar&e occurs in most areas where there is sufficient precipitation and a permeable subsoil. Tn'some areas this recharge is of pri-.-Arily local significance in that the soil moisture and groundwater are re?linished only for that imc diate area whereas in certain areas there may be large quantities of water entering aquifers that are major sources of groundwater for agricultural industrial,, and municipal users some of which may be miles away from the zone of recharge. Again the condition of the land or soil is of major significance in dete=aining the nature of groundwater recharge. Happily the factors which result in a generally desirable strea=flow pattern are likewise tho@fe which enhance recharge. Of the major factors affecting streamflcr; and recharge the ground cover is one of the most importanto The longer the concentration time the more favorable the situation becomes for recharge, and evenness U 24 of streamflow. The shortest concentration time or the most rapid runoff generally occurs on bare ground where a layer of dense soil soon develops as a result of the raindrops breaking up the soil acrarecrateso Such a layer may become almost impermeable after a short 00 a period of time. The slowest runoff And the greatest infiltration generally occurs where the land is forested, Runoff is slowed by a forest because a considerable amount of water is retained by the leaves and branches of the trees to be released slowly to the forest floor or evaporated back into the atmosphere. Also the forest flo*r is often covered by leaves, branches, and twigs and underlain by hu,-=s. Thus water is retained at ground level by these organic materials for a longer period of time thus increasing percolation. Recharge is enhanced and streamflew peaks are smoothed as compared to non-forest streams. In swamps and marshy areas the effect is much the s.-=e in that the profusion of vegetation and the slowness of drainage retards rapid water moverrant and likewise smoothes flow cycles and euhances recharge. In Louisiana subsidence of the land has occured in the vicinity of Baton Rouge and New Orleans partially due to the removal of groundwater wit1hout adequate replenishment either throu-h normal or artificial recharge. When forests are cut and channels cleared of vegetation and other obstructions to flow, (often through channelization) and streamflow curves tend to become more extreme with a resulting increase in siltation and flood dama-e. The myor of Mor-an City successfully 25 opposed a plan to channelize several hundred miies of vaterways in the watershed of Lakes Palourde and Verret, His contention was that channelization would result in better drainage with the conversion of thousands of acres of nmrshy and swampy land into farming areas. Streamfl7a extremes would increase as would siltation. The water supply of Morgan City would be jeopardized with additional filling of the already shallcrw lakes and the already precarious position of Morgan City in respect to flooding would further deteriorate. Had this project been carried out runoff could have been expected to increase by 10 to 20 inches per year, There is a lack of knowledge of the major recharge areas in the state as a whole and the coastal zone. One of the prime research needs for effective coastal zone r-Anagement is a study of ground water conditions, 26 GROWTH POTENTIAL The continuing growth of the United States population is resulting in a removal of land from the production of trees. More people mean more land for agricultural, urban, transportation and other uses. The only obvious way at this time for an increase in wood production is to intensify output on the present and constantly shrinking acreage. The forest industry is doing a good job in moving towards this goal on company owned land. However, in the state of Louisiana 73%9 of the forest land is privately owned, much of it in small plots. Generally the less desirable land has been relegated to the growth of trees since the economic return from this activity is one of the lowest for any type of land use. The large land owner (1,000 acres plus) has an incentive to apply technology to the production of trees. However, the economic return from a few hundred or less acres seldom offers sufficient economic return for the owner to go the trouble of applying management techniques. In the last few years economic changes have been such that it is becoming more attractive for even the small land owner to apply advanced management techniques. Also the Louisiana Forestry Commission and the U. S. Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service now provide ready assistance to the landowner. The forest industry has begun a 9 Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service, LSU, 1973. 27 concerted public relations effort airred at the private cniner. It is entitled "Louisiana's Third Forest." It is their hope that the message will get across and a higher production will result. The Coastal Zone fits fairly well into the previously outlined patterns. One exception is the relatively large acreages of second growth cypress slowly edging toward maturity, Once these trees attain a marketable size the economic return from their harvest will be very great. At tlu present tiox good clear cypress, if it can be found, sells for more than mhooany at Lafayette lumber yards and this situation doesn't seem likely to change.. The hardwoods found in the coastal zone are on the way out,, at least on lands that will support pins. The price for hardwoods would have to double for them to become economically attractive an a par with pine. There will always be hardwoods for many areas simply will not land themselves to the growth of'pine,, that is, unless someone comes up with an exotic softwood species that will do well in such a habitat.. Thus the production of hardwoods can be expected to decline Until apoint is reached where most of the land suitable for pines is being used for that purpose. Forest land losses in the Coastal Zone are running slightly ahead of the rest of the state and are likely to acclerate in the future as most of the statets population growth is occuring here. The change from forest and farms to urban uses will remove additional amounts of land from production, At this point there seems to be little hope of 28 significant increases in timber production with the exception of the eventual harvesting of the cypress which mayor may not be done on a sustained yield.basis. The most likely future trend will be downwards; depending somewhat on the success of the "Third Forest" effort, SUMARY Forestry in the Coastal Zone is. of major economic significa=e primarily in Livingston, Tangipahoa and St. Tammany Parishes. 7hese L parishes are the location of the most valuable softwood forests, Calcasieu Parish has a large group of processing facilities, However, much of the wood vsed there is brought in from other parisbes and from Texas. The character of the forests is changing as landowners sm-;itch over to pine production, as opposed to hardwoods, where conditions permit. Improved drainage tends to speed this process. This change is economically attractive to the companies because of the more rapid grcruth and higher value of pine. From a recxeati-onal viewpoint the change is a disaster because a pine forest supports.very little in the way of wildlife, especially as it matures, Land reclamation proPets and urban growth are tak-ing their toll of forest land with acreages decreasing yearly. This trend seems certain to c6ntinue.as most of the state's population growth is occuring in the Coastal Zone. About the only hope for an increase 29 in wood output on 8 long term 1,85 is lies with the desire and ability -ing forest of landmmers to intensify production on the ever shrink land. If a growth in output should occur because of better management itwill be unlikely to continue in a long term situation, After the second grcr.4th cypress is harvested a decline can be expected unless the land losses are stopped and most landowners apply sustained yield management techniques. The economic yield may hold steady or even increase over the long term due to the increasing scarcity of wood. The timber companies and 'the large timber producing landowners are unlikely to approve of or support any type of coastal zone management plan, The heart of such a plan is the multiple use concept with a determination of and weighing of the various alternatives, If forced to employ a multiple use approach to forest lands the owners will receive less income and society more from these lands, Forest interests realize this and will oppose any plan that might require them to weigh the benefits to society on a par with their own economic return. Attached are statea.*nts from the Southern Forest Products Association,, The Louisiana Forestry.Commission,. and the Louisiana Forestry Association that should be of value in formulating a coastal zone rAnagement plan for Louisiana. 30 TABLE I TOTAL AREAS CMIERCIAL FOREST LAND,, AND PRO'PMTIO,4 OF TOTAL AREA,, 1974, AND CHANGE SINCE 1964 Comercial Forest Total Change Sinc; Parish Area Area Proportion 1964 Percent Thousand Acres ACADIA 424.3 66.0 16 8 ASCENSION 197,1 97.2 49 6 ASSMMTION 243.2 138.6 57 3 CALCASIEU 714.9 192.5 27 21 CAMERON ------- ----- EAST BATON ROUGE 302,1 106.4 35 19 IBERIA 414.1 121,9 29' + 6 IBERVILLE 411.5 279.3 68 1 JEFFERSON --- ----- JEFFERSON D&VIS 423.0 68.2 16 17 LAFAYETTE ------- LAFOURCHE 865.9 178.2 21 + 14 LTV7,GSTON 443.5 336.0 76 6 ORLEANS ------- ST, BERMkRD ------- - --- - ST, CHARLES 270.7 76.8 28 + 12 ST, JMIES 165.8 85.5 52 ST, JOH-Aq 238.1 99.6 42 + 6 ST. KART 1N 514,6 305.5 '59 - 2 ST. MARY 453.8 148.5 33 +.4 ST. TAt M-NY 738.6 378.2 51 ft6 TANGI?A',iQA 543.4 306.0 56 - 12 TERREBON'ME 1,144.3 113.4 10 - 7 2s113.3 23.4 1 - 51 A TeMST BATON R()UGE, 1,35.7 62.0 46 - 10 (1) Includes Cameron and Lafayette SOURCE: Forest Statistics for Louisiana Parishes Earles, 1975. 31 TABLE II GROWL;G s-zoa v&ws ON =-t@!ZRCTAL FOREST LANID BY SPECIES CROUP. 1974 Parish All Species Softwood Hardwood Million Cubic Feet ACADIA (1) 86,6 14.2 72.4 ASCENSION 122.4 28.4 94.0 ASSUZH?TI0N 308.0 142.9 165.L CALCASMEEU 139,3 77.4 61.9 FAST BATCN ROUGE 87,5 13.5 74.0 IBERIA 125,9 52.9 73.0 IBERVILLEE 335,2 76.6 258,6 JEFFERSON DAVIS 84.7 47.9 36.8 LAFOURClil-: 251.5 107,3 144,2 L1VnTGS'-rC.N 399.9 210.5 189.4 ST. CHAITULES 71.3 27.9 43.4 ST, JAMES 148.0 52.1 95.9 ST. JOM 183.6 76.3 107.3 ST. MARTIN 366.6 107.5 259.1 ST, ":ARY 169,9 61,6 108.3 ST, TA12-1-ANY 412.6 268.0 1".6 TANGIPAHOA 313.7 186.0 127.7 Tz- &U 3ON-11171 180,2 90A $9.8 14EST BATal ROUGE 92,0 92.0 (1) Includes Catreronx Lafayette, and Vermilion SOURCE: Forest Statistics for Louisianalariahes, Earles, 1975. r-T TABLE in COMERCIAL FOREST LAND BY OWNERS111P.ClASS, 1974 Parish All National Other Forest Farmer Misc. Ownersbips Forest Public Industry Private Cn Thousand Acres ACADIA 66.0 o.4 17,8 47.8 ASCr.14SION, 97*2 3,8 0*69 10.9 82.5 ASSUKPTION 138-6 3.4 25.5 109.7 CALCASIEU 192:5 ago* 9.6 11.4 111.0 EAST BATON ROUGE- 106.4 fee* 3,0 38.5 64,9 IBERIA 121.9 *00* 3.5 5.4 113.0 IBERVILLE 279.3 4'.6 ;;.8 28.8 166.1 JLFrfRSON DAVIS 68.2 .1 12.8 55.3 TAFOURCHE 178.2 1.6 33.3 143.3 LIVINGSTON 336.0 .9 156.0 23.6 155.5 ST. CIMRIES 76,8 3.8 4.8 68.2 ST. JAMES 85,5 age. .3 0904 5.8 79,4 ST. J01M 99.6 *900 .3 8.4 90-19 ST, MARTIN 305.5 **00 28.9 6.6 270.0 ST. 31RY 148.5 *000 115 61,1 85.9 ST. TtJLxYWY 378.2 00*0 29.1 24.4 324.7 TANCIrA'HOA 306.0 0000 4.6 55.2 210.5 TERREBOINNS 113.4 0000 2.0 1911 92.3 VERMILION (1) 23,4 0004 (2) 23.4 WEST BATON ROUGE 62.0 .4 30.6 (1) Cameron and Wayetto Included (2) Negligible SOURCE: Forest Statistics for Louisiana Pariabes, Earles, 1975. IL LLL@ LL-@L 10- @N 7,70W. TABLE IV GROWING STOCK VOLUME OF S01TWOODS ON Caox-RCIAL FOv1.ST TAND BY FOREST TYPE, 1974 Parish All Types Longleaf- Loblolly- Oak-pine Oak- Oak, gum Elm, ash slash Pine shortleaf hickory Cypress Cottonwood Pine Million Cubic Feet ACADIA (1) 14,2 0000* 6.0 *000 1.1 7,1 00#0 ASCENSIOIT 28.4 *9*06 9.7 04*0 15 18.2 0000 AS@MIPTION 142,9 00*00 00000 0**# **so -142.9 a #so C&WASIE'U 77.4 22,8 23,1 16.7 4.6 10.2 0000 EAST BATON ROUGE 13.5 go*** 3o5, L4 7.8 .8 IBErIA 52.9 80000 .0*00 0000 49.4 3.5 IBERVILLE 76o6 00000 00*00 0000 000 0 70.0 6o6 JEFFERSON DAVIS 47.9 0*1000 26,7 10.9 2.8 7.5 _LAFOURCHE 107.3 **904 107.3 LIVINGSTON 210.5 04*00 33.0 ST. CHARLES 27,9 00009 00*40 0006 4,0-4 27.9 00.0 ST. JANES 52.1 40000 000*0 0 0 * a 52.1 0-000 ST. JOHN 76,3 0*000 00900 .00* 76o3 ST. MARTIN 107.5 00004 *V4410 0 83.5 19.0 ST. MARY 61,6 6,9 61.6, a ... ST. TAIMNY 268.0 4 9.6 18.4 M5 i;:, TAIWIFAHOA \186,0 31A 98.1 19.6 10.7 25.4 TERREBONNE 90.4 00000 0006* so** #000 9C.4 0000 (1) Includes Cameron, Lafayette, and Vermilion SOURCE: Forest Statistics for Louisiana Parishes, Earlos, 1975, Ask w @ a a TABLE V GROInNG STOCK VOLUME OF HARDWOODS ON COMIERCIAL FOREST LAND BY FOREST TYPF," 1974 Parish All Types Longleaf- Loblolly-. Oak-pina Oak- Oak, gum Elm, ash slash Pine shortleaf hickory Cypress Cottomiood -d Pine Million Cubic Feet ACADIA (1) 72A 00*9 .9 4.4 67.1 0000 ASCENSION 94.0 00*0 00*0 3,0 9110 0000 ASSWIPTMH 165,1 6*0* 0600 00*0 165.1. 6000 CALCASIEU 61.9 18 8.2 14.1 38,8 EAST BATON ROUGE 74.0 3.8 17.1 52.7 .4 IBERIA 73.0 000* 51.4 21.6 IBERVILLE 258,6 044-V 207,7 50.9 JEFFERSON DAVIS 36.8 7.3 14 .9 10.4 LAFOURCHE 144.2 141.5 LIVINGSTON 189.4 0640.60 138.1 1* 6 ST. CIIARLT-:S 43.4 0 0 0000 0400 36.6 6.8 ST. JAI-ICS 95,9 0000 0000 00*0 .000 95.9 ST. JO11N 107.3 *006 0000 0*00 so*. 107.3 ST. RN RT IN 259.1 9*00 2.6 158.1 :;4 ST. N@RY 108.3 00?0 6000 102.6 5o7 ST. TA1.01ANY 144.6 6.4 24.1 97.7 TANGIPAHOA 127,7 . 09 10.9 l3ol 26.9 72.6 TERREBONNE 89.8 000* see* 89.3 14EST BATON ROUGE 92.0 we** 75.1 (1) Includes Cameron, Lafayette, and Vermilion SOURCE: Torest Statistics for Louisiana Parishes, Earlest 1975. AMbk Aj TABLE VI Tn4BM- PRODUCTION AND VALUE BY PARISH, 1974 Parish Saw Pine Hardwood Total Value Delivered Timber Pulpwood Pulpwood Stumpage To Mill Board Face Cords Cords Dollars Dollars ACADIA 498369249 llp332 141 373,889 806,354 ASCENSION 2609246 27 lt969 23,.524 76,624 ASSUI.IPTMDN 6179835 149 955 259192 74P292 CALCASIEU 2090791133 459662 356 1,828p8O2 3,4880951 CAMERON 0 0 32 85 .789 EAST BATON ROUGE 4s9479411 1,220 2,559 3450152 608j460 IBERIA 0 14 9 109 629 IBERVILLE. 6,370,847 48 452 2261,055 492,910 JEFFLRSON 30,191 4 0 1,103 2 9 1i 01. JEW-ERSON DAVIS 42997,967 11,510 400 434,648 859,298 LAFAYETTE 0 0 8 21 195 1"OURCHE 19590,640 0 0 56,070 119,950 LIVINGSTON 72310060246 629492 33,225 6,392,366 10089,306 0 it I.E. ANS 94,.616 314 16 3,584 8,511 PlAQUEHINES 0 5 6 44 2,(30 ST. JAMES 219,177 217 443 102195 33,562 ST. JOHN 235,502 0 10 8,328 16,007 ST.- MARTIN 32131,376 77 9 159,028 280,393 ST, MARY ls,505,,936 4 2 18 72,359 131,682 ST. TA141ANY 29,370,459 840877 3,711 2,614,213 41,457,853 TANGIPAIIOA 27,805,312 58,943 1-1,655 2,504,492 5,192,240 TEITX-BONNE 21372,197 49 4 83,925 180,375 VErd41L10N 0 26 53 293 22053 WST BATON ROUGE 20561,328 6 1,524 94,344 230,786 SOURCE'.: "Giant Step II Parish Progress Reports," La. Coopcrative Ext ons ion* Service, Cas3ens and Main, 1974. Adak TABLE VII Parish CALCASIEU EAST BATON ROUGE IBERVILLE ST. MARTIN ST. TAMMANY TANGIPAHOA TERREBONNE ACADIA CALCASIEU Firm Large Sawmills1 Koppers Co., Inc.3 Louisiana Pacific Corp.3 J. & H. Hardwood Lumber Co.3 Plaquemine Hardwood Inc.3 A. Wilbert & Sons Industries South Louisiana Sawmill Co., Inc. Jenkins Lumber Co., Inc.3 Batson Lumber Co., Inc.3 Clemons Bros. Lumber Co., Inc.3 Edward Hines Lumber Co.3 Ponchatoule Lumber Co., Inc.3 Southern Tupelo Lumber Co., Inc.3 Tremont Lumber Co.3 Taylor Lumber Co.3 Small Sawmills1 Esthays Sawmill Vincent Lumber Co.3 Plant Location DeQuincy DeQuincy Zachary Plaquemine Plaquemine Cade Folsom Natalbany Amite Flukor Ponchatoula Ponchatoula Ponchatoula Gray Evangeline Sulphur Plant Address2 Box 836 Box 1011 Box 339 Box 701 Box 694 Box 126 Rt. 4, Box 198, Franklinton Box 158 Hwy. 515 Box 608, Amite Box 447 Box 487 Box 248 Box 1074, Thibodaux Box 411 Parish IBERVILLE JEFFERSON DAVIS ST. MARTIN ST. TAMMANY TANGIPAHOA Firm Small Sawmills1 Perkins Door Co. Varise Conner Mill Ulysses Fontenot Jr. Sawmill Southwest Timber Co., Inc. Crows Sawmill Doughty Lumber Co.3 Overland Lumber Co. Plant Location Marinqouin Lake Arthur Jennings Parks St. Tammany Roseland Naralbany Plant Address2 Box 64826, Baton Rouge 415 Hwy. 26 Star Rt., Box 16 315 Columbus, St. Martinville Rt. 1, Box 84B, Lacombe Box 149 Rt. 1, Box 149B, Tickfaw 1 Output of less than 3 million board feet (small sawmills). 1 Output of 3 million board feet or more (large sawmills). 2 Office address specified when different from plant location. 3 Produced chips for sale to pulpmills. Wood Pulpmills EAST BATON ROUGE ORLEANS Georgia-Pacific Corporation Southern Johns-Manville Products Corp. Port Hudson New Orleans Parish CALCASIEU IBERIA LIVINGSTON ST. CHARLES Firm Veneer Plants Boise Southern Co.3 General Box Co.3 Freeman Veneer Co. U.S. Plywood3 Trans Match Inc.3 Plant Location DeQuincy DeQuincy Jeanerette Holden Kenner Plant Address1 Box 2000 Box 997 Box 366 Box 368 Plant Type2 P C O P 1 Office address specified when different from plant location. 2 C = Plants producing chiefly container veneer. O = Plants producing chiefly commercial and other hardwood veneer. P = Plants producing southern pine plywood. 3 Produces chips for sale to pulpmills. Parish ACADIA CALCASIEU Firm Post, Pole, and Piling Plants Evr-Wood Treating Co., Inc. Boise Southern Co. McLeod Bros. E.G. Boh Forest Products, Inc. Plant Location Jennings DeQuincy DeQuincy New Orleans Plant Address1 Box 726 Box 2000 Box 1055 Box 19611 Parish ST. TAMMANY TANGIPAHOA Firm Post, Pole, and Piling Plants Madisonville Creosote Works, Inc. Pearl River Wood Preserving Corp. Maurin Lumber & Wood Preserving Co. Oliver Treated Products Co. R & K Creosoting Co. Plant Location Madisonville Pearl River Hammond Hammond Natalbany Plant Address1 Box 125 Box 468 Box 1412 Box 640 Box 650 1 Office address specified when different from plant location. Miscellaneous Plants LIVINGSTON B & H Construction1 Holden Box 7 1 Log cabin logs. SOURCE: Louisiana Forest Industries, 1973. TABLE VnI ACREAGE IN BOTMMLAND HARDWOODS AT VARIOUS PERIODS FOR SOUTH LOUISIANA PARISHES Parish Original Acreage Remaining Ave-rage Acreage Area* (1) 1961 1964 1968 cleared Remaining, By Year 1985 1962-68 ACADIA 33,0178 119,500 49,500 38,950 19507 13,331 ASCENSION 186,314 920325 91,500 90,180 306 84,978 ASMPTION 221,380 143,800 143,000 142,426 196 1390094 EAST BAMN ROUGE 259t259 53$900 53.,900 480050 835 33,855 IBERIA 233,499 115,000 115,000 114,040 137 111,711 IBERVILLE 394,182 2812025 280,800 275,030 856 260,478 IAF,NYI-:T=- 130$521 14-'100 14,100 13,945 22 13,571 IAFOURCPE 138,240 156,500 156YO00 155,875 89 154,362 LIVINGSTON 133,632 123,200 123,200 1192117 583 109,206 PlAqM-MINES 58,061 30908 2,858 435 0 ST. BERNARD 25,805 13,758 13,538 13,288 67 12,149 ST. CHARLES 95,846 69,150 68,800 68,000 145 65,535 ST. JAM S 158,544 86,275 85,500 85,170 157 82,501 ST JOHN 109,1891 93,870 93,800 93,590 40 92,910 ST: 11ARTIN 4533,703 325tOOO 310,000 307,000 2,571 263,293 ST, 14ARY 197,039 1432400 143,000 142P285 159 139,582 ST, Ti14-R-VkNY 3.,686 1310480 131,100 127,133 621 116,576 TANGIPA11OA 87,552 860400 869400 82,600 542 73,386 TERREBONNE 204,595 122,935 122,400 120,997 276 116,305 WEST BATON ROUGE 127,358 70,950 69,300 63,800 19021 46,443 (1) Before Extensive Alteration By Man *Lytle Sturgis, 1962, General Soil Areas and Associated Soil Series Groul! 2f Louisiana SOURCE: Yancey, Richard K., The Vanishing, Delta llardwoods, 1969. CANT 000 0 9 E) BATON I'AMOLPA00A AVON Sousa LIVING $Tom ST. TA MIAIIIY Duet 0 *a) 0009 -, farrafteem ACADIA e see 169AVILLE OAL4 A 8 1 9 9 DAVI16 LAFAV9 a MIRTIN Camelom Twe APTI&T Its St. M I A 0% 0 T- ASSUMP N CMARLCII Vga 0 1 L 10 6 'A R1 0 If MARTIN 9 Oki A V 0 PLAO FORtST INDUSTRUES ir a a a a 8 0 0 a a. LARGE 8AWMILLS SMALL SAWOILLS FULiMILLS vahcrn pOgTS. pOLgS. Q, IPILISS LOU960114 Fast gmaw. W1 k SECTION III AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY IN LOUISIANA'S COASTAL ZONE: A STUDY OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SIGNIFICANCE By Dave Manuel Department of Economics University of Southwestern Louisiana Lafayette, Louisiana 70501 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Title 1 The Allocation of Agriculture in the Coastal Zone 2 Trends of Agricultural Economics in the Coastal Zone 3 Forestry Production in the Coastal Zone TEE ALLOCATION OF AGRICULTURE IN THE COASTAL ZTIE L and area in Louisiana's coastal zone has decreased slightly from 1934 to 1969. This decrease, while not great, resulted in a net decrease probably due to soil erosio nj mostly in the lower Mississippi River area, In 1934, there were 11.38 million acres in the 26 parishes of the coastal zone, This total acreage represented 39.2 percent of the state's total acreage. The coastal zoness share of totalland area declined to 37,8 percent by 1969. Data reported by the Census Bureau on land area reflects political changes in boundaries or actual chanSe3 in land area caused by changes in the number or size of reservoirs, lakes, and strearms, it is anticipated that the building of reservoirs and river- widening activiLies have led to this net decline in total acreage. With the perspective of the amount of land within the coastal zone, it is interesting to determine and compare the amount of land in farms within the entire state and the coastal zone. The &-mount of acreage defined as "land in farms" consists primarily of agricultural land used for crops and pasture. Included is land not actually under cultivation nor used as pastureland, such as woodland, unless such land was used for- 2 nonagricultural purposes* U.S, Department of Cormerce, Bureau of the Censusl United States Censt-13 of AZriculture, 1964, Al. Ibid.v Al. 17, 2 Sinc.e 1934, total land in farm3 in Louisiana iias declined 655,600 acres or 6.3 percent. Within the coastal zone, such acreage increased. 303,000 acres or 9.5 percent. The decline'in the non-coastal zone area was apparently large enough to cause a net decline in farmland for the entire state, Farmland area as a percent of total area reached its peak in 155 .4, 34.6-pircent. It had increased from 34.5 percent in 1939 and since 1954, has declined to 34 percent* In the coastal zone, a peWc proportion of 36.8 percent was also reached in 1954. Since that year, however, it has declined to 32 percent of the 26-parish area. Following national trends, the number of farms in Louisiana and in, the coastal zone have decreased drastically. Since 1934, Louisiana's farms have declined 75 percent. The decrease in the coastal zone was large, 67 percent, but not as great as that of the entire state. Coastal zoi@e farms fall in number from 40,595 in 1934 to 13,397 in 1969. As a percent of the total state farms, the coastal zone's sbare has steadily increased. In 1934, 23.8 percent of Louisiana's farms were-in the 26-parish coastal zone. Due to the slajer decrea3e in the coaztal zone, its share of total farms increased to 32 percent in 1969. Coupled with the drastic decline in the number of farms, there bas been an interesting development in average farm size. Technology, mechanization, and a changing labor force have accounted for larger farms, offsetting the effect of fewer farms. In 1934, the average Louisiana farm was 61 acres and within the coastal zone, the average size was 93 acres. Of every five years in which the Cenau3 of 3 Agriculture was taken, Louisiana$s farm size increased an average of r the five-year 21.3 percent or just over four percent per year, Fo intervals, the coastal zone farm size increased an average of 18.5 percent or slightly less than 4 percent per year. These latter farms vere larger than the state average, tending to make growth somewhat slower. In 1969, the average within the coastal area was 301.3 acres per farm compared to 231.5 acres per farm for the entire state, In summary, average farm acreage in Louisiana increased 277 percent since 1934, while in the coastal zone, average acreage increased 222 percent. PARISH-BY-FARISH ANALYSIS Acadia Parish Acadia Parish's total acreage in 1969, 424,000 acres, represented Ni.. 3.9 percent of the total coastal zone. This area increased only slightly since 1934, 10,000 acres. This Southwest Louisiana parish increased the nu-mber of acres in farms by 8 percent, a small increase when most parishes experienced declines. In 1934, Acadial s f armland totallel 305,000 acres. Through 1964, total farm acreage increased to 349,255; however, by 1969, it had declined to 335,630 acres. In relation to the entire coastal farmland, Acadia exhibited little change. It represinted 9,6 percent of coastal farm. acreage in 1934 and 9.5 percent in 1969. Acadia parish's proportion of farmland wa3 considerably higher than both the state and the coastal zone parishes. In 1934., 28 percent of the coastal zone was in farmland corapared to 73.6 percent for Acadia pari3h. This parish's proportion increased to 79.1 percent in 1969, to rank second in the coastal zone. 4 Acadia parish has mostly a rural population, living in small towns and villages. The two largest cities, Crowley and Rayne, are located in close proximity and the absence of coastal marshlands itself strongly to farming development. The parish's increase in farming acreage-to-total acreage peaked in 1964 with 82.4 percent. The decline since 1964 to 79.1 percent is probably a function of residential and suburban encroachment. Farms numbered 3850 in 1934 within Acadia parish. The number declined steadily to 1453 in 1969, a 62.2 percent drop. This decline was slightly less than the 66 percent drop in the 26-parish coastal zone. Nevertheless, Acadia was among the five parishes in 1969 with more than 1,000 farms. In 1934, Acadia's 3,850 farms represented 9 percent of the coastal zone total; however, by 1969, the ratio had increased to 10.8 percent due to the greater decline in the 26 coastal parishes. Due to the lack of a large metropolitan area and many other factors, average farm size increased in Acadia parish dramatically. Over the years 1934-1969, average acreage increased 191 percent compared to 222 percent in the coastal area. The slower rise in Acadia may have been due to the large number of farms; i.e. many smaller farms on a relative basis. Acreage increases were, however, slow prior to 1954; after 1954, the average farm in Acadia par13h more than doubled in size, from 103.8 acres in 1954 to 230.9 acres in 1969. Ascension Parish One of the smallest parishes in Louisiana and in the coastal zone is Ascension. Its 192,600 acres represents slightly less than two 5 percent of the coastal area. The amount. of land in farms within this parish's boundaries. declined 22 percent between 1934 and 1969, Much of this is due to the intensity of swamplands along the western ed-a of Ascension and, the industrial and strip development along highways 61 and U.S, 90. Acreage increased from 85,000 in 1934 to 112vOOO in 1949. Since 1949, farm acreage declined to just over 64,000 in 1969, or two percent of total coastal farming acres, In 1949, Ascension parish contained three percent of the coastal farmland; therefore, its decline since then has been rainor. Early agriculture development after the Great Depression exhibited an increasing proportion of total land area in farms. It peaked in 1949 with 58.7 percent so allocated; however, in 1969, 33.4 percent of Ascension's area was classified as farmland by the Census Bureau. The n=ber of farms in Ascension parish decreased 79 percent over the relevant yzars, from 1415 to 293. This decline was faster than both the state and coastal zone decreased. Avera-e far-m size increased from 60,3 acres in 1934 to 218.8 acres in 1969. Coastal zone increase of 222 percent in average farm size was slower than that in Ascension parish; nevertheless, average size in Ascension was smaller thap both the state and coastal zone. Asst"M)tion Parish Assumption parish, approximately 3 percent of the coastal land area, is one of rich soils and extensive sugar cane farming. Since 1934, its 6 farmland acreage has declined by 16.4 percent. The peak year, 1949, resulted in 101,845 acres devoted to farming. tuch acreage has since declined to 84,743 in 1969. In 1969, this represented 2.4 percent of coastal farming acreage in Louisiana, -dcx,7n from 3.2 percent in 1934. The extensive decline in farm acreage in Assumption was counter to the 9.5 percent increase in such acreage in the coastal zone of Louisiana, The percehta*e of Assumptionts total area in farms exhibited interesting changes. Frc-.a 1934 to 1949, fa= acreage-to-total acreage increased from 32.7 percent to 44,5 percent. In 1969, just over 37 percent of this parish was classified as farming. The nt:mber of farms in Assumption parish increased slightly from' 1934 to 1939, however, the peak of 551 in 1939 led to a continual decline to 194 in 1969, a drop of 54.1 percent'. This drop was not as severe as that of the state or the coastal zone, but it did constitute a signific ant dectinre. On a relative scale, farm in Assumption parish have been quite large. Prior to 1949, itsaverage farm size was greater than most within the coas tal zone. Probably due to the Depression, most farms fall in 3ize as many took public works Jobs and moved to larger urban areas; i.e, Baton Rou3e and New Orleans. Since 1939, farms have increased, on the average in Assumption parish, frcm. 170 acres to 437 acres in 1969, an increase of 157 percent. While other parishes made larger gains in farm size, Assumption was beginning from a larger base, showing a suAller percentage increase, The coastal zonets average farm increa3ed from 93 acres in 1934 to 301 acres in 1969.' f --T 7 Larger farm size in AssL=ption is probably due to large plantations which have accu=lated more farmland as sraller, marginal farms were abandoned, Calcasieu Parish Calcasieu parish raak3 as one of the five largest parishes in Louisiinats coastal zcne. Located on the western tip of Louisiana, it has traditionally been a leader in cattle farming and rice cultivation. its land area of 707,000 acres represents 6.5 percent of the coastal zone. In terms of farmland area, Calcasieu experienced an Increase in acreage. From 1934 to 1969, acreage increased 78.8 percent or almost 178,000 acres. The latest year of data, 1969, showed 403,000 acres classified as being in fa-.,js. However, this was U5,000 fewer acres than in 1964. This parisb has experienced an extensive amount of urban and suburban g-;owth which may have caused such a drastic decline. In addition, the accompanying highways (federal and state) needed to handle the sprawl of the population contributed to this declin@ in farm acreage. Foevertheless, Calcasieu increased its proporticn. of coastal zone fa=land from 7 percent in 1934 to 12 percent in 1969p Its large land mass should account for this increase, given that farmland within the coastal zone increased only ?.5 percent. Farm acrea3e as a percent of Calcasieu's total acreage has shown interesting trends. Between 1934 and 194-4,.this proportion declined from 32.5 percent to 28.2 percent. A dramatic.increase to 56,8 percent in 1949 may be due.to collection procedures, but data following 1949 exhibit similar increases, In 1964, almost 75 percent of Calcasieu's area was classified as being in farms, All years' proportion of farm acreage to total acreage ware greater in Calcasieu than in the coastal zone. The decline.in the number of farms in the coastal zone was slightly higher than in Calcasieu wbich bad a 61.2 percent decrease. There vas a steady decline in Calcasieu farm from. 1931 in 1934 to 739 in 1969. This decline was accompanied by an increase in average farm size from 117 acres in 1934 to 546 acres in 1969, The coastal increase from 93 acres to 301 acres over the same years was considerably less than the 367 percent increase in Calcasieu, In re th or and the western segment of Louisiana* large rice farms a. e U obviou3ly,. Calcasieu is no exception, Cameron Parish Carteron pariah is the largest parish in Louisiana. Its 922 th otts and acres represent 8.5 percent of the coastal zane'3 land area; however, it is one of the most sparsely populated. Theamount of land area in farms increased by 158,000 acres since 1934 or IZZ percent. There waa a decrease in acreage in 1959; hmmver, steady increases since then have resulted, It is more interesting that in relation to the coastal zone Cameron had only 4.1 percent of farmland, yet in 19699 .143 percentage increased to 8.2 percent. 9 J As a percent of its own total,area, C-a=ron's farmlands increased from 7.8 percent in 1939 to 31.1 percent in 1969. This development is likely due to a significant amount of drainage of wetlands and the i=orporation of marginal lands into farms which had only highly productive land, Few major projects in Cameron parish as well as a minor population problem have contributed to this farmland increase over the last 40 years. Farms in Cameron parish have decreased in number, but not as dramatically as in Calcasieu or as in the entira coastal zone. From 1934 to 1969 the number of farms fell from 892 to 423, or 52.5 percent, Due to its slower decline in the number of farms. Cameron's share of coastal zone farms rose to 3.1 percento a one percent gain, Siza growth is comparable to Calcasieu, approximately 368 percent. In 1934, the average farm was 145 acres in Cameron. Cameron did not have the highest average due to the central and eastern parishes' sugar came plantations. By 1969, Ca=-eron had the highest average of 679 acres per farm, This was due primarily to the growth of rice farmLng and the resulting mar3hland drainage. East Baton Rouge Parish East Baton Rouge parish,, one of the most highly populated in Louisiana, averages about 295,000 acres in area. This represents P-Pproxi=-Ately 2.7 percent of the coastal zone. Its port and industrial activity have grown significantly since 1945, particularly along the parish's river boundary. CM 10 Farmland reached its peak in 1954 with 185,322 acres classified as being in farms. Since 1954, such acreage has declined steadily, averaging a 1,6 percent decline each years, In 19,69, total farm acrea-e was 133,500 in East Baton Rouge. Expanding industrial base and an over-growing need for residential land forced this rapid. decline in farm acreageO As a percent of coastal farmland, East Baton Rouge fell from 4,8 percent of total acreage in 1954 to 3,8 percent in 1969. The greater portion of East Baton Rougets farmland was concen- trated in the eastern segment of the parish, Despite the large decreases in total farm acreage, as a percent of its total acreage, total farmland declined from 62.7 percent In 1954 to 45.4 percent in 1959. From 1939 to 1954, such acreage increased from 51.4 percent to 62.7. The proportion of East Baton Rougels,land devoted to farming was significantly greater than both the coastal zone and the entire state, Total farms in East Baton Rouge have fallen from 2557 in 1934 to 675 in 1969, a 73.6 percent decline, This decrease was slightly less than that for the entirestate arA seven percentage points higher than the coastal zone's decline. In 1934, East Baton Rouge had 6.3 perceat of the coastal area's farms; but in 1969'. only five percent were so located. The increased industrial development of the parish were obviously a contributing factor. Farm size in EAst Baton Rouge parish increased 204,6 percent, f rom 64.9 acres in 1934 to 197,7 acres in 1969. This increase was not as rapid as in the coastal zone or in the entire state, probably land--city expansion, industrial because of the alternative uses fo development, malls, shopping centers, and the growth of suburbia, Iberia Parish Iberia parisho are of the souther=ost of the coastal zone F, encom.passes 337,000 acres. It is bordered by Vermilion Bay on the South and St. Martin parish and the Atchafalaya Basin on the north- eastern portion. The land area of Iberia parish is apprcatimately 3,5 percent of the coastal 10,874,800 acres., Farmland acreage in Iberia parish vas6illated from 1934 to 1959, In that 25-year interval, it increased almost seven percent,, from 130,379 acres to 138,8146. However, since 1959, it has declined slightly to 131,000, In its peak year,, 1959, Iberiats farmland was 3.8 percent of the coastal zone total. This represents a slight decline from 4.0 percent in 1934. Much of Iberia parish's land is wetland. Industrial activity is beginning to increase, but is probably another five to tan years from full capacity. As a result, farming is a strong elp-ont in the local economy. The allocation of Iberia's land in farming has represented. about 33 percent since 1934. This allocation is-just slightly more than that for the entire coastal zone. The number of karms in Iberia have decreased steadily since the Great Depression. 1934, the highest year, saw 1538 farms and the number bad fallen to 2806 by 1969. Such a decline is somewhat 12 significant since four percent of the coastal farms were Iberia farm in 19J'4, whereas only Wo percent were so located in 196% Avera*e far-m si--c -increased in Iberia, but certainly not as fast CP as in the entire state or the coastal zone. The total i= rease of 161 ent resulted in an average size increase from 85 acres to 221.2 perc acres* Ubile there are a number of lar ge sugar plantations in Iberia parish, there remain many relatively small farms. It is interesting to note from Table V that the average farm size increased from 1934 through 1964; but, little growth in size resulted in 1969. Iberville Par-ish The extreme western tip of lberville parish is mostly marsh and swampland, This area is part of the Atchafalaya Flood%.-ay and Basin while the eastern area is'split by the Mississippi River. Encompassing slightly more than 400,000 acres, lberville is a narrow parish. In comparable size, it is virtually the mean of the.coastal zonets parishes in Louisiana, Farmland in Iberville parish increased from 103,662 3cres in 1934 to 134,561 in 1954, a 30 percent increase, Since 1954, acreage declined to 122,340 or 9 percent. Overall'. it has increased IS percent over the 35 years in question, The peak year of 1954 represented 33 of lberville's land area and the resulting decrease was to 30 percent, Thi3 farmland allocation was slightly le3s than the coastal zone's allocation and i3 probably due to the increased business and industrial developmtent which occurred along the 1-1-1s sissippi River'. 13 The number of farms in Iberville parish have declined from 923 in 1934 to 236 in 1969, a 69 percent drop. This decrease is higher than the decrease in the coastal zone, yet less than that for the state. On the other hand, average acreage per farm increased a healthy 282 percent per year, from 112 acres in 1934 to 428 in 1969. In this latter year, lberville's farms were among the largest in the coastal zone. Jefferson Parish Jefferson parish, long an integral part of metropolitan New Orleans, has under-one many dynamic changes in the past 36 years. Its area of 236,000 acres is relatively small when compared to the rest of the coastal zone and despite this limitation, its northern half is extremely productive. From 1934 to 1949, farmland in Jefferson parish increased 295 percent,, yet there were still only 31,000 acres in farms, Since 1949, such land has decreased 72 percent to 9,000 acres in 1969. The 1cwer part of Jefferson is mostly swampland, so that-the- industrialization in the northern segment obviously pushed farming out. Much of Jefferson bas developed into residential areas, particularly between-U. 9. Highway 90 and Lake Pontchartrain. As a result, only minor areas of Jefferson are in farming, about four percent in 1969. In 1949, farming share was 12 percent. 14 The number of farms have declined in Jefferson parish from 413 in 1934 to 54 in 1969. Such few far, comes as no surprise since sucha large area of this parish is,marshland. A.verage farm size is among the lowest quintile, 165 acres in 1969 and 19 acres in 1-934, Industrial expansion and its accompanying developments have all contributed to the minor role of farming in Jefferson parish. Jefferson Davis Parish Of the three most western parishes in the coastal zone, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis, the last is the smallest. Its land area of 401,000 acres represents almost four percent of the coastal.zone. Jeff Davis, however, has little marshland and is characterized by an extensive degree of agriculture. From 1934 to -8 percent, from 1949, Jeff Davis' agricultural land ircreased 13, 309,000 acres to 352,,000 acres. Since 1949, bawever, such land has increased only four percent, to 365,769 acres in 1969. Jeff Davis' share of coastal farmland was 11 percent in 1969 Which represented a small increase since 1949. The proportion of farmland in Jeff Davis parish has increased from 64.3 percent in 1934 to 86.3 percent in 1969. Such a large 177 share in this parish is far greater than in either the entire state or the coastal zone. Along with Acadia parish, Jeff Davis had the highest proportion of any of the coastal parishes. The number Of 6 farns in Jeff Davis parish decreased 49 percent over the above 35- T, year period, a loss of 857 farms. However,, proportionatelyr more coastal zone farms were located in this parish in 1969 than in 1934, The occurrence of relatively more farms in Jeff Davis parish is probably a natural occurrence because of its extensive size and the availability of land, In addition, there have been only mLnor changes in city size in the parish, Increases in average farm size have not been as vreat in Jeff DaV13. In 1934, its average farm size was 176 acres ccmpared to the coastal zone average of 93 acres. Over 35 years, its increased in size to 408 acres, or 132 percent while the avera,ge coastal farm increased 222 percent. Lafayette Parish Lafayette parish is one of the six smallest of the coastal zone parishes, having less than 200,000 acres# Farmland in La-Fayette parish, however, is quite extensive. Mile such acreage decreased from 155,000 acres in 1934 to 136,450 in 1969, the decrease was minor, 11 percent. Of the parishes which experienced a decline in acreage, Lafayette's somewhat smaller than average. In 1934, 75 percent of Lafa3,ette parishwas devoted to farming, This percentage increased to 78 percent in 1959; however, it declined to 75 percent in 1969. Over the long term there has been only a sli&t change in agriculture's share of Lafayette parish land, Grc,,jth o! the City of Lafayette has undoubtedly encroached on farmlands in the parish, but formerly idle land was probably employed 16 to compensate for, the loss. The not gain was minor since farmland declined by approximately 20,000 acres in the 35 years in question, In the early years after tbe.Great b6pression, Lafayette had a disproportionately large number of farms: 3677 in 1934, 3441 in 1939, and 3152 in 1944. Their number declined 60.5 percent from 1934 through 1969 to 1452 in the latter year. One would assume., therefore, that given the large number of farmers and the relatively 5=11 area of the parish, that Lafayette's farms are small. Indeed, the data indicate that aside for Livingston and Orleans parishes, Lafayette had the smallest farms. The average size in 1934 was 42 acres. Farm size increased fairly consistently to 94 acres in 1969. It will be illustrated later that Lafayette pariqhls continued growth does not lie inthe area of agriculture. Lafourche Parish Lafourche parish, one of the southern-most of the coastal zone, raWk3 among the five largest in coastal area. Agriculture is au important part of this parish's economy, however,, a large part of the parish is marshland. Lafourch a's area repreaenta'almost seven percent of the coastal zone. Farmland in Lafcurche parish decreased only sevempercent in the period 1934-1969. Acreage in farms increased through 1949; however, since that year, it bas declined to 204,629 acres in 1969. Much of this decline was caused by stfastantial industrial growth in the 7 parish as well as significant urban sprawl in Thibodaux. 17 j 4ie southernmost area along state highway I has experienced much growth, particularly in the Grand Isle, Golden Meadow, and Leesville areas. In any case, Lafourebels share of coastal farmlatid decreased from 6.7 percent in 1949 to 5.9 percent in 1949. Approximately 30 percent of Lafourche's land was devoted to agriculture purposes, Specifically, In 1934, 34 percent was so classified; however, by 1969, this had declined to 28 percent. Vhile the coastal zonals allocation of farmland increased from 28 percent in 1934 to 37 percent in 1954, Lafourche showed a declina. From 1954 to 1969, Lafourchets allocation of farmland de'clined faster than that of the entire coastal zone, The number of farms (primarily sugar cane) in Lafourche pariah declined 58 percent from 1934 to 1969. This represented a loss of 703 farms from 1222 to 413. Such a rate of decrease is less than both the state's total decrease and the decrease with the coastal zone. Due to the relatively large n=ber of plantations, farm size increased 120 percent over the 35 years in question* This Increase is slo-4er than the remaining coastal area parishe's as a whole, Avera-e farm size in the pre-World War 11 years in Lafourche was large compared to other parishes. Hindering further farm growth were two factors a growing city, Thibodaux, and vast %;etlaudg in the southern half of the state. 18 Livingston Parish Livingston parish is primarily a rural parish with a mixture of agriculturoe and forestry activities..ContriIbuting to a local area.. The parish is segmented by U. S. Interstate 12 connected to 1-55 and Baton Rou3e. In 1970, 75 percent of its population were 'classified as rural non-farm, confirming that most of its residents have BrAll local businesses or commute to Baton Rouge to pursue their employment. A considerable amount of the land is in forestry and forestry income is obviously a large contributor to the economic structure, Livingston's land area,of 418,,000 acres in 1969 was slightly less enan previous yearsl.studies. This is probably the result of massive highway expropriation and some loss of land due to erosion along the parishes =ny bayous. Farmland acreage illustrated extensive declines in the 35 years,, from 10L,000 acres in 1934 to 44,864 in 1969. Since much of this ldnd.had standing timber, the cost of clearing for agricultural purposes vas probably a deterent, Rather than clear stumps for farriing, most landowners simply cut the timber for sale and did not clear. As a result, the highest proportion of land in farms in Livingston was 24 percent in 1954. Such lands hadincreased -from 19.5 percent in 1934; however, since 1954, farmland has declined to 11 percent in 1969. Despite t7ne*s-,aall allocation of farmland in Livingston.parish, there uere many farmers.. There were onl y minor declines in their number between 1934 and 1954, (See Table IV) Since 1954,, the 19 number of farms fell from 2585 to 489 in 1967, an 81 percent decrease. Average farm size reflects the lack of available farmland in Livingston parish. From 1934 to 1964, average size increased from 39 acres to 43 acres, In 1969, average acreage was 92 per farm. Orleans Parish Orleans parish is one of the two smallest parishes in Louisiana's coastal zone. Its size of 127,000 acres is slightly smaller than that of West Baton Rouge. Despite its physical size, Orleans is densely populated, comprising most of metropolitan New Orleans. The pre- dominence of port, activities, service industries, and manufacturing virtually preclude the existence of farming activities. As a result, Orleans parish has rarely had more than 10,000 acres in farm. In 1959, six percent of Orleans parish was in farming. After 1959, the Bureau of the Census discontinued reporting data for Orleans in order not to reveal figures on individual farms. Between 1934 and 1959, the number of farms declined from 312 to 69. Average farm size, on the other hand, changed from 1934 to 1954, an increase from 26 acres to 109. In 1959, the average size declined to 29 acres , probably due to the increase in residential areas and industrial expansion throughout the 1960's. Plaquemines Parish Plaquemines parish is one of five largest parishes in the coastal zone of Louisiana. Comprising most of the far-south eastern tip of 20 Louisiana. Plaquemines' 660,000 acres is mostly marshland. Farmland has increased slightly since 1934, making a sig@ificant gain up to 1949. Between 1934 and 1949, farm acreage increased IM percent; siuce 19'9, acreage in farms has declined 47 percent to 31,691 acres 4 in 1969. Due to the extensive amount of marshland, Plaquemines obviously .has devoted a relatively small part of its land to farming. In 1934, 70 percent wasso allocated. This figure had increased to 9.6 percent by 1'949, and has since dropped to 4.8 percent in 1969. Since 1934, the number of farms has dropped 85 percent,, from 704 to 111 in 1969, The most dramatic declines occurred after 1954. This could be due to the massive industrialization occurring in Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard parishes. Some spillover in employmnt has likely occurred in Plaquemines. Despite the few farmers and little farml@nd available, farm sizes increased quite substantially, In 1934, the average farm in Plaquemines was 37 acres. By 1954 and 1959, size had increased to 94 acres. The greatest gains caroe after 1959, so that average size in 1967 was 286 acres, more than the coastal zone average and the state average* St. Bernard 7arish. St. Bernard parish is the most eastern.of the coastal parishes. Its extensive mirshlands are bordered by Plaquemines: parish, 21 Lake Borgne, and nur4rous eastern sounds. The western portion of tre oarish is highly populated since it borders Orleans pa@rish an& provides large residential areas. The somewhat average size of St. Bernard parish represents apprvximatel@ three percent of the coastal zone. Due to the extensive marshland, St. Bernard.'s farmland In 1969 was only 7,112 acres in 1969. This acreage was 39 percent less than the farm acrea.me in 1934. Peak agriculture acreage was 22,000 in 1954. In this peak year, seven percent of St. Bernard's area was allocated to farming. Agriculture's allocation was 2.2 percent in 1969, Obviously residential and industrial encroachment aided in this decline. 'Farmers in St, Bernard have never been very numerous. This is understandable since the.lack of arable land and urban growth have "not made agriculture particularly attractive. There were only 27 individuals so classified in 1969. By this latter year, average farm size had increased to 263 acres per farm. The state average was 277 per farm in 1969, while the coastal zone average was 221 acres. St, Charles Parish St. Charles' 188,000 acres in 1969 represented.almost two, percent of the coastal zon e. Interestingly, it had less than one percent of the farmland in the coastal zone in that year, 33,600 acres. Farming acreage reached its peak in 1954 with 64,400 acres, 145 percent more than in 1934. Since the late 1940's, St. Charles 22 has experienced great industrial growth, especially along the Mississippi River. Additionally, there has been some residential and service industry spillover from Jefferson Parish.- All of these. factors would account for the decline in acreage in farms, In the peak year spok an of earlierr 19549 St. Charles devoted 33 percent of its land to agriculture, Since that year, It has declined to.17.8 percent in 1969. The coastal zone's allocation 'was considerably higher than that in St. Charles. Average farm size in St., Charles increased from 80 acres in 1934 to 400 acres in 1954 and 1959. A dramatic increase to 507 acres was registered in 1964; however,, average size declined to 274 acres in 1969, The net gain was not as great as that in the rest of the coastal zone due to competing alternatives for land in this river parish. St. James Parish St, James parish is another of the parishes bisected by the Mississippi River. The 162,000 acres of St. James represent almost 1.5 percent of dha coastal zone Land In farms increased from 61,000 in 1934 to 70,000 in 1954. Since 1954, there has been a decline to 37,000 in 1969. St, James' percentage share of coastal farmland has changed little over the years, remaining about le 7 percent, St. James' allocation of farmland has followed state an& coastal trend3 VUitO ClOSely. In 1934, 36 percent of the parishwas in farms,, 23 compared to 35 percent for the state and 29 percent for the coastal zone. The coastal farm allocation increased to,37 percent by 1954 and the statels to 40 percent, vhIle St. James increased'to 44 percent. After 1954, farmland as a percent of ttotal. area declined to 35 percent in St. James parish for 1969. The coastal zone's share declined to 32 percent and that for the entire state fell to 34 percent* Alm-st two percent of the coastal area's farmers in 1934 were located in St, James parish. By 1969, their number had fallen to,- one percent. In the former year,, this represented 675 farmers; however, by 1969, their number in St. Jayne had declined to 145. The decline in St, James of 78.5 percent was greater than the decline in the entire state or the coastal zone. Average farm size increased much more dramatically in St. James than in rzost parishess from 90 acres in 1934 to 395 in 1969. There has been only a minor amount of pressure of residential growth. and industrial entrance, resulting in only a small decline in agricultural acreage& St. John the Baptist Parish St, Jchn the Baptist parish is the second-to-smallest parish in the coastal zone, its 145,vOOO acres represent 1*3 percent of the coastal zone. Farmland in the parish decreased to 31,000 and 32,,000 acres in 1939 and 1944from 47,000 acres in 1934. After World War 11, such acreage increased to almost 48,000 in-1949. Since 1949, there 24 has been a steady decline in farm acreage,, 53. percent, to 222,556 acres in 1969. As a resuli, St. John's share of coastal farm which was never particularlybigh., fell to less than one percent in 1969. As expected from the total acreage data., St, John's percent of farmland peaked on 1949; 33 percent of its area so utilized. Since 1949, s-ur-h acreage has declined until in 19699, 15,6 percent of the total area was in farmland. Only in 1949 was St. John's percent of farmland comparable to that of the coastal zone. Much of this developmant is due to the encroachment on the northeastern bank of the Mississippi River by r;Ajor industries,, Interstate Highway-10 has also probably reduced the amount of available farmland. Alternative land uses have obviously bid upward the value of land in St. John parish. so that agricultural uses have been superseded by urban, industrial, and residential,useso St. John parish has never had a large number of farmers. In 1934, they numbered 305. The decline to 47 in 1969 was erratic,,,Some years experiencing sharp gains. Since the 1934 base year, average farm size has increased from 156 acres to 480 in 1969, a 207 percent Increase. Due to the few farmers, St. John's average farm was far larger than the state or coastal zonets 'average farm. St. HaTtin Parish Slightly larger than the average coastal parish, St. Martin parish is almost fifty percent swampland. The Atchafalaya Basin occupies 4 16 25 almost all of the eastern half of the parish. However, this parish represents more than four percent of Louisiana's coastal zone. In 1934, there were more than 108,000 acres in farms in St. Martin parish. By 1954, the acreage had grown to 130,000 or 3.2 percent of coastal farmland. Since 1954, farmland area has declined 23 percent, to 99,532 acres in 1969. St. Martin's percent of farmland averaged 24.4 percent over the 1934-69 period. The highest percentage was 28.2 in 1954. The limited availability of land was obviously an important factor in farmland allocation. Despite the limited amount of land, St. Martin parish had many farmers. In 1934, they numbered over 2700; however, by 1969, their numbers had declined to 774, a 72 percent decrease. With such limited farmland and such a high number of farmers, average farm size was small. There was a significant increase in size from 1934 to 1969, 228 percent; however, in 1969, the average St. Martin farm was only 129 acres. The only parishes with smaller average farms were Lafayette, Livingston, Orleans,and Tangipahoa. St. Mary Parish St. Mary parish, a long-time sugar cane farming area, has developed industrially since 1950. The onslaught of petroleum and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico aided greatly in bolstering the local economy. The 400,000 acres of St. Mary represent 3.7 percent of the coastal zone. Interestingly, its land in farms 26 increased 35 percent over the years 1934-1954, -Since 1954, farmland has declined from 162,000 acres in-1954 to 121,000 in 1969, virtually the same acreage that existed in 1934, Mille it Is true that technological developments have led to larger farms and has overall farm acreaget the industrial development has also probably been responsible for the sharp decline since 1954. A natural outcome is the percentage of total acreage devoted to farming in St. Nary parish, The ratio Increased to 42 percent in 1954 fron 29 percent in 1934@ In 19699 30.4 percent of the parish was in farms, There was never a particularly large number of farms in St. @!ary." Its 509 farms in 1934 represented only 1.3 percent of coastal farms, By 1969v they.had declined to 216* or 1.6 percent of the coastal area. Farm size, on the other hand, has been relatively larger due to the cany sugar cane plantations., By 19691, the average farm in St. blary parish had grown to 561 acres, second only to Cameron parish in the coastal zone, The average coastal fa= in that year vas 311 acreaq considerably smaller on a comparable basis. St, T@@-n Parish Located on the northeastern banks of Lake Ponchartrain, St. Tammany parish L2 one of the coastal zonets largest parishes, Its 570,000 acres represent more than five percent of Louisiana's coast, The Interstate Highway system bas contributed greatly to the development of this 4 paris@q particularly in the southern andeastern portiuns. 27 Farmland acreage increased from 623,000 in 1934 to 140,700 in 1954, an impressive rise. However, since 1954, such acreage declined 43 percent to 80,200 in 19690 Nevertheless, there has been a net gain of 29 percent over the 35 years in question. The increases in absolute acreage are teflected in the percent of St. Tammany devoted to farming. The respective ratio rose from 11 percent in 1934 to 24 percent in 1954. Since 1954, it has declined to 14.1 percent of the total area, Thase agriculture allocations were considerably less than that for the coastal zone as a wtole, In the 20 years from 1934 to 195.4, the number of farms increased from 1179 to 1405. While this is not a large gainp most of the remaining coastal parishes were experiencing falling numbers, Between 1954 and 1969, farms declined to 5269 a 63 percent decrease. Tan&iipahoa Parish Tangipahoa parish is a relatively large parish of 517,000 acres# ccmrising 4.8 percent of the Louisiana coastal zone. More than 70 percent of the parish is forested, leaving little land for farming, Farmland peaked in 1954 with 215,400 acres iu farms, Since 1934P farmland had increased 23 percent, from 175,000 acres. Erratic declines since 1954 resulted in 160,000 acres in farms in 1969. Tangipaboals share of coastal farmland declined from 5 percent in 1954 to 4 percent in 1969. T The extent of farming in Tangipahoa increased through 1954. Forty-cwo percent.of the land was utilized in agricul6re in that 28 year; however, since then, it has declined until 31 percent was in farms in 1969. The number of farmers declined 68 percent over the 35 years studied. Interestingly, Tangipahoa was one of the four parishes with more than 1000 farms In 1969. Only Vermilion had more, 1738. Relatively, 11.3 percent of coastal farms in Louisiana were in Tangipahoa parish. In addition, only three parishes had smaller average farms than Tangipahoa. Its average farm increased from 37 acres in 1934 to 105 acres in 1969, considerably below the state and coastal zone averages. Terrebonne Parish Terrebonne parish is the second largest parish in Louisiana's coastal zone, 875,000 acres. Much of the parish, however is marsh- land, leaving a much smaller area for cultivation and development. Nevertheless, Terrebonne encompasses 8 percent of the coastal zone. Land in farms declined 29 percent in Terrebonne, from 1934 to 1969. There was little decrease in the 1940's, but after 1954, erratic trends culminated in 100,080 acres classified as farms in 1969. The proportion of land allocated to farms was never higher than 13.9 percent (1964). A 35-year low was in 1969, 11.4 percent. These results are primarily due to the extensive marshlands. Drainage activity in marshlands has proba bly resulted from industrial growth in the Houma environs. 29 Mnile agricultural land has not changed as dramatically as in other parishes, the number of famers in Terrebonna parish has decreased jharply from 1151 in 1934 to 217 in 1969, As a-result, average farm size skyrocketed 275 percent, from-123 acres in 1934 to 461 acres in 19690 Vermilion Parish Vermilion Parish is the third largest parish in Louisiana's coastal zone. Its area cf 771,300 acres U7.1 percent of the coastal zone. The land in farms in Vermilion increased 25.6 percent from 1934 to 1969; however, most of this increase came before 1949,, when land in farms increased 28 percent to 403,227. Since 1949, a slight decline has resulted and 393,113 acres were in farmland in 1969. Some coastal parishes increased farmland more than Vermilion but this was due to Vermilion extensive farmlands at tbe outset. Over 40 percent of the parish was in farm3 in 1934. The allocation increased to 51 percent in 1949 and regi stered slight declines since that year. By 1967, the ratio was once again 51 percent. These percenta3es of Vermilion parish in farms were higher than the coastal zonels ratios and with good reasons Most of Vermilion parish is farmland and warshland. There has been only a minor loss of land to residential and industrial growth, mostly coming in the Abbeville and Intracoastal City areas* The fertility of the land has resulted in an extensive amount of rice farming and to some degree, sugar cane cultivation& 30 Since 1934, the number of farms have declined 56 percent, from 171 3959 in the initial year to 1738 in 1969* Of the 26 coastal parishes, Vermilion had the most farms in.1969. On,a comparable basis, this parish lost farms at a slower pace than the state or the entire coastal area, Due to the large number of farms,, the. average farm size in Vermilion was smaller than that of the coastal area, Average size increased from 79 acres in 1934 to,226 acres in 1969 in Vermilion. Coastal zone average farms rose from 93.4 acres to 301 acres over the same time-span# West Baton Roup-L! Parish West Baton Rouge is one of the coastal zone's smallest parishes. Its 130,000 Acres across the Mississippi River from East Baton Rouge is sliShtly more than one percent of the coastal zone. Despite its small size West Baton Rouge was one of the 13 parisheswhich increa3ed its land in farms over the 35 years under study. The increase of 16,300 acres,, from 39,000 in 1934 to 55,300 in 1969, represents a gain of 42 percent, one of the larger not increases. The gains in farmland are impressi-@a when seen in relation to total area. In 1934, 28 percent of-the parish was in farms. By 1969, the ratio had increased to 43 percent, significantly'more than the remaining coastal area in total. The number of farms, hcwever were never partic- ularly numerous in West Baton Rouge. Only 464 farms were registered in 1934 and after 1954, the number fall 66 percent, from 414 to 141 in 1969. 31 Since there were relatively few farms, yet a bigh ratio of farmland to total'areas average farm size increased dramatically. In 1934, the average farmAn West Baton Rouge was 84 acres, @A 366 percent incre@se resulted in an average size of 392 acres in 1969. This increase was far greater than the state's or the coastal zonets increase, TR&NDS OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS IN THE COASTAL ZOANX A study of the significance of agriculture"in Louisiana's coastal zone would not be campletewithout tracing employment and earnings for the area. .This segment first analyzes th@ data for the entire coastal area and follows with a parish-by-parish analysis. Most Of "the employment and payroll datA was extracted from County Business Patterns which presents data for the first quarter of each year. There was tharefore a necessary .extrapolation of payrolls to determine annual payrolls. Cyclical change and seasonal unemployment obviously do not surface in the data due to this extrapolation, From 1954 through 1969, total payroll employees covered by unemployment compensation increased 38 percent in Louisiana, a 2,5 percent annual change. This was an-increase of slightly more than 220,000 employees, from 578,206 in 1954. to 797,926 in.1969. The coastal zone increase was almost the same amount in sheer numbers, 221,000 over the 15 years in question, However, pexceutage-wiss, the coastal zone registered almost twice as great a gain, 64 percent. Total employees rose from 347,670 in 1954 to 568,820 in 1969. Due to the larger gain within the coastal area; its share of total employees increased from 60.1 percent in 104to 71.3 percent in 1964. The same percentage share was evident in '1969. Over the fLfteen years in question here, retail trade employees increased 46 percent in Louillana. Within the coastal zone,,,tha increase was 51 percent, from 73,000 in 1954 to 110,312 in 1,969. "As a percent of 2 the state's retail employees, the co@astal area's percent did not fluctuate widely, 66.3 percent in 1954, 68 percen't in 19614, and 68.5 percent in 1969. It is interesting that the state's manufacturing employees did not increase significantly over the 15-year period under study. In fact,, in 1954, 151,729 employees were in manufacturing, This number increased 14 percent, to 172,882, in 1969. The coastal zone's increase was even less, 11 percent. Apparently, the remaining 38 parishes in Louisiana experienced greater gains in manufacturing employment. More important, the coastal share of total manufacturing employees did not change until 1969. From 1954 to 1964, the coastal share was approximately 67 percent; but in 1969, the percent dropped to 65.2 percent*- Hired farm workers in Louisiana have been declining steadily, follot-7ing national trends. From 1954 to 1969, they declined 72 percent, from 53,305 to 14,743. Within the coastal zone, the decline was 77,1 percent, from 30917 in 1.954 to 7079 in 1969. The state and coastal zone share of farms workers to total employees was quite close, each registering 9 percent in 1954, declining to approximately one percent in 1969, An examination.of payroll data presents trends which otherwise would not have surfaced. Total payrolls in Louisiana covered by unemployment compensation inareased-186 percent'from 1954 to 1969. The former year's figure was appra:,Imately 1.6 million dollars; however, by 1969, the 3 payrolls had risen to 4.6 million dollars. Coastal zone payrolls i n 19549 63 percent of the state's, were just over I million dollars. An increase of 240 percent over the fifteep years in question resulted in an amount of 3.4 million in 1969, By this latter year, the coastal share had increased to 75 percent of the state. Retait-payrolls increased 167 percent from 1954 through 1969 in Louisiana, The coastal zone parishes registered an increase of 180 percent. Du e to its larger population and urban centers, the shara of state retail,payrolls increased from 66.4 percent In the 26-parish area in 1954 to 70 percent in 1969. There has been some levelling off in coastal share since 1959* Manufacturing payrolls have increased at the same pace for the coastal area and non-coastal area in Louisiana,, 155 percent for the fifteen yearsq Interestingly, the coastal share of state payrolla in manufacturing has declined from peak of 72.1 percent in 1959 to 69.7 percent in 1969. Of particular interest to this study is the movement of agricul- tural payrolls in Louiaianals coastal zone, The data presented here are for workers employed for more than 150 days; therefore, family workers and income to owners are not included, Louisianal's total payroll for hired farm workers was 39.4 million.dollars in 1954. Only a minor increase resulted in 1959, but by 1969, payrolls had ij2creaaed to 56.7 million dollars. "Ine fifteen year.increase of 44 percent (2.9 percent annually) was hardly sufficient to compensate 4 for inflationary trends, Louisiana's coastal zone experienced worse iix-reases - 39.6 percent for the 1954-1969 period, The share of firm workeral payrolls vascillated from year to year: 48.6 percent in 1954, 47.7 percent in 1959, 51.6 percent in 1964, and 47.1 percent in 1969. As a percent of total payrolls,,-fa= labor expenditures were 2.5 percent for all of Louisiana in 1954. Within the coastal zone..the amount was a 1.9 percent share. By 1969, the farm worker payroll was 1.2 percent of the state's total and..9 perc ent for that of the coastal zone, An examination of manufacturing and agricultural payrolls is more interesting from a development viewpoint. In 1954, agricultural payrolls were 8.1 percent of manufacturing payrolls in Louisiana, and 5,7 percent in the state's coastal parishes. By 1969,, the state's share vas 4.6 percent and the coastal share was 3.1 percent. While there was a greater emphasis on manufacturing in the coastal zone, the non-coastal area exparienced a rmch greater decline in the relative ratio. A source of the decline was probably more of a decline in agriculture's importance in the non-coastal area rather than an-increase in ranufacturing's econcmic role, e.q. the equal increase in manufacturing payrolls in both geographical sectors. In order to determine the relative.significance of farm income and sales, the market value of agricultural products sold is compared to retail sales. Over the course of the fifteen-year period, state agricultural products' sales increased 60.2 percentv from 309 million V dollars in 1954 to 496 million dollars. The co,a stal area's increased slightly less, 54 percent, It is particularly interesting that the coastal share of agricultural sales increased from 44 percent in 1954 to 45.6 percent in 1959. Since 1959, the coastal share decreased to 43 percent. When viewed as a 'percent of retail sales, agricultural sales were 9.1 percent in 1954, but declined to 5.9 percent in 1969. Generally speaking,, agricultural sales have declined in importance to the-economy of the coastal zone. PARISH-BY-PARISH ANALYSIS Acadia Parish I-DAM Total employees in Acadia parish covered by unemployment compensation increased 28 percent in the fifteen years studied, from 4921 in 1954 to 6301 in 1969. As a percent of the coastal OMPloye93V these in Acadia parish declined from 1A percent to 1*1 percent respectively, However, Acadia registered a 54 percent increase in manufacturing employees, a, much larger gain than the state and the coastal area parishes, Retail trade employees declined slightlyp from 1707 in 1954 to 1668 in 1969. Hired farm workers declined 89 percent, from mare than 4400 in 1954 to 481 in 1969. In 1954, there were almost as many farm workers ias there. were non-farm in Acadia parish, but by 1969, only 10 percent of the workers in Acadia were agriculturally-employed. 'While many farm workers were hired on a parttime basis and may have had other jobs, the advent of widespread technology in agriculture was obviously a deterrent to farm 6 labor as a gainful occupation* T@ 6 Total payrolls in Acadia increased 151 percent from 1954 to 1969. In 1954, this amounted to 10.6 million dollars and one percent of the Coastal Zones,* b-,- 1969, they had increased to 26.6 million dollars and .8 percent of the coastal area. Wages pai@ to farm workers were 26 percent of total payrolls, move than either retail sales or manufacturingis share of the total, Market value of agriculture products sold Increased 16 percent---" in current dollars vhile that for the coastal zone Increased 54 percent. As a percent of the coastal area, Acadia registered 13.7 percent of agricultural products$ but this ratio declined to 10.3 percent in 1969. Ascension Parish Ascension parish has experienced a tremendous growth in total employees covered by unemployment compensation,, 304 percent in the fifteen-year study period. This growth far outpaced both the state and the coastal zone, Most of the growth is due to the extensive development which occur-red al'ong'highway 61 between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Ratail trade employees increased slightly more than 100 percent, from 656 in 1954 to 1318 in 1969. Once again, this increase was greater than that of the state or the coastal zone, Manufacturing employees increased almost 500 percent in Ascension parish between the above years, The industrial development in the parish is an obvious cause, 7 The loss of farmland, industrial development, and higher skill levels forced farm laborers to decline in Ascension parish from 1088 in 1954 to 215 -in 1969. Despite the high. concentration of industry in Ascension parish,, the parish's loss of farm labor was Just higher than that of the remaining coastal parishes. Total payrolls in Ascension parish made a phenomenal gain in the fifteen years studied, over 1400 percent, far outpacing both the state and the coastal area, Retail payrolls increased 300 percent while manufacturing payrolls increased from 1.9 million. dollars in 1954 to over 24 million dollars in 1969. Agricultural payrolls peaked at just over one million dollars in 1959 and in 1969, were 981 t:hau@and dollars. The value of agricultural products sold increased from 2.6 million dollars in 1954 to 3.9 million .dollars in 1969, a 50 percent increase. -On the other hand, retail sales- increased from 14.7 million dollars to 50 million over the same years. Assumption Parish Total covered employees increased 84 percent in Assu:kotion parish, from 1551 in 1954 to 2791 in 19699 'While this gain was more than the coastal zone increaset Assumption employees were only five-tenths of one percent of coastal employees covered by unemployment compensation. An equal increase (88 percent) was registered In manufacturing employees and in 19699 63 percent of Assumption's covered workers were so employed. The increase in retail workers was small, from 240 in 1954 to 349 in 1969, Most of th4S past result was due to the lack of a large urban area to unich consumers would be drawn. Hired farm workers decreased 64.5 percent from 1954-to 1969. The loss oil such hired labor from 1430 perdons to 507 was smaller than the stata's loss or the coastal zone's. In 1954, there were almost as many fa= workers as there were covered employees; however, by 19693, farm laborers were 18 percent of covered employees, Even a highly -rural parish like Assumption experienced a dramatic change in labor force concentration, Total covered payrolls in Assumption parish rose from 3.2 million dollars in 1954 to over 14 million dollars in 1969. This increase represents a jump of over 400 percent, one of the highest of the coastal zone, and -nuch more substantial than that of the entire 26- parish coastal area. Retail payrolls rose 200 percent, yet in 1969, Assumptionts retail payrolls uvre the third lowest of the coastal zone. Manufacturing payrolls increased 567 percent over the pertinent fifteen years, to 12,3 million dollars in 1969, Much of this is probably due to the increased sugar processing undertaken in the parish. On the otber hand, wages paid to hired farm vorker3 increased on 11 percent frcm 1954 to 1969, and in the latter years, were eleven percent of total covered payrolls. Market value of agricultural products sold increased 45 percent in Assumption, from 5.4 million dollars in 1954 to 7.8-million in 1969. The state and coastal zone experienced slightly greater gains, which m y have been due to the parish's concentration in one crop, sugar cane. aespite this smaller@gain in market value of s.ales, Assu;mption's gains outpaced thecost of living and the wholesale price paid for farm products. On the other hand, agricultural products were 85 percent of retail sales in 1954, but in. 1969, they were 60 percent of such sales. Calcasieu Parish Calcasieu parish gained 7839 covered employees in the fifteenyears from 1954 to 1969* This represented a 31 percent Increase or 2.1 percent per year. Much of this gain was realized in the retail sector which had a 44 percent increase in covered employees over the fifteen years studied, Approximately six percent of coastal retail workers were in. Calcasieu parishe On the other hand, Calcasieu which has had a considerable industrial base since World War 11, gained only, 17 percent in manu- facturing employees; however, its 8956 workers were 8 percent of coastal manufacturing workers, 7here was not significant Increase in Calcasiouls'share of these workers. Hired farm workers declined 62 percent from 1954 to 1969 in r-.". Calda31eu parish. Its 618 farm laborers in 1954 were two percent of coastal farm workers and the 235 so classified in 1969 were 3.3 percent. These same hired workers were paid 52 percent more in 1969 than in 1954. Total covered payrolls increased 138 percent; retail payrolls increased 131 percent; and manufacturing payrolls rose 141 percent to far outpace the growth in agricultural payrolls. f7l. 10 Apparently, Calcasieu has maintained its share.of agricultural marketinas in the coastal area at approximately 6.3 percent. An increase over the 1954-1969 period in dollar value has resulted in a 52 percent increase, from 8.8 million dollars to 13.3 million dollars. This increase in farm marketings was slightly less than that of the state and the coastal zone. Cameron Parish Total covered employees in Cameron parish increased significantly by 273 percent over the 1954-1969 period. Its retail employees were the fewest in the state in 1969,, 49, while ranufacturing employees were only 141 in the same year. The lack of manufacturing in this parish is not surprising, given the small population, extensive marshland, and widespread agrictiLtureo Nevertheless, hired farm workers declined from 161 in 1954 to 57 in 1969o Casli-paid to farm workers increased from $262,000 in 1954 to $405,000 in 1969. This relatively small amount is a good Indication .of the high degree of technology.on Cameron fax= and their large average size, Total covered payrolls were only $694,000 in 1969, of vhich $191,000 was in manufacturinge Interestingly, agricultural marketings in Cameron.parish increased from 2o3 million dollars in 1954 to 3.1 million in 1969, a 39 percent increase, 'Retail sales had Increased almost 100 percent over the same period. East Baton-Rouge Parish East Baton Rouge parish has long been a center of economic activity in Louisiana, Its port and indus@rial bass have helped to increase total covered employees by 224 percent. In 1954, there were 25,057 covered employees in East Baton Rouge. This cate-ory bad increased to 81,253 in 1969. Most of this increase cime in the area of retail trade employees, an increase from 9274 employees in 1954 to 15,,563 in 1969. It it interesting to note that manufacturi ng employees did not increase significantly during the fifteen-year period. Of course, hired farm labor in East Baton-Rouge were only a very small part of the labor force, 318 in 1954 and 167 in 1969. Total payrolls in East Baton Rouge have increased 223 percent from 1954 to 1959., or 15 percent annually. This luerease is not as fast as that of the coastal zone, but more than that of the state. Retail payrolls rose 208 percent over the same years and in 19691, accounted for 12 percent of the parish's total payrolls. Manu- facturing payrolls were approximately 30 percent of the total for East Baton Rouge, but agriculture's payroll was minor at best, $558,000 in 1969. This figure was 21 percent less than the 1959 payroll for hired farm workers, Despite the large industrial base, 45 percent of East Baton Rouge was in farmland in 1969. This high concentration is evident from the data on market value of agricultural product3 sold. In 1954, these amounted to 1A million dollars; by 1969, this had increased 271 12 percent to 5.2 million dollars. Of most coastal parishes, Ea3t 3at.@,.i Rouge marketinSs keep pace quite uall with Tetail sales. In' terms of a source of income, agriculture.was a minor contributor in East Baton Rouge, but highly ranked in terms of the other coastil. parishes, Iberia Parish Total covered employees in Iberia Parish-increased 73 percent over the 1954-1969 period. In 1954, they numbered almost 6,000, however, by 1969, covered employees had risen to 10,260. Most of this increase was in areas other than retail sales and manufacturing since these categories increased 62,5 and 38 percent respectivelye Neither category accounted for more than 20 percent of covered employees. As in the previous parishes,, hired farm laborers decreased and in Tbarias the decline. was an average of five percent per year. In 1969, there were 535 farm workers, 7,5 percent of the coastal zone's total. As a- percent of covered employees, these workers In Iberia were 5.2 percent in 1969; however, in 1954, hired farm laborers equaled 32.4 percent of the parish's covered employees. Covered payrolls.inereased 282 percent from 1954's 14.4 million dollars to 1969's 55 million dollars. Retail payrolls rose 224 percent cpver the fifteen years and were 15 percent of total payrolls in 1969. Manufacturing payrolls increased 181 percent or about 35 percent faster than the rest of the coastal zone area. 13 U'a ,,es pad to hired farm laborers rose froml.2 idillion dollars in 1954 to two million dollars in 1964; there has since been aslight decline in this labor wage category. Iberia was, howeve r, in the upper 20 percent of the coastal parishes that paid over 1.9 million dollars in 1969 in farm wages. Indicative of this is the fact that Iberia parish has traditionally rated quite high in the value of its agricultural marketings. These crop and livestock marketings have increased from 6.1 million dollars in 1954 to 11.2 million in 1969, or five percent of the coastal marketings, Iberville Parish Ibervilla parish has made impressive gains In employment over the fifteen years studied. Its covered employees increased 143 percent, however., it was starting from a small bass of 2181 employees in 1954. Its manufacturing employees increased by the same percent as did its total, while retail employees rose from 550 to 931, accounting for 17.5 r" percent of covered workers in 1969. Hired farm vorkers declined almost 80 percent to 340 in 1969. Tbase 340 farm laborers were approximately 6 percent of total covered employees. Total covered payrolls in Iberville parish were 34.3 million dollars in 1969, 650 percent above the 1954 figure. As a percent of this total, retail payrolls declined from 21 percent in 1954 to 9 percent in 1969; h(x;ever, manufacturing payrolls increased only slightly as a percent of the total, remaining at about 33 percent over the 15 years examined. rl 14 Wages for hired workers increased 63 percent from 1954 to 1969 to 1,34 million dollars in 1969. While the Ibervillu parish gain was- greater than that of thn coastal zone, its hired labor payroll amounted to approximately 5 percent of the coastal zone's total, up slightly from 1954. Marketings of agricultural pxoducts rose from 3.7 million dollars in 1954 to 7.9-million in 1969. As a share of coastal area agricultural marketings, there was a slight increase, from 2.7 percent in 1954 to 3.7 percent in 1969. As a percent of the parish's retail sales, agricultural marketing declined in relative importance from 22 percent to 18 percent in 1954 and 1969. Jef ferson Parish Jefferson parish is one of the most industrialized areas of Louisiana's coastal zone. The growth of its employees and payrolls reflect this industrialization as well as the declining role of agriculture in the parish. Total covered employees increased 282 percent, from 16,557 in 1954 to 63,247 in 1969. Of this gain, retail trade employees increased over 500 percent during the 15-year period, A smaller gain, 200 percent, was registered by manufacturing employees, to 16,000 in 1969.. Without surprise, hired farm workers.deelined to less than 50 before 1960. Payrolls for hired farm workers in 1969 were 120,000 dollars, indeed a minor amount considering that total covered payrolls in 15 Jefferson parish in 1969 were 382-million dollars, Of particular interest is the fact that agricultural marketings in Jefferson declined from 1.26 million dollars in 1954,to 451,000 dollars in 1969, Jefferson Divis-1-1-2ri3h Jeff-Davis parish has long been an agricultural parish in South Louisiana. A quick glance at its labor structure convinces one of agriculture's significance. Total covered employees increased only 28.5 percent between 1954 and 1969, less than the state's increase and that of the coastal zone. Over-30 percent of its 4000 employees were in retail trades while less than 10 percentwere in ranufacturing. The number of hired farm workers decreased from 714 to 547 over the 1954 to 1969 period. In 1954, these farm workers were 23 percent of total covered employees, but by 1969, they had fallen to only,17.3 percent of the total, Total covered payrol Is increased 162 percent from 1954 to 1969; the gain in retail payrolls was 218 percent to 5.4 million dollars. manufacturing has been very slow in entering Jeff Davis parish. in 1969, only 1,7 million dollars accounted for manufacturing payrolls or 9 percent of total payrolls. The significance of agriculture is borne out by the growth of farm labor wages. In the fifteen-year period, these wages rose from 972 thousand dollars in 1954 to 1,9 million in 1969, a 100 percent increase, Agricultural marketings in Jeff Davis parish increased from 15.2 million.dollars in 1954 to 22.9 million in 1969. As a percent of 16 coastal warketingss Jeff Davist changed little, from 11 percent in 19.-)4 to 10.8 percent, This is a much greater than proportionate share in the coastal zone* Lafayette Parish Lafayette parish is the newest SMSA in Louisiana. Its covered em ployee3 in 1969 were 25,871, 155 percent above the 1954 le"l. Much of the covered employee growth has come in the retail trade sector of Lafayette parish. In 1954, 2874 persons were employed in this sector, and by 1969, there were 6556, or 28 percent of total covered employees. On the other hand, manufacturing employees have barely increased in contrast to construction and wholesale trade employees, Hired farm workers have represented about only one percent of the parish's total'labor force, Wages paid to hired farm workers have increased sligghtly, from 863 thousand dollars in 1954 to 950 thousand dollars in 1969. These-_-- payments are minor contributions when seen in reference to total covered payrolls of 141.4 million dollars in 1969, Agricultural marketings have declined as a percent of that in the coastal zone from 6.5 percent in 1954 to 4.7 percent in 1969. All of the above data point to the declining role of agriculture in Lafayette Parish as it becan* more urbanized. Lafourche Par13h Lafourche parish, one of the highly cultivated 'parishes of Lou13ianap experienced a 100 percent increase in total-covered 17 payrolls between 1954 and 1964. There was little gain in 1969 above 19549 with approximately 10,600 workers employed., Manufacturing employees increased about 200 persons in t@e fifteen-year period, while retailing gained more than 1300 workers or 204 percent. Farm workers declined by 50 percent, from 6ver 1000 in 1954 to 521 in 1969. The share of coastal farm workers, however, increased from 3.8 percent In 1954 to 7.3 percent in 1969. An interesting comparison relates the percentage charges in various payrolls. Wages paid to Lafourche farm workers increased only 37 percent, one of the lowest of agriculturally related coastal parishes, Yet this parish retained a fairly proportion of farm workers when compared to other coastal parishes. M:uch of this development may be due to the relatively parttime nature of the form employ-m-ent, and the high intensity of.technology and rAchanization that occurred in the fifteen-year period examined. Livin"ton Parish Primarily a rural parish, Livingston had relatively little agricultural activity. Its total of covered employees in 1969 was 2109 or four-tenths of one percent. Retail employees accounted for one-third of total payrolls and manufacturing employees actually declined In numbers over the fift;en years examined. Hired farm workers declined from.282 in 1954 to 55 in 1964; however, there was a rise to 112 in 1969. (71 Cash paid to farm workers vas less than 500,000 dollars in 1969. This iigure represented more than a 100 percent increase since 1954. Total payrolls covered by unemployment compensation had increased more than 300 percent over the same peri od. Perhaps a more interesting trend in Livingston parish is the growth of agricultural marketings from 1.7 million dollars in 1954 to 9,3 million In 1969, Its share of coastal marketings increased from 1.2 percent to 4.4 percent for the above years, Orleans Parish Orleans parish is the center of economic activity, not only of Louisiana,, but of much of the southeastern United States. Total covered employees numbered 186,000 in 1954 and by 1969, had grown to 224,000 a 20.7 percent increase. Over the fifteen years examined, there has been a decline in manufacturing employees in Orleans and retail employees have not changed significantly. Hired farm laborers numbered 50 in 1959 which is not surprising in this nonagricultural parish, There is no comparison in hired farm workerwages in Orleans. in 1959, these wages were"not even 300,000 thousand dollars and agricultural marketings did not break'1,000,000 dollars, Data was not reported after 1959 to prevent disclosure of information on individual farms. In summary, agriculture's role in Orleans' economy vas minimal at best. 19 Plaquemines Parish The minor degree of farming in Plaquemines due to land avail- ability is evident from the previous analysis of the parish. As a result, non-agricultural employment has made significant gains since 1954. In 1954, 3,350 workers were covered employees and these increased to ll,424 in 1969, a 241 percent increase. Retail trade employees increased to 850 from 190 in 1954; however the gain in manufacturing employees from 683 in 1954 to 1,322 in 1959 was negated by a decline to 827 in 1969. A dramatic 90 percent decline in farm workers is indicative of the declining role of agriculture in this coastal parish. The market value of agricultural products declined to 460,000 dollars in 1969, or equivalent to two percent of retail sales. In 1954, these sales were equal to 10 percent of retail sales. Earnings status of farm workers was far below that of other occupations, receiving an average of $3,300 per capita compared to manufacturing employees who received an average of $7,256 per capita in 1969. St. Bernard Parish Much like Orleans, St. Bernard parish had only a few farms and a very minor proportion of hired farm workers. Total covered employees in 1969 were 7,524. Over one-half of these were in manufacturing compared to 17 percent in retail establishments. Hired farm workers numbered 16 in 1969 and received 96,000 dollars in wages. This data seems high considering that manufacturing emplo yees received $8,900 per capita in 1969 while farm workers received about $8,000 per capita. 20 Market value of agricultural products sold averaged about 250,000 C v -J6!azs in the fifteen years examined. The data on wages-paid to agricult ural workers may be even more suspect with this observation, Regardless of data limitations on this parish, the obvious result is that agriculture had a very minor role to play in this primarily residential and industrial parish. St. Charles Parish St, Charles parish has experienced a considerable amount of growth in the 1954-1959 time period. Median family income increased from $2150 in 1949 to $9004 in 1069. In the latter year, this rarish ranked fourth in the coastal zone in median family income. Total covered payrolls ros e to 7,555 in 1969, 113 percent higher than the 2954 level. Very little gain was registered in the retail sector, however by 1969, one-third of the covered employ" .a weia In the manufacturing sector, Hired farm labor fell from 224 in 1954 to 57 in 1969. Total wages did not increase in the farm labor sector,, but on a per capita basis, they increased from $1070 in 1954 to $4263 in 1969. 1@!Anuftc- turing employees earfied $9631 per capita.in 1969 and all employees earned $7756 per capita in the same year, Agricultural marketings in St, Charles parish increased 34 percent from 1954 to 1969, to 1.1 million dollars in the terminal year. These marketings were equivalent to 6 percent of retail sales in 1969,while the equivalency in 1954 was 11 percent. 21 St, James Parish The allocation of land for agricultural purposes in St. James- parish changed little on the year of this s tudy, Because of this, the- advent of widespread technology accounts for the decline in labor emplcr ymznto Total covered employees in manufacturing increased from 809 in 1954 to 2028 in 1969, a.151 percent increase, Total employees experienced a 100 percent gain in numbers and in 1969, manufacturing workers were 61 percent of the total. Retail employees numbered only 471 in 1969 compared to farm worIcerst 281, These 281 farm laborers were 74 percent below the 1954 level, a somewhat greater decline than the coastal zone as a unit. Per capita wages for all covered employees averaged $12,000 in 1969, Manufactur ing wages per capita were $9,637 per capita, while hired farm workers averaged $4359. In 1954, the farm workers' pay averaged $4300, considerably less than in 1969. Manufacturing workers in.1954 averaged a per capita income of $3,500. AO gricultural marketings in St, James increased 2,5 percent per year, not enough to counter infl ationary tendencies, In 1954,'th'ese marketingswere equivalent to 44 percent of retail sales; howver, by 1969, the proportion had declined to 27.4 percent. St.-John the Baptist Parish St. John parish has experienced a significant decline in agricultural activity,, particularly in acreage in fax, . Industrial developr*nt has resulted in a fifty percent decline in hired farm workers. 22 Total covered employees have increased from 1602 in 1954 to 3033 in 1964. A arall decrease in 1969 resulted, however'. Much of the employment increase -.,ras in mandfacturing, 50.5 percent of the total in 1954 to 67 percent in 1969. Hired farm workers declined from 574 In 1954 to 207 in 1969. Per capita income per farm worker increased from $914 in 1954 to $2859 in 1969, a 212 percent increase. Per capita manufacturing incorw increased 112 percent, but in manufacturing, the per capita income was $7764 in 1969. Despite the relatively high importance of agriculture in St*- John parish,, the market value of agricultural products increased from 1.6 million dollars in 1934 to 1.9 million dollars in 1969, This increase was only nineteen percent, considerably less than that for tba state or the coastal zone, st, Martin Parisb St. @!artin parish has one of the smallest labor forces in the coastal zone, however, in recent years it has been successful in attractting light manufacturing to the parish. Covered employees were relatively stagnant from 1954-to 1964. Since 1964,, they have increased 74 percent to 3275 in 1969. Retail employees were 22 percent of this total while manufacturing were 15 percent. A parish with many scall farms, St, Martin's hired workers declined 90 percent in the 1954-6% period to 263 workers. Income per worker 10 23 in 1969 was @3053 compared to 43067 for retail employees, $3731 for manufacturing employees, and $4333 for all coverid employees. Market value of agricultural products sold decreased 5.8 percent over the fifteen years examined, This is in comparison io a 100 percent increase in retail sales to 20,4 million dollars in 1969. Nevertheless, this is equivalent to 28 percent of retail sales in St, Martin parish, while the equivalency for the coastal zone was only 6 percent. St. Mary Parish Uhile there has been a considerable degree in farm acreage from 42 to 30 percent in St. Mary parish f.-Tom 1934-1969., agriculture still plays an important role in this parish. Due to the massive industrial expansion, total covered payrolls increased from 5,831 in 1954 to 16,477 in 1969, a 183 percent Increase. Retail trade employees T -'but manufacturing increased increased about 114 perce'nt to 2560 in 1969j 50 percent, Mich of the Increase in covered payrolls came in oil field support activities, construction activities, and wholesale trade, Fully. 20 percent of covered employees were in the petroleum industry. Hired farm workers in St. Mary parish numbered 1108 in 1954. By 1969, this number had declined 57 percent to 680. Nevertheless, St. Hary had wore hired farm workers than any other coastal parish and employed 10 percent-of the coastal zone's total farm workers, Cash paid for these woekers totalled 2.7 million dollars_or $3973 per capita in 1969. Retail employees averaged @3623 per capita,while petroleum employees averaged $8913 per capita. 24 St. Ta-many Parish St. Tarmany has expe@rienced a healthy increase in covered employment from 1954 to 1964, 135 percent. The 6412 covered employees were one percent of coastal zone employees, Retail employees increased by 1,000 to 1895 in 19699 30 percent of the parish's total. Manufacturing employees rose 56 percent to 1446 in the terminal year. As expected, farm labor declined 70 percent, slightly less than the state's decline ana the coastal area's decrease. Total payrolls in St, Taumiany increased substantially from 1954 to 1969, 388 percent. This gain was far greater than the .186 percent in Louisiana or the 240 percent increase in the coastal zone. Of the 30.8 million dollar total payroll, retail employees shared in 22 percent and nanufacturing employees had 30 percent of the total. Eired farm workers' payrolls declined from $680,000 in 1954 to $188,000 in 1969. These data. obs erva t ions reflect the increasing by, declining role of agriculture in St. Ta=.ary parish, Mich of this decline has been caused by the growth of suburban in the parishas a spillover from metro Ne-4 Orleans. Agricultural sales as an equivalent to retail sales were 14.3 percent in 1954; however,'by 1969, the ratio had fallen to 5 percent. nmipahoa Parish Hired farm laborers declined 73 percent in Tangiaphoa. parish frcm 1954 to 1969. Th-is decline was slightly less than the 77 percent 25 decline in the coastal zone. On the other hand, total covered employees increased 37 percent in this parish, much less than the 64 percept increase in the remaining coastal parishes. Manufacturing ... employees declined to 2022 in 1969 from 2471 in 1954. Wages paid to farm laborers increased from $1,055,000 in 1954 to $1,491,000 in 1969. These wages were equivalent to 9 percent of covered payrolls in'1954 and 5 percent in 1969. On a percapita basis, farm laborers earned $3976 in 1969, compared to $4046 in manufacturing, $3546 in retailing, and @3824 for all employees. Overall, farm laborers were in a relatively good economic position in Taugipahoa parish. The market value of agriculture products In Tangipahoa parish was equivalent to 30 percent of retail 33183. In 19690 this equivalenc7 was-23 percent, a relatively healthy position for agriculture. In fact,, agricultural marketings increased t an annual rate of 11 percent In Tangipaboa, compared to 3.6 percent in the coastal zone. Terrebo-rtne Parish Terrebonne parish, like St. Mary parish has experienced 'Large r7A 11 gains in its labor force and employed persons. Much of the cause is apparently the same-oil and gas activity and their ensuring demands on construction and industry. Prom 1954 to 1969, total covered workers rose from 6506 in 16442, a 153 percent increase, Retail employees increased more than 100 percent in the fifteen-year period, representing 21 percent of total em?loyees. Manufacturing employees changed little in the fifteen years, accountLig for 13.7 percent of-total employees. 73 26 Hired farm workers declined 64 percent to 296 workers in 1969. Cash paid to these workers was $990,000 in the terminal year, or $3344 per worker. Manufacturing payrolls were 11.4 million dollars in Terrebonne in 1969, $5211 per capita while total payrolls amounted to 95 million dollars in 1969. In 1954, Terrebonne's agriculture marketings were two percent of that of the coastal zone and in 1969, they had maintained their two percent share. These same agricultural marketings were the equivalent of 3.4 percent of Terrebonne's retail sales; however, this was down from the 7.2 percent equivalency in 1954. Vermilion Parish According to the previous analysis of Vermilion parish, there is extensive farming in this parish. However, the parish has also experienced great strides in the non-agricultural sectors. Total covered payrolls in this parish increased 92 percent between 1954 and 1969. This increase was significantly higher than the 64 percent gain in the coastal zone. Retail employees comprised 36 percent of the total employees in 1959, but by 1969,this ratio has declined to 23 percent. Manufacturing employees rose to 784 in 1969, 43 percent above the 1954 level.As experienced in the other coastal parishes, hired farm laborers fell 78 percent in Vermilion parish, from 2017 in 1954 to 434 in 1969. These 434 workers were 6 percent of the coastal zone's total. 27 Farm worker payrolls in Vermilion parish have not increased as fast as in the coastal zone. The coastal zone increase averaged 2.7 percent per year while Vermilion's averaged 2,3 percent'per year, By 1969, the amount in Vermilion parish was 1.5 million dollars. On the other hand, total covered payrolls were 31.6 million dollars in 1969, 405 percent above' the 1954 level. This increase was far greater than the state's or that of the coastal area as a unit. Total retail sales in Vermilion parish increased from 20.2 million dollars in 1954 to 62.6 million dollars in 1969. This increase was one of 210 percent, while agricultural marketings rose 23 percent., from 19.5 million dollars in 1954 to 23.9 million iu-1969.. In 1954, these marketings were equivalent to 96 percent of the total retail sales and by 1969S they had declined to 38 percent of retail sales'. West Baton RbuRe Parish In 1954, West Baton Rouge had a fairly high number of hired farm workers, 1771; bowever, an 86 percent decline resulted in 240 in 1969. Total covered employees increased from 593 in 1954 to 1397 in 1969, a 136 percent increase, Much of this increase can be accounted for by the spillover of labor into East Baton Rouge. Over the fifteen years in question, manufacturing employees increased 76 percent to 321 in 1969. Cash paid to farm laborers increased from 075..000 in 1954 to $1,1 million in 1964; howeve r, in 1969, the payroll on farms fell to $977,000. Total covered payrolls increased almost six times over the 1954 amount while manufacturing payrolls rose to 2A million dollars, 414 percent above the 1954 level. 28 In 19541, the market value of agricultural products was $2.2 million in West Baton Rou3e, equivalent to 47 percent of retail sales, By 1969, a3ricultural v.3rketings bad increased to 3,5 million dollars, or 31 parcent.of retail sales. Su=aarX In su=aary,, Louisiana's coastal zone has increased its acreage devoted to farmland by 300..000 acres. While this increase countered the decline in acres in all of Louisiana,, continued marshland drainage and timber severance may lead--to more acreage farmed, The question of more farmland and more intensive farming depends morO. on the question of technology, mechanization,, prices received, and expertise than it does on land availability, It is evident that fertile lands are presently being cultivated in Louisiana's coastal zone; further cultivation of marginal lands is not apparent from past trends. Data examined indicate that farmland has increased over the period 1934-1969. Most of this increase 'Was realized early and may have levelled off since the early 19601s. The 1974 Cengus of Agriculture will supplement much of the present analysis and update it considerably. Urban, suburban, and industrial growth will apparently continue within the coastal zone, exerting continual pressure on land use. To maintain'the'present ratio of farmland-to-total land within the coastal zone, it tray be necessary to use marginat'land for cultivation, That is,- given that present lands are the most fertile agriculturally, present 29 wetlands may need drainage to secure higher agricultural production levels, This occurrence*depends significantly oh the price og agricultural commodities; e,g, higher price enticing the use of the more marainal lands for cultivatlon. As farming beco=es more capital-intensive and the cost of pro- duction continues to rise, the number of farms in Louisiana's coastal zone will continue to decline. Coupled with increased industrialization andurbanization, no guarantee of larger farms exists in the long-run. Competing alternatives for land will provide enough incentive for mar- ginal farmers to sell their land to developers rather than to other farmers. The increased attempts to attract industry into the coastal zone and the continued use of labor-savirg techniques in agriculture will surely cause further decreases in the use 'of hired labor on the fa=.. some minimal number of hired laborers is probably soon to be achieved. It will be necessary to Iteep sorre worUers simply to operate machinery and perform repairs. The coastal zone in Louisiana provided almost 7 half of the farm payrolls in the state in 1969; however, these payrolls as a percent of total covered payrO113 were only nina-tenths of one percent in the coastal zone, The pavttime nature of farm labor, the relatively lower pay scale, and more alternatives for employment vill entice workers away, from agricultural employment in the 26-parish -7 coastal zone. FORESTRY PRODUCTION IN THE COASTAL ZONE This section of the study examines the economic significance of forestry in Louisiana's coastal zone. It is an attempt to present a comparative analysis of forestry relative to the coastal area and to the individual parishes within the coastal zone. To accomplish this, forestry production is examined for both sawtimber and pulpwood cords, landowner income is compared to various payrolls as is employment in the forestry industry. Louisiana sawtimber production increased 44.1 percent from 1959 to 1974. In 1959, 824.7 million boardfeet were severed compared to 1193.5 million boardfeet in 1974. The coastal zone's share of this production increased from 14.8 percent in 1959 to 15.4 percent in 1974. In 1959, 122.1 million boardfeet were severed in the coastal parishes while in 1974, 184.4 million were cut, a 51 percent increase. Acadia parish claimed 2.3 million boardfeet of sawtimber severed in 1969, and this increased to 3.9 million in 1974. Much of this increased boardfeet was pine and some oak. In contrast to Acadia's severance, Ascension parish experienced an exceptional decline in boardfeet severed, from 5.9 million in 1959 to 200,000 in 1974, a 97 percent decrease. Its representative share of coastal sawtimber declined substantially from its 4.6 percent share in 1959. Assumption parish, like Ascension, experienced a sharp decline in the number of boardfeet severed. In 1959, there were 1.9 million feet cut compared to 600,000 in 1974; this represents a 68 percent decrease. At the western end of the state, Calcasieu experienced a 2 161 percent increase in sawtimber severed from 6.2 million boardfeet in 1959 to 16.2 million in 1974. As nuch of the oak was diminished, there were increasing demands for pine and Calcasieu was easily able to increase its production in this timber. As a result, Calcasieu's share of coastal sawtimber increased from 5 percent in 1959 to 8.8 percent in 1974. East Baton Rouge parish has had a respectable amount of sawtimber severed in relation to other coastal parishes. In 1959, 7.2 million boardfeet were severed which were 6 percent of total coastal severance. By 1974, this share had declined to 2.8 percent primarily due to fewer severed boardfeet in 1974, 5 million. Another parish to sever fewer boardfeet was Iberville parish. In 1959, 14.1 million boardfeet were severed; however, by 1974, this amount had declined to 6.8 million boardfeet. In the former year, 11.5 percent of sawtimber originated in Iberville but by 1974, its share had declined to 3.7 percent. Jeff Davis parish has surprisingly increased its sawtimber pro- duction significantly in the fifteen years of 1959-1974. In 1959, 800,000 boardfeet were severed, .6 of one percent of coastal severance; in 1974, 2.5 percent of coastal sawtimber, 4.6 million boardfeet were cut in Jeff Davis parish. A parish which experienced strong declines in sawtimber production was Lafourche. In 1959, eight percent of total coastal boardfeet were cut in Lafourche, or 8 million boardfeet. Apparently depletion of existing stocks caused the number of boardfeet to decline to 1.6 million in 1974. 3 More than 75 percent of Livingston parish is forested. The increased demand for wood and wood products resulted in a dramatic increase in sawtimber productions. In 1959, 24.5 million boardfeet were severed in Livingston, or 20 percent of coastal production and 3 percent of state sawtimber boardfeet. By 1974, this had grown to 81 million boardfeet or 44 percent of coastal parish sawtimber and 7 percent of the state's total. The Livingston parish increase is indeed phenomenal when considering that state increase was 44.7 percent in the 1959-1974 period. St. Charles parish apparently depleted its stock of gum, for this tree provided 52 percent of its 1.4 million boardfeet in 1959. In 1974, only 100,000 boardfeet of sawtimber were severed, a 93 percent decline. Also in 1959, St. James parish had a considerable amount of gum and cypress sawtimber, so that total boardfeet were 3.9 million, 3.2 percent of total the coastal area's sawt imber. Only 100,000 boardfeet were severed in 1974, once again a 97 percent decrease. St. John the Baptist parish experienced a similar decline from 1.9 million to 200,000 boardfeet harvested for the initial and terminal years. St. Martin parish's composition of sawtimber in 1959 was concen- trated in gum and cypress, and 3.6 million boardfeet were severed or 2.9 percent of the coastal zone's total. The depletion of cypress and gums caused harvesting to be concentrated in cottonwoods and willow; however, St. Martin's total boardfeet fell only to 3.1 million board- feet, yet its share of the total boardfeet declined significantly. 4 St, Tammany parish,, like Livingston, is aver 75 percent forested. In 1959, 11.9 million boardfeet were severed, a@counting for 10 percent of coastal severance. By 19749 this parish's severance had increased to 27.8 million boardfeet, 15 percent of the coastal zonals.total, In a similar situation was Tangipahoa parish which increased its production from 16.4 million boardfaet in 1959 to 28.6 million in 1974. Severance in this latter parish was more intense because less of Tangipahoa is forested. Terrebome parish had 1,6 million boardfeet of titabar severed in 1959, Most of it was cypress, oak, and gum.. By 1974, 1.2 million boardfeet were severed,, 25 percent less, and this was concentrated in cypress trees. VermLl4on parish cut 3A million boardfast in 1959, 3 percent of the coastal total. More than 2.4 million of this was oak and gum; howver, in 1974, less than 100,,000 boardfeet were severed,, resulting in the most dramatic drop in sawtimber production within Louisia.-mls coastal zone. Lastly, West Raton Rouge decreased its sawtimber production from 6.8 million boardfeet in 1959 to 1,6 million in 1974. The need for wood in the use of paper products and fiberboard has Un doubtedly increased dramatically in the last 15 to 20 years. The state's production of pulln4ood cords has increased 149 percent from 1959 to 1974, from 1.5 million cords to 3.7 million. Within the coastal zone, production has increased from*143,500 cords to 300,000 5 or 109 percent. As a percent of statewide production, the 26-parish ('.aztal area has declined from 9.5 percent to 8 percent* Prod--,-tion in Acadia parish of cord-viood increased 142 percent, from 4700 cords in 1959 to 11.4 thousand 1@ 1974.. In the latter ys", Acadia's production accounted for 4 percent of the coastal zone's total. Meam4hile, production in Ascension parish increased tan tiihes over to 3800 cords in contrast to the parish8s decline in sawtimber production. Calcasieu's extensive pine woods allowed for a healthy increase in sawtimber severed and pulpwood produced, The latter increased from 10,300 cords in 1959 to 39,100 in 1974, In 1974, Calcasieu's production was 13 percent of the coastal area production and one percent of that o! the state. East Baton Rouge did not increase its production of pulpwood cords, but rather.they remained at about the same level of 4,500 cords per year of the 15.-year period. lberville parish increased its share slightly from 800 cords in 1959 to 1,400 in 1974. This is in contrast to its rather sharp decline in sawtimber production, Jeff Davis parish matched its viable increase in sawtimber with that of pulpwood, From 1959 to 1974, production of the latter rose eightfold, from 1,300 to 11,700 cords. The forests of Livingston parish were apparently cut the maximum possible extent during the fifteen years In question. Sawtimber production increased 231 percent while cord production rose 300 percent from 24,900 cards in 2959.to 7 From 1959 to 1969, there was a slight decrease in the number emplVed i-i forestry related*activitie3 (forestry, lumber and wood* products,, furniture and fixtures, and, paper and allied prod=ts). From 1959 to 1969, total coastal employnmn@ in the forestry industry declined from 5623 to.5003 or from 16.2 percent of the state total to 15.6 percent. Payrolls, however, rose from $16 million to $26.8 million in 1969, The coastal share of these payrolls i=reased from 12.4 percent in 1959 to 13.3 percent in 1969. Employment in coastal forestry-related establishments as a percent of coastal manufacturing declined from 6 percent in 1959 to 4A percent in 1969, This indicates that other manufacturing establishments have been increasing at a faster pace than forestry in the coastal zone. Give the relatively fixed supply of timber in the 26-parish area., this development is not surprising. In addition, continued attraction of industry in Louisiana ,will gradually lessen the relative importance of forest activities in tl-A-employment are of Louisiana. A limited number of parishes have a high intensity of forestry activities iu.the 26-parish coastal zone, However, to illustrate the microeconomic importance of forestry, those parishes with over $1,000 in landowner income are examined, Acadia parish did not employ any individuals in the forestry- -related industries outlined above. However,, its landowner income f forestry increased fr= $5,000 in 1959 to $33,000 in 1974. Mostof this probably carA as a result of the increased pulpwood production in the parish. The high intensity of agriculture in this pa@ish caused the 8 $330,OOO in forest income to wave, however. Severance taxation increased from $2,200 in 1959 to $9,200 in 1974, a minor contribution, at best, to total Acadia tax receipts. Ascension parish, like Acadia, did not employ significant numbers in any of the forestry-related activities. Severance taxation increased to $3,000 in 1969; however, since then has declined to less than $l,OOO. This decline is due to the depletion of hardwood and gum production in the parish. Similarily, landowner income peaked in 1969 at $70,000 and in 1974 was $21,000. Pulpwood production in Assumption parish increased slightly from 1959 to 1974, to 1,100 standard cords while sawtimber boardfeet declined from 1.9 million to 600,000 in 1974. Apparently, landowner income did not change significantly, $26,000,in 1964 and $23,000 in 1974, due to the tradeoff in prod uction of the above two categories. Severance taxation has never yielded over $1,000 in this parish. The greatly increased severance of timber and pulpwood in Calcasieu parish pushed landowner forest income from $10,000 in 1959 to $1,501,000 in 1974. Total Calcasieu income from forestry in 1974 was 9.3 percent of coastal forestry income 1.4 percent of the state's $110,622,000. In Calcasieu, landowner forest income was equivalent to 12 percent of farm income, a significant contribution of this parish's total income. Since the severance tax is so low, the increased timber severance in Calcasieu did not result in as great a contribution to parish taxes as it did to landowner income. 9 Covered employees in Calcasieu parish engaged in some aspect of the forestry industry numbered 187 in 1959 and received $460,000 in wages. Ten yearsliter, the employees fell to 124 and payrolls had decreased slightly to $456,000. In both years, farm,workers outnumbered those in forestry as did wages paid to farni laborerso However forestry payrolls were 46 percent of farm payrolls. Forestry employees were approximately one percent of manufacturing employees in 1969 in Calcasieu. This is not surprising in this parish due to the high degree of industry in the Lake Charles area. East Baton ftige parish, a highly industrialized area for many years, had a significant amount of forestry activity since the end of World War II. Much of this was probably due to the growth of Baton Rouge proper and the need for cleared land in order-to develop. While the number of boardfeet and pulpwood cords did not chanSe significantly, the increase in remuneration led to higher levels of landowner income over the years, In 1959, only $5,000 was gained from forest severance; however, in 1974, this category had increased to $331,000, approximately equivalent to 3.5 percent of agricultural income. Employment in East Baton Rouge was high relative to other parishes' forestry employmnt. In 1959, 419 employees were employed in this sector, accounting for 2.3 percent of manufacturing employment. The high incidence of other types of manufacturing employment led to this low proportion. By 1969, the number of employed declined to 377 or 2,1 percent of total manufacturing. Forestry payrolls increased 11.3 percent AML 10 for the vear3 1959-1969, half as fast as the increase in total manufacturing payrolls in this parigh, The decline in forestry employment in East Bato.. Rouge was about equal to that of coastal employment in this sector, 10 percent. Payrolls in East Baton Rouge in forestry increased 17 percent frcm 1.6 million dollars in 1959 to 1,9 million in 1969, In this category of income, the coastal payrollst increase far outdistanced East Baton Rouge, by 50 percent. Compared to agricultural workers, forestry-related employees earned @4954 In 1969., while the farm laborers earned $3341 per capita. Interestingly, in the same year., per capita payrolls for all of manufacturing was $9046, considerably above that for forestry, lberville parish, long one of the most forested areas in Louisiana, largely due to the cypress forests of the Atchafalaya Basin, experienced a sharp decline in sawtimber production from 1959 to 1974. Landowner income., however, increased from $117,000 in 1964 to $275,000 in 1974, Most of this increase came after 1969, due to changes in the production of pulpwood. This forest income.equalled 4 percent of agricultural income in lberville pari3b. In 1959, employmnt in forestry-related activities was 201 or 3.6 percent of total coastal employees In this sector, By 19692 there were so few forestry employees in Tberville that the Depart=ent of Commerce could not report them to prevent the revelation of individual employers. Jefferson parish which is primarily urban and Industrially- oriented had little or no forestry income to landowners. By 1974, no sat4timber or pulpwood was severed; 'however, employment in forestry related activities was quite high. In 19590 there were 373 covered employees in the forestry sector, earning 1.3 million dollars. Through 19699 these employees increased 280 percent to 1403, and payrolls rose to 9.8 million dollar3l a 631 percent gain in covered payrolls. Total manufacturing payrolls increased 271 percent,--much less than forestry alone and total employees in manufacturing rose from 11,038 In 1959 to 16,043 in 1969, a 45 percent increase-* On a pet capita payroll basis, forestry-related employees gained $7042 in 1969 while all other manufacturing employees gained $7376, a 4.6 percent payroll difference in per capita payrolls. In 1959x the forestry sector in Jefferson parish accounted for 3.3 percent of total manufacturing employment and 6.6 percent of coastal forestry employees. Over the next ton years, Jefferson parish gained many employees in the forestry-related sector, and increased its share of manufacturing employ=ent.to 8.8 percent. Livingston parish, one of the most forested parishes of Louisiana's coastal, zones, provided for 7A million dollars in landowner income from forestry. The growth of severance taxation Vas from $153,100 in 1959 to $177,,400 in 1974, comparable to the increase in landowner income., Orleans parish was similar to Jefferson parish in the context of the forestry industry, The parish provided no sawtimber of pulpwood yet it employed a consi derable number of persons in forestry-related activites-furniture and fixtures, and lumber and wood products. 12 There vas no landowner income since there was no production and similarly, no severance tax receipts, However, employment and payrolls are a different matters Orleans parish employed 2344 worke*rs in forestry-related industries in 1959. These 2344 were 42 percent of the coastal employees in the same industries and.6.8 percent of the state total. In the. next* ten years, the number of similar employees declined to 1793 in Orleans, 36 percent of the coastal total. As a percent of ranufacturing employees., forestry-related employees were 8.6 percent. However,, the increase in manufacturing and decline in forestry employment caused the ratio to decline to five percent. Payrolls associated with forestry-related employment in Orlean3 rose from $7.9 million to $9,28 million, a 33 percent increase, The coastal forestry payrolls Increased 56 percent from 1959 to 1969. On a per capita basis, forestry employees in Orleans earned about $5100 per capita, compared to manufacturing employees uho earned approximately $7250 per capita in 1969. The final two parishes which significantly contributed to forestry activity in the coastal zone are St, Ta=many and Tangipahoa. Their input comes first from their dominance of forest areas and the location of pulp and paper mills in the area North of Lake Ponchartrain, Ste TammAny parish provided more than 28 percent of the pulpwood in the 26 coastal parishes in 1959. In 1969, its share had declined to 12.7 percent. 'Hardwood sawtimbers In Ste Tanzany were 9,7 percent of the coastal sawtimber production in 1939 and this proportion increased in 1969' 13 to 15.7 percento As a result of the overall forest activity increase in this parish, landowner income increased from $40,000 in 1959 to $2.5 million in 1974, In 1969, forest income was equivalent to 22 percent of agricultural income; but most of the forestry increase was batwaen -.J 1969 and 1974, Therefore, 1974 Census of Agriculture figures will surely report forest income to landowners greater than Income to farmers. It 13 interesting to note that despite the predom:Lnanr-a of forest activities in St, Tarmmny parish, employment has declined in this sector of nanufacturino. In 1959.. 215 employeas were reported compared to 157 in 1969. Covered wages, however, increased 50 percent, to $6880000. Manufacturing employees increased from 107 to 1446 from 1959 to 1969. Some of this decline in employment is probably due to mechanization and technology. Most of the decrease can be attributed to the higher earnings in other sectors, For instance., in totaL manufacturing, average per capita payroll was $320O.in 1959 and @6500 in 1969; with in the forestry sector, per capita wages were $2316 in 1959 and $4382 in 1969. Such a wide divergence is likely to have aided in the outflow of workers from forestry. Tangipahoa parish, like St. Ta=many, had over 75 percent of its area forested, The previous data indicated how much was harvested in pulpwood and sawtf r over the last fifteen yearse Lando-mer income increased from $50,000 in 1959 to over @2.8 million in 1974, In 1974,r this income was 17.6 percent of coastal income from forestry production. Severance tax receipts made similar gains from $13,900 in 1959 to $75,600 in 1974. 14 In 1959, there were 1256 covered worke*rs in forestry-related activities in TanSipaboa parish,, 22.3 percent of the coastal total. This employment declined 23 percent to 969 in 1974, 19.4 percent of the coastal total. Forestry-related payrolls, however,, increased from $2*9 million to $4,1 million over the ten @ear period, 1959-1969. Manufacturing payrolls rose 62 percent from 1959-1969, dwarfing the 39 percent rise in forestry, but employees had also increased in total manufacturing from 1264 to 2044. Contrary to the occurrence in St, Tarmany parish, per capita forestry payrolls in Tangipahoa were sligbtly higher or equivalent to that in total manufacturing. Summary Coastal sawtimber and pulpwood production have increased sub- stantially over the last 20 years. HDre limited supplies.will, however, force a much quicker dar,;nturn in production than in the non-coastal parishes, The nature of the more limited forest areas In the coastal zone is evident when examining forest employment trend3. Such employment had declined only slightly in the 1959-1969 period,, mainly because of the secondary fore3try-related activities in the urban pari3hes. Other than these urban parishes, there have been declines in employment in these sectors, indicative of u*cbanization and falling timber supplies. Additionally, salaries in fore3try-related employment luwa not been comparable to those in rAnufacturing in Louisianats coastal zone, Ris prices for wood and wood-products are likely to contribute to more landowner income until-exi3ting supplies diminish =are,, Generally, one can expect fewer persons engaged in forestry related activities as additional manufacturing enters the coastal zone, 15 BIBLIOGRAPHY Agricultural Statistics for Louisiana, 1910-1961 Lonnie L. Fielder and C. O. Parker, DAE #316 (Dec., 1962). Agricultural Statistics for Louisiana, 1950-1963 Lonnie L. Fielder and C. O. Parker, DAE #338 (Nov., 1964). Agricultural Statistics for Louisiana, 1909-68 Lonnie L. Fielder, C. O. Parker, and J. B. Penn. DAE Research Report #397, (June, 1969). Agricultural Statistics for Louisiana, 1964-72 DAE Report #458, Oct., 1973. Lonnie L. Fielder and Sam L. Guy. An Analysis of Trends in Yields of Major Field Crops in Louisiana DAE Research Report #446, Oct., 1972. Lonnie L. Fielder, Jr. Changes in Number of Forms, By Size, of Farm, by Color of Operator, by Tenue of Operator, and in Number of Commercial Farms, by Parishes, Louisiana, 1939-1959 Lonnie L. Fielder, Jr. DAE Circular #289, (July, 1961). Estimates of the Annual Cash Income from Farm Marketings, by Parishes, Louisiana, 1929, 1939, and 1943-58 J. P. Montgomery, DAE #240, (April, 1959). Louisiana Crop Statistics, by Parishes, 1950-1962 Lonnie L. Fielder and C. O. Parker. DAE Research Project #328, Nov., 1963. Louisiana Crop Statistics, by Parishes, Through 1970 for Cotton, Rice, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Sorghuns, Sugar Cane Lonnie L. Fielder, Jr. and C. O. Parker, DAE Research Project #436 (April, 1972). Louisiana Department of Agriculture, Annual Reports. Louisiana Department of Agriculture, ASCS Annual Reports. Louisiana Department of Employment Security, Employment Wages. Louisiana Department of Employment Security, Manpower Information for Affirmative Action Programs, Feb., 1975. Louisiana Department of Employment Security, Louisiana Labor Market, Louisiana Work Force Sumamries. Louisiana Department of Revenue, Annual Reports. 16 Louisiana Forestry Commission, Progress Report. Louisiana Forestry Commission, Timber and Pulpwood Production in Louisiana. Louisiana State Planning Office, The State of the State. Louisiana State University, Center for Wetland Resources, An Economic Base Study of Coastal Louisiana, L. B. Jones and G. R. Rice. Louisiana Tax Commission, Biennial Reports. Trends in Farm Land Acreage, Use, and Value in Louisiana, 1909-1954. J. P. Montgomery, DAE #190, (March, 1956). Trends in Farm Land Acreage, Use, and Value in Louisiana, 1909-1959. Lonnie L. Fielder, Jr. DAE Circular #279, (Feb., 1961). Trends in Farms Producing, Acreage, and Production of Selected Agriculture Crops, Louisiana, 1910-1955 J. P. Montgomery, DAE #195, (Nov., 1956). Trends in Farms Producing, Acreage, and Production of Selected Agriculture Crops, Louisiana, 1909-1959 Lonnie L. Fielder, Jr. DAE Circular #280. Trends in Louisiana Agriculture, A Technical Presentation. Lonnie L. Fielder, Jr. DAE Research Report #416, (Nov., 1970). University of New Orleans, Division of Business and Economic Research, Statistical Abstract of Louisiana. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Census of Agriculture, Louisiana. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Census of Population, Detailed Characteristics, Louisiana. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Census of Population, General Social and Economic Characteristics, Louisiana. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, County Business Patterns. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Handbook of Labor Statistics. APPENDIX rm-k TABLE I TAIM AREA (Hundreds of Acres) Parl. sh 1934 19 39 1944 1949 1954 -1952 1964 1969 Acadia 414,1 423,7. -423,7 423.7 423,7 423,7 423.7 424.2. Ascension 182.4 1920-0 192,0 19210 192.60 19210 192,0 192.6 Assumption 309.8 228,5 228,5 228.5 228,5 228,5 228',5 .227.6 Calcasieu 695.0 706,6 706,6 706.6 706.6 .706,6 706,7 707,2 Cameron 960,6 924.2 924.2 924,2 924,2 924,2 924.2 922.4 East Baton Rouge 291.2 295.7 295,7 295.7 295.7 295.7 295.7 .293.8 Iberia 376.9 376.3 376,3 .376,3 376.3 376,3 376.3 377.0 Zberville 373.7 391,0 391.0 401,9 401.9 401,9 401.9 401,5 Jefferson 272.6 261.8 261.8 261,8 261.8 261.8- 261.7 236.4 Jeff Davis 466.6 421.1 421.1 421.1 421,,l 421.1 421.1 420.9 Lafayette 178.6 181.1 181.1 181.1 18111 181.1 181.1 191.1 Lafourche 634,2 740,5 740,5 740,5 740.5 740.5 740,5 730.0 Livingston 427,5 425.6 425.6 425.6 425,6 425.6 425.6 418.4 (*loans 125.4 127.4 127,4 127.4 127.4 127A Plaquemines 644.5 629,8 629.8 629.8 629.8 629.8 629.8 658.9 St. Bernard 394.9 326,4 326.4 326.4 326.4 326.4 326.4 329,0 Parish 1934 - 1939 1944 1949 1954 1959 1964- 1969 St, Charles 188,8 194,6 194,6 194.6 194.6 194,6 194,6 188,2 w st, James 161.3 159A 159A 159 *4 159*4 159.4 159.4 162,1 St, John 149.1 144.0 144.0 144.0 144,0 144.0 144.0 145.0 St, Hartin 33610 472.3 472.3 461A 461.4 461.4 461.4 47loo St. Mary 404.5 387.2 387.2 387.2 387,2 387.2 387.2 399.0 St. Taumany 579,8 58111 581.1 58101 581*1 581,1 581,1@ 567.4 Tangipahoa 505.6 513.9 513.9 513.9 513.9 513.9 5130 517.2 Terrebonne 1123.8 890,2 890,2 890.2 890,2 890.2 890.2 8750il Vermilion 776,3 783.4 783.4 783.4 783.4 783.4 783.4 771.3 West Baton Rouge 137.0 128.6 128.6 128.6 128.6 .128..0 -- 128.0 129.9- STATE TOTAL 29061.8 28913,3 28913o3 28903.7 28903,7 28867,8 28867.5 28771.2 Coastal Zone Total 11382,8 10436.4 10906.4 10906.4 10906A 10905.8 10905.8 10874.8 Coastal Zone P.er State 39,2 360A 370 37.7 37,7 37,7 37,7 37,8 Source: Department of Agriculture, Census of &ricultu wi TAUB n IAND IN ?ARKS (Acres) Parish 1934 1939 1944 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 Acadia 3041,961 298,881 288$947 3180,555 3430697 338,824 3498255 335,63P Ascension 85,363 74,623 98,753 1121,808 93,594 89,775 92,497 649135 Assumption 101$183 940021 903,414 1012,845 880315 940831 87,775 842743 Calcasieu 225s,566 1819659 1990464 4010386 496s,406 4680350, 528s535 403s435 Cameron 1299355 718746 113j788 166s735 2539704 2160476 284,$585 287,3815 E, Baton Rouge 16,50862 1510880 172,798 174,927 1850322 179sOO2 1520325 133,511 Iberia 1300'379 110,444 1351,698 1340218 133,410 1380846 133,985 131,051 Iberville 1031,662 932621 98,947 1110989 134j561 120JO271 123,265 122040 Jefferson 79981 110594 10s,475 318540 212785 160786 10,148 8,951 Jeff Davis 309,010 270*617 2929818 3510684 3343,338 3550999 356,325 365,769 Lafayette 155tO54 1366791 151*177 131,0783 139,916 141,672 12,8,385 136R453 Lafourche 2190751 255$000 222#035 Z52#094 230S790 2368254. 225,015 204,629 Livingston 101#219 83,217 821229 93,902 102,319 66,,774 699585 44,864 Orleans 81,080 12$031 4,038 8,178 210422 7,487 Plaquemines 261,241 458829 41,779 600277 550239 39j,284 576289 31*69:1 St.-Bernard 119742 51786 180030 10*567 220578 12,797 15g152 7,1-12 Parish 1934-- ---l93,9 - 1944 1249 -19M 12_52 1964 - 1969 Sto Charles 26,268 289832 409929 600304 64,408 43*901 52065 339653 St, James 61,231 579619 590090 69,$503 70,198 529785 629002 56,900 St. John 479535 U9844 321,575 47,794 419441 320677 371,878 221,556 Ste liar tin 108s946 1289523 1080658 1240019 1309,097 979751 108,365 99,532 N St. Mary 120,382 113,318 1049902 160D656 162,0162 139s947 1232285 1219199 St. Tammany 62,195 78j,763 1090637 126gl69 140*716 79$219 90s273 800206 Tangipahoa 1750194 1920747 1891621 2090460 215s458 1848455 1969995 1598592 Terrebonne 1410391 1141,644 1162137 1162383 116j627 100s537 123g415 100,080 Vermilion 312,740 316,201 3630942 403,227 383,064 386,801 393jI13 W, Baton Rouge 38,999 -- 45,688 - - - 50,517 50-.802 - 55-A198. 54,057 47,536 552334 SMATE TOTAL 10,444j,288 93,996,108 10,0390657 11,2023,278 11.441,343 10,347,328 10,411,500 /-9,7888662 Coastal Zone Total 3x1800490 39005,919 3,1970398 3x8300805 400170765 3s693,,558 3,843s470 3.1483,864 Coastal Zone Per State 30,5 30,1 31,8 34.2 35,1 35.7 36,9 35.6 Source: Department of Agriculture, Census of Agriculturl. F LL TA6B1z III PERCEW OF TOTAL AREA IN FARMS garish 1934 1939 19" 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 % Change Acadia 73*6 704 68.2 73,2 81,2 79,9 82,4 79ol 7*5 Ascension 46,8 38,9 51,4 58.7 48,7 46.8 48,1 33.4 -28,6 Assumption 32,7 41*1 39,6 44*5 38.6 41.5 38,4 37.2 13.7 Calcasieu 32*5 25,7 28,2 56,8 70,2 66,3 74,7 57,0 75.4 Cameron 13,5 7,8 12,3 1810 27,5 23,4 304 31,1 130.4 62,7 .5 5165 -20.2 E, Baton Rouge 56,9 51A 58,4 5911 6o' 45*4 Iberia 34.6 29&3 36,1 35,7 35.4 36,9 35.6 34,8 6 Iberville 27o7 29.3 25,3 27,8 33,4 29,9 30,7 30,4 9,7 Jefferson 2.9 4.4 4.0 12,0 8,3 6,4 3,9 3,8 31,0 Jeff Davis 66,2 64,3 .69.5 83,5 79,4 84.5 84.6 86,9 31.3 Lafayette 86.7 75,5 83,5 72*8 77,2 78,2 70.9 75,3 -13,1 Lafourche 34,6 34.4 30,0 34.0 31.1 31,9 30,4 28,0 -19.1 Livingston 23.7 19.5 19,3 22,.l 24.0 15,7 16,4 10,7 -54,8 Orleans 6,,4 9.4 3,1 6.4 1.9 5.9 7.8 Plaquemines 4.1 7,3 6,6 9.6 8.8 6o2 911 4.8 17.1 Parish --- 1934 1939 1944 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 % Change St. Bernard 3*0 118 5.5 3.2 6,9 30 4,,1 2,2 -26,7 St. Charles 13.9 14,8 21,0 31.0 33,1 22.6 27.1 17,8 28.1 Sta James 37*9 36,61 37,1 43,6 43.9 33A 3809 35,1 - 7A St, John 31,9 22,0 22.6 33,2 28,8 22,7 26.3 15.6 -51,11 St. Martin 32A 27,2 22.9 26,9 28,2 21,2 23,5 21,1 -34,9 St, Mary 29*7 29,3 27*t 41,5 41,9 36,1 31*8. 30,4 2,3 S t. Tanvaany 10*7 134 1819 21,7 24,2 13,6 1515 14.1 31,8 Tangipahoa 34*7 37.5 36.9 40,8 41,9 35*9 38,3 30.9 -10,9 Terrebonne [email protected] 1209 13.0 13,1 13,1 11.3 43.9 11.4 9.5 Vermilion 40,3 4o.4 46.4 51.4 48.9 49.4 49.4 51.0 26,6 W, Baton Rouge 28.4, 25.5 39.3 39.5 43,0 42.2 7.1 2.6 50,0 STATE TOTAL 35,9 34,5 34.7 38.7 39A 3568 36.1 34.0 Coastal Zone Total 27,9 28,8 29.3 35,1 36.8 33.9 35,2 32,0 Source: Department of Agriculture, Census of Ap'riculturp,-, Am TABLZ IV NUMBER OF FARMS Parish 1934 1939 944 1949 IM 1959 1964 1969 Acadia 3*850 39937 30517 30346 %310 2s471 1,,989 18453 Cft Aveenslon 18415 10411 10368 16455 10283 896 880 293 Assumption 423 551. 359 409 311 307 270 194 Calcasieu 10931 16776 16598 10896 10296 771 819 739 Cameron 892 842 813 592 649 479 462 423 E. Bat-on Rouge 22557 10853 Is956 19981 10704 19103 10085 675 Zberia 1,538 10314 1,308 19069 1,002 805 607 591 11berville 923 .741 645 681 572 425 359 286 Jefferson 413 284 320 254 218 119 78 54 Jeff Davis 19754 1,665 10237 1,553 1,207 1,049. sit 897 Lafayette 30677 3s,441 30152 2,977 20m 29272 10826 18452 Lafourche 1,,222 13,120 IsI59 1,058 736 758 623 519 Livin&aton 20588 20162 10897 2,397 2s5a5 1,520 10585 489 Orleans 312 199 150 110 40 69 Plaquemines 704 602 635 596 594 419 277 ill Parish -1934 19-39 1944 IL949 1954 1959 1964 1969--- St. Bernard 272 t1l 148 170 153 53 33 27 St. Charks 328 253 369 259 161 110 104 71 St, Jamos 675 434 318 406 413 208 210 145 St. John 305 181 225 195 141 83 117 47 St. Martin 2,762 2,440 2*063 2*238 21198 1,432 11208 774 St, Mary 509 387 408 391 417 271 220 216 St, Tammany IvI79 1,245 -19321 1,455 16405 705 737@ 526 Tangipahoa 49792 4$,521 40238 4"551 .30998 20985 2j568 ls513 Terrebonne 1,151 917 701 726 658 428 408 217 Vermilion 30959 @3,392 3jI85 3,180 2,648 29299 2D121 1s738 W. Baton Rouge 464 501 457 404 414 269 193 141 ST&TE TOTAL 1702216 150,9007 129,295 124,181 111,127 74,438 62,466 42,269 Coastal Zone Total 40,595 36#280 33,557 340349 31,043 22,306 19,390 13s397 Coastal Zone Per State 23.8 24,2 26,0 27,7 27*9 30,0 31.0 31,7 Source: Department of Agriculture, Census of Agriculturei TABLE V AVEPAGE FARK'S= IN ACRES Parish 1935 1940 -------1945 1950 1954 1959 1964 1969 Acadia 79,2 7519 82,2 95.2 103,8 137ol 175,6 230,9 Ascension 60.3 52*9 68,5 77.5 72.9 10092 105,1 218.8 Assumption 239,7 .170,6 251.8 282.2 249,0 308,9 325,1 436,8 Calcasieu 116.8 102,3 VA.8 211*7 383,0 607*5* 645,3 545. *9 Cameron 145,0 85,2 138,3 281,6 390.9 451,9 616,0 679,3 E. Baton Rouge 64,9 82*0 88,3 88.3 80.10 136.4 140,4 197,7 Darla 8498 8411 10307 125.6 133,1 172*5 220,7 .221.7 Iberville 112,3 126,3 153,4 164,4 235,2 283*0 343,4 427,7 Jefferson 19.3 40,8 32,7 124.2 9919 141,1 130,1 165.7 Jeff Davis 176.2 162,5 236.7 226,5 277,0 339.4 439,4. 407.7. Lafayette 42.2 48,0 44.3 47,8 62,4 70,3 93.9 Lafourche 179,8 227.7 191.6 238.3 313.6 311,7 361,2 394.3 Livingston 39.1 38.5 43.3 39,2 39.6 43,9 43.9 91.7 'Orleans 25,9 60,5 26.9 74,3 60,6 108,5 29.3 Plaquemines 37.3 76,1 65,8 10111 93.0 93,8 206.8 285,5 Parish 1935 1940 1945 1950 1954 -1959 1964 1969-_- St. Bernard 43.2 52.1 121,8 62.2 147.6 241.5 459.2 263.4 St, Charles 80,1 114,0 11019 232,8 400.0 399,1 507A 273.9 %D St. James 9017 132,8 185.8 171,,2 170.0 253.6 295,2 392.4 04 St, John 155.9 175.9 144,8 245.1 293,9 393,7 323*7 479,9 St, Martin 39A 52,7 52.7 55A 59,2 68,3 89.7 128.3 St, MAry 236,5 292.8 257,1 410,9 388,9 516.4 560*4 561,1 St, Tammany 38,6 63,3 83,0 26,7 100.2 112.4 122,5 152.4 Tangipahoa 36.6 42.6 44.7 46.0 53.9 61,8 76,7. 105.4 Terrebonne 122.8 125,0 165,7 160,3 177,2 234.9 302.5 461,,l Vermilion 79,0 93.2 114,2 126,8 144*7 168,2 182A 226,1 W, Baton Rouge 84.0 91.2 110.5 125.7 133.3 201,0 246.3 392.4 STATE TOTAL 61A 66.6 77,6 90,2 103,0 139,0 166,7 231.5 Coastal Zone Total 93A 102,3 117,2 149,9 178,8 228,8 269,9 301.3 Source: Department of Agriculture, Census of Agricultur ............. 27 TABLE VI TOTAL COVERED EMPLOYEES Parish 1954 1959 .1964 1969 Acadia 49921 50293 59645 60301 Ascension 19551 29544 33,539 69270 Assumption 19522 18634' Iv975 2*791 Calcasieu. 25s,057 25,996 24*752 32,896 Cameron 672 606 1,254 2,509 E. Ba.ton Rouge 471,101 55,574 57,057 81,253 Iberia 5j927 7,018 @9v233 lOv260 Iberville 20181 29648 3v366 58312 Jefferson 169557 30$,859 420864 631,247 Jeff Davis 30135 3$,101 30161 40031 Lafayette 100141 14t426 189487 25,871 71 Lafourche 58607 79497 10,269 .10,610 Livingston 19185 1,465 20265 2,109 Orleans. 185$908 182v397 20lvO47 . 2248172 Plaquemines 3,350 40182 6,004 11,424 St. Bernard 5,685 6,265 71,524 St, Charles 3.,541 3v473 30877 70555 St, James 10433 29694 28092 3,1331 St. John 10602 10509 3s,033 2v864 St, t1artin lx325 1,379 12884 3,275 St. Mary 52,851 7s750 l2vl39 162477 St, Ta=.any 2t733 3s,344. 4*759 6,412 28 T. Parish 1954 1959 1964 1969 Tangipahoa 60019 6,541 7j,217 8r246 Terrebonna 6,506 .8,032 12,528 16,"2 Vermilion 38252 3.,390 5,645 6v241 W, Baton Rouge 593 1,115 1,188 1,397 STATE TOTAL 578#206 5949335 6310829 7979926 Coastal Zone Total 3470670 3901,152 450,545 5686820 Coastal Zone Fer State 60,1 65*6 71,3 71.3 Source: Department of Comercelt County Business Patterns, EMU) EAST EST SATON TANSIPAHOA GATON IROUSE LIVIN6 STOP ST. TAMMANV oust JEFFERSON ACADI A6, CALCASIEU DAVIS -4 a t.@ w jori-I N CE"llow N 4 THE VTIS-T -05 A me W. IWilt IA -Sm slu 14PI 1041 CHAR69id she 6 T- AS V 9 A ILA LJ G AND M Aft T I N !,A T 9 a ft 9 B 'q.YN C_1j,L P-A. 03"* 1' .... .. C- M-.k plount 29. TABLE VII RETAIL TRADE COVERED MIPLOYEES Parish 1954 1959 1964 1969 Acadia 1,707 11,500 1p572 19668 Ascension 656 748' 834 10318 Assumption 240 246 272 349 Calcasieu 40655 5,173 5,013 69712 Cameron 73 115 118 149 Z, Baton Rouge 9,274 11,349 11,254 159563 Iberia lp902 1p929 20349 Zberville 550 630 632 931 Jefferson 2,0358 6t199 10g426 l5jl72 Jeff Davis 973 10166 IvO94 10330 tafayette 20874 4VO18 4.%274 6,556 Lafourche 1,276 19564 lv777 2v2O7 Livingston 315 410 421 722 Orleans 38x198 37j,415 349991 38,658 CIO Plaquemines 190 355 852 St. Bernard 196 468 681 1p266 St. Charles 449 358 318 493 St, James 361 237. 311 471 St, jobn 229 349 331 484 St. Martin 345 454 570 712 St, Mary 13,199 19661 12764 2,560 St, Tammany 856 4043 1,446 1,895 30 Parish 1954 1959 1964 -1969 Tangipahoa 10652 21,030 2t383 20744 Terrebonne 10529 lt974 2,440 36461 Vermilion 1,9167 lp275. 11,244 1,424 289 236 266 W, Baton Rouge 263 STATE TOTAL 110t229 1222561 127s,640 1600952 Coastal Zone Total .73,030 82,,928 860851 110v312 Coastal Zone Per State 66.3 67,7' 6810 6815 Source: Department of Commerce, Countv Business.Patterns* 31 TABLE VIII FWT QUARTER MANUFACTURING DIPLOMMU Parish 1954 1959 .1964- 1969 Acadia 830 787 974 18281 Ascension 430 IV092, 19305 2j560- Assumption 937 19127 708 lv760 Calcasieu 7v671 8s,097. 7v444 82956 Cameron 97 141 E, Baton Roup 18,9942 189155 150107 180128 neria 1,250 19177 lV519 10723 lberville 763 921 11125 10764 Jefferson 80755 llv038 120130 160043 Jeff Davis 347 243 210 362 Lafayette 19287 10546 29036 19697 1,p883 Lafourche lv503 10098 1v748 Livingston 506 468 331 390 Orleans 41,631 29,217 341,864 35a5lO Plaquemines 683 1,322 747 827 St, Bernard 4v291 4,021 39585 3,9842 St. Charles 1.,527 21083 11526 20749 St. James 809 lv296 1,0475 2,,028 $to John 10191 $59 1,504 1,274 St, Hartin 451 374 296 491 St, 1"lary 19732 19557 29064 2x593 St. Tamany 925 10057 lv243 1v446 32 Parish 1954 1959 -1964 1969 Tangipahoa 2s471 29193 2v235 20022 Terreborme 29223 10607 1*749 2v255 Vermilion 549 328 766 784 W* Baton Rouge 182 140 122 321 StATE TOM 151,729 135v756 .142,712 172,882 Coastal Zone Total 101#831 910895 95,9760 112s695 Coastal Zone Per State 67,1 67.9 67A 65.2 ;7 Source: Department of Co=merce, County Business Patterns, TABLIS IX HIRED FARM WORKERS (More Than 150 Days) Parish 1939 @1944 -1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 Chan&S_ Acadia 1,0516 284 978 40456 441 509 481 68,3 Ascension 979' 329 914 11,088 594 368 215 78.0 Assumption 20248 10477 10527 Is430 991 941 507 77.4, Calcasieti 943 187 456 618 314' 349 235 7 561 Cameron 266 48 141 161 52 49 57 7806 E, Baton Rouge 1,9127 291 522 318 311 208 167 85.2 :Eberia 13,806 888 1,395 10922 165 908 535 - 70,4 Iberville 1,451 10015 843 18658 615 789 340 - 76.6 Jefferson 310 159 181 253 46 36 31 - 9060 Jeff Davis 841 .443 10085 714 395 513 .547 - 35.0 Lafayette 522 338 656 3,,635 348 323 264 - 49.4 Lafourcbe 2,816 1,800 10575 IS190 866 849 521 - 8104 Livingston 248 182 930 282 65 55 112 - 54.8 Orleans 158 54 93 10 50 26 - 83,8 Plaquemines 422 118 387 292 47 53 30 92,8 =7" -7777:1 7@' Parish -1939 19" 1949 1954 1959 1964 1969 % Change St. Bernard 221 1,03 286 67 12 15 16 - 92.8 St# Charles 320 173 189 224 126 139 57 - $2.2 St, Jams 19228 722 990 11,073 357 825 281 - 77A St, John 661 637 622 574 198 354- 201 - 68,7 St, Martin 599 607 812 28690 264. 396 263 - 56,1 St. Mary 30121 11,444 20005 loS87 681 lj'108 - 680 - 78,2 St, Tammany 486 175 796 630 216 242 188 61,3 Tangipahoa, 982 313 3,860 1,431 424 463 375 61.8 Terrebonna 10,705 816 1,256 826 508 474 296 82.6 Vermilion ID209 345 10058 2*017 309 462 434 64.1 W, Baton Rouge 1,455 684 727 1,771 511 673 240 - 83.5 STATE TOTAL 56,712 18,954 41,972 53,305 17,409 20,590- 140743 - 74.0 Coastal Zone Total 27,640 136632 24,284 30,,917 9,566 11,138 7,079 74.4 Coastal Zone Per Stata 4a,7 71,9 57,9 28.7 54,9 54.1 48,0 -Source: Department of Agriculture, Census of Agriculture. 35 MABLE. X FIRST QLU%RTER TOTAL COVERED PAYROLLS (Thousands of Dollars) Parish 1954 1959 1964 1969 Acadia 2,657 3,487 5,020 61671 Ascension 718 21414. 4v315 119,433 Assumption $12 18503 2v439 43,447 Calcasieu 21v844 27v3lI 300140, 520117 Cameron 564 572 19584 49481 E, Baton Rouge 40v4O3 629917 71j731 130*703 rberia 39588 58511 .109030 13s,703 Iberville IvI43 2vI71 49080 8v575 Jefferson 12,992 30V243 50,365. 95,496 Jeff Davis 1,,805 21,242 2,,942 4v744 Lafayette 6t344 119774 208382 351,366 Lafourche 3o577 5o897 ILOSS50 130800 Livingston 549 942 972 29232 Orleans 1319609 165p454 2289421 3299056 Plaquemines 2s,701 5volo 9p077 22p246 St. Bernard 7,349 93'"Z 13vl46 St.' Charles 38309 4,7n 5,801 14,65Q St, J=es 19007 3j372 2p914 6,637 St. John 19262 1-202 4pO37 4s,586 9 St, Martin 756 850 1#737 3p548 St. mary 4*076 6,873 15p491 26r280 St, Tammany 1*579 20298 49169 7,714. 36 Parish 1954 1959 1964 1969 1 -- 4 Tangipahoa 21,893 41,076 5,392 7v885 Terreboane 3,643 6v860 14*938 23s851 Vermilion 11574 29394 3v700 7v954 W, Baton Rouge 305 756 -1,038 @-1,934 STATE TOTAL 399j,945 555v3O3 708v223 Is.1452,906 Coastal Zone Total 2510710 3680249 5233,007 853,255 Coastal Zone Per State 62.9 66.3 73.8 74.5 Source: Department of Co=erce, County Business Patterns, 37 TABLE XX FIRST QUARTER RE-TAIL PAYROLLS (Thousands of Dollars) Parish 1954 1959 1964 1969- Acadia 794 872 10047 1,413 Ascension 302 410 .585 1,251 Assumption 94 128 169 300 Calcasieu 2j638 33,407 39782 69082 Cameron 22 63 65 98 E. Baton Rouse 51146 8,034 92,051 .158857 Iberia 629 13,080 10319 2,036 Iberville 251 312 419 784 Jeffersot Is,213 48032 $9270 15,0371 Jeff Davis 422 710 809 19343 Lafayette 1,298 2,397 3$175 6*027- Lafourche 636 960 4390 21081 Livingston 156 262 310 716 Orleans 2030864 25j,166 27s,495 38v873 plaquemines 79 187 450 1,016 St, Bernard 96 228 451 944 St, Charles 261 208 235 440 St, Jame 149 153 247 433 St, John 94 159 190 363 St, Martin 244 220 337 546 St. Mary 579 19026 1,358 2,319 St. Tacnany 396 568 18023 1,732 38 L Parish 1954 1959 1964 1969 Tangipahoa 754 11286 Iv643 28433 Terrebonne 761 10330 11906 3s7I7 Vermilion ..481 699 800 IJ79 W. Baton, Rouge 91 115 120 -190 STATE TOTAL 57s671 78,,124 96v'284 154,009 Coastal Zone Total 380350 541,012 660646 107v535 Coastal Zone Per State 66,4 69.1 69.2 .69.8 Source: Department of Coomerce, County Business Patterns, 17 TABLE XII TOTAL FIRST QURTER M&NUFACTURIM PAYROLLS (Thousands of Dollars) ?arish 1954 1959 1964 1969 Acadia 486 @5 84 912 19,265 Ascension 189 1,430 22000 60096 Assumption 461 12213 903 3v074 Calcasieu 8,249 111,623 12,599 19,875 ---Cameron--,-- 81 191 E. Baton Rouge 20,246 29,652 28,186 41,000 Iberia 834 943, 11,630 2v346 ibervilie 10023 10921 30641 Jefferson 79983 130007 17,477 29,586 Jeff Davis 225 155 173 436 Lafayette 769 10406 29080 2,428 Lafourche 991 854 20028 28565 Livingston 229 276 233 461 318,949 29,081 489605 Orleans 642376 Plaquemines 217 840 941, 18.514 St, Bernard 39086 6v126- 6,697 80549 St. Charles .10698 3,519 3,248 6,619 St, Ja=3 706. lv783 2,417 4,886 St, John 12073 858 2,119 20473 St, Martin 224 253 244 458 St, Mary 12242 lv515 20526 48426 St. Tamany 644 $45 10355 2,331 40 Parjob 1954 1959 -1964 - 1969 Tangipahoa 1,148 11,264 18731 25044 Terrebonne 883 976 18,692 21,853 Vermilion 326 278 653 754 W. Baton Rouge 115 113 115 591 STATE TOUL 120,962 1520149 1970336 308*001 Coastal Zone Total 84v347 log,,698 1403,755 2140838 coastal Zone 71,3 Per State 69,7 72.1 69 7 Source: Department of Comerce, County Business Patterns, TABLE XIII C&SH PAID FOR HIRED FARM WOMRS (Thousands of Dollars) Parish 1940 1 45 1950 1955 1960, 1965 1969 Mange Acadia 545 1j223 926@ lv254 19199 10196 1s739 219 Ascension 236 475 815 835 19026 731 981 316 Assuraption 912 lj722 10619 10716 19735 20294 IS908 09 Calcasieu 249 313 540 649 918 ass 986 296 Cameron 58 124 195 262 198 180 293 405 E. Baton Rouge 251 270 291 264 705 449 558 122 Iberia 935 1,986 952 1,,238 10401 2*037 10944 108- Iberville' 670 904 10546 855 823 1*227 L8340 100 Jefferson 125 175 253 132 99 .52 120 4 Jeff Davis 430 lvl64 1,163 972 975 19157 1,943 352 Lafayette 84 535 19,162 863 768 809 950 lg031 Lafourche 804 ls693 4755 10434 10551 2,0181 1,970 145 Livingston 104 139 115 159 ill. 211 464 346 Orleans 44 07 90 7 298 82 86 Plaquemines 104 189 363 163 212 176 98 6 St. Bernard 32 110 133 41 38 @82 96 200 T Parish 1940 -- 12.45 1950 -19-55 1960 1965 @1969 A Chanite St. Charles 140 195 244 240 154 250 - 243 74 St. Jams 385 665 944 872 625 575 1,,225 218 St, John 139 659 695 525 429 770 592 326 Sts Martin 184 506 705 736 457 860 $03 336 S t, Mary 787 1,782 Ij946 12@487 1#287 20331 22702 243 S t. Tamany 89 265 595 458 549 649 748 740 Tangipahoa 355 572 587 18055 799 12271 10491 320 Terrebonn .a 545 1,,020 862 .746 1,277 990 82 Vermilion 349 16635 IP059 13149 1,1054 10067 1,551 344 W, Baton Rouge 336 652 911 875 911 1,062 977 191 STATE TOTAL 149546 30#10@ 38x912 39,378 40,030 46v237 56P651 289 .Coastal Zone Total 8s892 19*060 20,266 19,126 1-0,068 23,864 .26,712 200 Coastal Zone Per State 61,1 63,3 52.1 48.6 47,7 51.6 47,1 Source: Department of Agriculture$ Census of Arrictilture. ,dab. TABLO XIV MI%RKF.T VAUM OV AG, PROMICTS SOLD Parish 1939 1944 -1949- 1954 1959 1964 -- 1969- Acadia 40578v380 1094499919 ll,,4030991 18,,8000059 1595580017 -19*799o050 210800,855 376,2 Cq Ascension 837tO26 10277,795 2,,663tO39 295730 280 2t46lo547 %030o150 3*9659196 373,7 Assumption IsMsM 302189911 5sO79s793 50364o393 4o7560552 606179250 79813j408 323,1 Calcasieu 1*777s791 2SO85S,880 6j1369857 80800,157 1008509255. 130104s500 l3a332j257 64969 Camron 485s577 7088866 19670o109 2t3575827 205599392 2x705x550 %193*316 557o6 E, Baton Rouge 2280683 4632185 202991889 1*440v005 29800s393 30048,9350 51,202$065 2174.8 Iberia 2,0789255 30920,694 5,310,014 6,085,592 6,861v090 8,80 98050 119160,253 437oO Iberville 19141,,250 290740807 3,2429748 3#701,813 3s,4433,313 40481s$50 708578520 588.5 .Jefferson 800010 2090834 10291,456 lt263,314 589,499 6130305 4509627 463o2 Jeff Davis 2,,9251,001 605939649 10,1132482 15*156,061 149215,230 190280j506 22 9030980 683,0 Lafayette 10754,769 42609,302 6,3410000 898792248 6998ls248 717630250 464A Lafourche 1,761,954 490180510 41499,048 503290181 508850395 7,156,150 80713045@ 394oO Livingston 775j073 IjI30,667 1,6100910 lt757j214 2,830t834 6,774,050 983529152 1106.6 Orleans 168j613 243,603 623*746 407,444 909*485 Plaquemines 3240536 814,191 191010951 9230407 10052l268 470,185 4632889 42.9 Parish .193% 1244 - - --1949- 1954 1959 - 1964 1969 % Chtknpo Sto-Bornard 59SZ92. 3838070 377s,437 247s,798 2589809 2448015 200,206 ------- 372,6 St, Charles 2220187 304gO33 7030357 8478721 6350234 999$245 1,135,845 411,2 S t' Jams 10000691 ls8l6v879 25698s390 3,,7469531 309820485 40586,450 50184,242 411,4 Sto John 5009029 10249s329 ls6262373 106019380 1#7110053 202650250 1,9110385 282.2 St, Martin 3vI50.,974 4s5660921 6sO948682 4,91116899 51,4561,850 5s739,298 285,3 St. Mary Is,5800776 .31,580,0532 466550110 4s599,703 6,0348,360 6,4326050 8,789,206 456.0 St, Tammany 1229394 7930176 29082s919 2@0379,,049 2*4730386 207499650 30817,407 3018.9 Tangipahoa 2x2158612 296722167 704849828 109343,527 110643,964 19j,252,500 27jI68,075 1126,2 Terrebonne 11123g2O3. 1,953s875 22254,108 227840825- 303670867 30433,550 4sO16s918 257,6 Vermilion 3,773,960 8,jO50j304 11,327,099 19,472,194 18,06403-79 21,9.649500 23,994,443 535.8 W, Baton Rouge -- - 691,824. 1,238,604 - -12973,116 2,216,246 -- 2,409,L75 2,431,550 3,518.714 408.6 STATE TOTAL 750702,310 146,143,335 245,7306002 309,7902562 3340907,581 4060795*000 496,406,133 555,7 Coastal.,Une Total 33,544,000 67,078*000 103,1250000 137,162,000 135,8500000 173,460,000 211$6570900 530,9 Coastal Zone Per State 44.3 45,9 42,0 44,3 45.6 42.6 42.6 Source: Department of Agriculture, Census of A&riculturg.- 45 TABLE XV TDIBER SEVERANCE TAXATION (Thousands of Dollars) Parish 1959 1964 1969 1974 Acadia 2,,2 1,6 5.7 90*2 Ascension 1.7 1.3 30 07 Assumption .7 .6 2 6 Calcasieu 6,2 3.6 13.5 40,9 Cameron --- --- E. Baton Rouge 4.3 2,2 4.9 7,8 Iberia Iberville 4.1 2.7 3*1 6.2 Jefferson Jeff Davis o7 .6 3.7 11.0 Lafayette - Lafourche 3,3 1.9 1,3 Livingston 15.1 21.8 85.1 177.4 Orleans Plaquemines St, Bernard --- --- --- St. Charles .4 St, Jams 1,2 .4 .5 o3 St, John 16 2 6 2 St, Martin 1,3 2,8 2A 3.2 St. Mary --- --- .2 1.8 11.8 20.1 St. Ta=oany 15.9 63.4 46 AMP& Larish 1959 1964 1969 1974 Tangipahoa 1819 22,7 37.3 75.6 Terrebonne 06 .9 3 09 Vermilion 09 W. Baton Rouge .2.1 1.5 STATE TOD'M 657.7 758.4 1427.4 3019,7 boastal zone Total 80,2 77.wO 182.1 402.3 Coastal Zone Per State 12.2 1011 12,7 13,3 Source: Louisiana Forestry Co=ission, 47 TABLE XVI 1ANDOWNER FOREST INCO14E (Millions of Dollars) Parish 1959 1964 1969 1974 Acadia 005 .050 225 330 Ascension 056 070 1021 Assumption 026 1008 .023 Calcasieu .010 112 391 11501 Cameron ----- E, Baton Rouge 0005; .085 1180 .,331 Iberia ----- 002 Iberville ---- 117 135 .275 Jefferson 1001 .001 Jeff Davis 1001 023 1119 415 Lafayette Lafourche 084: .059 Living3ton .025 755 3.462 7.335 Orleans ----- ----- 1006 Plaquemines St, Bernard S t. Charles .004 002 st, James 1019 021 1008 St, John 1010 .025 .008 St, Martin 1098 1100 140 St, Mary 1010 .083 St. Tammany 040 .331 .612, 2.572 48 Parish 19U - 1964 1969 1974 Tangipahoa 050 *757 L257 2.829 Te=ebonne .038 013 '040, Vermilion 1018 *003 W, Baton Rouge 004 060 057 -- .069 STATE TOTAL 11509 25,130 50.251 110,622 Coastal Zone Total 140 2,653 6,689 16.048 Coastal Zone Per State 9.3 10.6 13.3 14.5 Source: Louisiana Forestry Commission, 49 TABIE XVII FORESTRY PRODUCTI(M IN THE COASTAL ZONE 2 Pulpwood Sawtimber Parish 1959 -1974 1959 _L974 Acadia 4.7 11.4 2,3 3,9 Ascension 3 3,8 5,7 2 Assumption. *7 119 6 Calcasieu 10,3 39.1 6.2 16.2 Cameron E, Baton Rouge 4.8 4.2 7.2 5.0 Iberia Iberville I's 1.4 24.1 6.8 Jefferson Jeff Davis 1.3 .11,7 *8 4.1 Lafayette Lafourche Livingston 24.9 99*7 2415 81.0 Orleans Plaque=ines --- A Ste Bernard @MMM St. Charles ---- ---- 1.4 .1. St. Jaces .6 J 3.9 .1 Ste John .6 1.9 2 Ste Hartin 3.6 3.1 Ste Mary ---- 2 1.7 St. Tammany 40.7 38.2 11.9 27.;8 Pulpwood SawtImbar2 Parish -1959 1974 1959 19-74 Tangipahoa 5011 85*7 16A 28,6 Terrebonne 1.6 1.2 Vermilion 3,4 W. Baton Rouge 3.7 2.9 6,8 2.6 STATE TOTAL 1509.0 3754,2 82407 1193.5 Coastal Zone Total 143.5 300,0 17.2,1 184,4 Coastal Zone Per State 9.5 8,10 14.8 15.4 Thousand Standard Cords. 2 Million Boardfeeto Source: Louisiana Forestry Commission. 51 TABLE XVIII EMPLOYMNT AND EARNINGS IN COASTAL FORESTRY - RELATED ACTIVITIES Emloyment Earniuss Parish 1959 1969- 1959 196F' Acadia Ascension ---- Ass=pticn Calcasieu 187 124 460 456 Cameron E, Baton Rouge 419 377 1592 1868 Iberia lberville 201 396 Jefferson 373 1403 1352 9880 Jeff Davis Lafayette Lafourcbe Livingston 426 180 956 600 Orl6an3 2344 1793 7928 9280 Plaquemines St. Bernard St. Charles St, James ---- ---- St, John St, Martin St, Hary St, Tamany 21.5 157 460 688 Parish 1959 Emoloyment 1969 1959 Earnings 1969 Tangipahoa 1256 969 2900 4032 T#.@crebome ---- Ve=ilion W. Baton Rouge SME TOTAL 34710 32164 129160. 201952 Coastal Zone Total 5623 5003 16044 26804 Coastal Zone Per State 16.2 15,6 12*4 13.3 Thousands of dollars AUL Source: Departoent of Co=erce, goun@X Business,Patterns, Ask SECTION IV NE A REPORT Oil AQUACULTURE IN LOUISIANA'S COASTAL ZM By Prescott L. Willi s Department of Biology University of Southwestern Louisiana Lafayette, Louisiana 70501 Edited by Richard A. Pecora. Department of Biology University of Southwestern Louisiana -Lafayetteg, Louisiana 70501 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Title Introduction 2 Area Description 3 Oyster Culture Crawfish Culture 5 Catfush Culture 6 S1 ry and Conclusion INTROMMON The 26 parish area of Louisiana's Coastal Zone includes extensive marsh or tidally influenced areas. Approximately 30% of the Coastal Zone is classified as,coastal marsh. The marsh has esthetic, recreational$ agricultural, and econ=ic values. The value of this marsh is more difficult to quantify than the remaining 701". of the Coastal Zone, where the value of tangible resources such as forests and agricultural lands is more easily assessed. In addition to the -recreational and esthetic valne of the marsh-dependent mamnals and water fowl, the estuarine areas of the Gulf Coast support a recreational fishery of approximately 100 million pounds annually. The major portion of the total commercial fishery catch of the Culf coast is made up of estuari ne dependent species. In addition to the valne of the marsh as a nursery ground for Gulf of '.Ifexico fishes and shellfishes, the marsh-estuary complex provides commercial and sport fishery returns of $100.00 per acre per year (Gosselink et al., 1974). Undisturbed estuarine marsh areas perform both secondary and tertiary waste treatment in urban areas. The cost for the same degree of waste treatment would approach $50,000.00 per year for each acre of undisturbed marsh. The value of waste assimilation and total life support work provided by estuarine marshes is se ral times higher than the value of by-products such as fisherles"(Cosselink, et al., 1974). Uithin the 26 parish area of southern Louisiana known as 2 the Coastal Zone there are three types'of aquacultural endeavors which are practiced on a commercial scale. These three, catfish, cratifish, and oyster culture, must all experience some degree of a human management technique in order to be classified as an aquacultural activity. The production of catfish and oysters from the Coastal Zone of Louisiana is almostentirely dependent on some form of managed endeavor, ivftreas the production of crawfish from managed ponds can only be considered supplemental to the harvests of wild stocks of Louisiana crawfish. In 1973 approximately 502 of the commercial crop of crawfish from southern Louisiana came from managed ponds. Obviously all of Louisiana's oyster production is in the Coastal Zone and.this crop is almost exclusively dependent upon management techniques such as transplanting and,controlled fresh water diversion programs. Unfortunately there are practically no naturally reproducing and proliferating oyster beds of commercial size in Louisiana. Through management techniques, the areas of the Louisiana coast which are capable of supporting the popular edible oyster (Cr'assostra virginica are'producing at levels above natural productivity. By establishing areas which are condusive.'to the setting of new oyster larvae and subsequently transplanting the developing larvae to more suitable growing areas, the oyster industry is making efficient use of the renaining oyster grounds. Approximately 99% of the acceptable oyster grounds lie within the five parishes adjacent to and including the Mississippi River delta. During 3 the last two decades, industrialization and associated activities within the northern delta have severely reduced the productivity of many oyster grounds. The crawfish industry is unique to the Coastal Zone. Crawfish are cultured primarily within the non-estuarine marsh areas of the Coastal Zone. Crawfish ponds are classified as either swamp, open, or ricefield ponds depending on the extent of levee construction and pond bottom cleari nZ. The najority of the crawfish pond acreage is located in the Bayou Teche and Bayou Lafourche areas of the Coastal Zone. The reasons for this are primarily socio-economic, whereas the exclusion of crawfish farming from the estuarine marshes is due to environmental and/or biological factors. nf primary importance to the crawfish culturist is his proximity to an appreciative and responsive market. Such a market undoubtedly exists today in much of the south central and southeastern portions of Louisiana. ruture expansion of this market into nearby states is dependent on the expansion of processing facilities and effective promotional advertizing. Although crawfish survival is dependent on low habitat salinity (Loyacana, 1967), the primary factor controlling the distribution of the industry is market availability. In the* western portion of the Coastal Zoni the demand for crawfisb is hish. The practice of combined rice and crawfish farmingis; popular but In reality, does not support the commercial demand. Catfish farming is totally absent fro the coastal marshes and comoared to the activity in northern and central Louisiana is sparse fn ..the renaind'er of the Coe.-qtttl Zone, Catf iiih farmers are'currently facing unfavorable economic realities, du- ro feed costs which will undoubtedly hamper future growth of this activity. Management techniques are very attractive to the-catfish farmer, as they maintain yields far above natural yields. The control of grow th and maturation processes through vRr:Lous management techniques is of major importance to the catfish farmer and processor. These techniques enable the individual farrier to predict and periodically schedule his harvestsi thus ensuring a continuous supply of fresh marketable catfish. Several factors are resnonsible for the-distribution of catfish farming within the Coastal Zone. Foremost oft hese is the type of soil available in which to construct catfish ponds. The success of any catfish farming operation is dependent upon the degree of control which the farmer has'over the levels and quality of water in his ponds. Although experimental ponds in the coastal marshes have produced good yields of catfish, the high cost of pond construction and the organic nature of the soil are obstacles to commercial success in the marshes. Catfish farmers are beset with tremendous feed prices, due to unavoidAble South American'fishing failiLres. The added cost.of maintaining levees and low salinity In ihe coastal marshes would be prohibitive. State, Federal, and-private interests have attempted to determine the feasibility of applying aquacultural methods to other species. Although the majority of these studies have elucidaeed problems associated with the establishment of commercial aquacultural species, further research and technological development nay facilitate expansion. Shrimp.is a possible t major addition to aquaculture in the Coastal Zone. Raceway F, culture of shrimp has been developed bylthe National Marine Fisheries Service in the Texas Gulf Coast. -de la-Bretonne and Avault (1970) recorded favorable growth of shrimp behind weirs but found harvesting to be a maj-or-pioblem. The culture of mullet (Joanen, 1970), croaker (Avault et al., 1969)0 and pompany (Joanen, 1970) has also been investigated. The raising of alligators under controlled conditions has great potential and has proven prac tical in several locations. The wild alligator stocks within the Coastal Zone are justifiably classified as endangered. However, the economic potential of domesticated alligator crops should be realized. Pen raised alligators produce a high quality hide and grow to an optimal size faster than wild animals. Alligator culture can be a means of relieving pressure on wild stocks since cultured hides have a greater economic value than those from wild specimens. (7 The Coastal Zone also produces commercial harvests of frogs. The difficulties of growing domesticated animals and the ease of collecting'wild specimens are most likely responsible I for the commercial use of only wild specimens (Personal communica- tion, J. Weil, 1975). In the context of this study the importance and distribution by parish of each of the three major aquacultural activities are listed and discussed. Factors affecting the distributional patterns arA their potential for expansion are also discussed, Adft 7 II. AREA DESCRIPTTON Louisiana s Coastal Zone encompasses 13,846,400 acres (21,635 square miles) including the coastal marshes and their associated lakes, bays, and sounds within the various parish boundaries. The Coastal Zone can be divided into the more northern, non-marsh areas totaling 7,663,168 acres (11,974- square miles) and the marshes. The marshes include the adjacent water bodies out to the parish lines and total 6,183,232 acres (9,661 square miles). These bodies ofwater include 1,971.1.32 acres (3,080 square miles) of conspicuously large (greater than 7,000 acres) water bodies which are included because of their utilization as oyster bottoms. Anuacultural activities are almost exclusively restricted to specific areas within the Coastal Zon e See Figure 1). Oyster bottoms are found exclusively in the submerged coastal areas and adjacent emergent marsh areas which together comprise approxi=ately 45% of the total dry and submerged lands of the Coastal Zone. However, both catfish and crawfish farming activi- ties are conspicuously absent from the coastal marshes and are distributed, although unevenly, in the remaining 55% of the Coastal Zone. The successful commercial crawfish farming area 1 4 west of Vermilion Bay is a notable exception to this distribu- 7 tional pattern. The emergent marsh land totals 4,212,100 acres (6,581 square niles) (Chabreck, 1971) of land covered primarily with grasses. The salinity of the marshes, the veg@tative types present, and the surface soil characterlstics render a great deal of Louisiana's coastal marshes unsuitable for catfish and crawfish farming operations. The majority of the land in the more northern non-marsh area is suita@le for either catfish or crawfish cultural opera- tions. Conflicting land usage is the primary factor which usuallv limits expansion of aquacultural activities into the northern Coastal Zone. 9' III, OYSTER CULTURE oyster culture, along the Louisiana coast,, began In the late 1850's when fishermen began moving oysters from.areas which produced smaller, less tasty oyspers to beds which were well known for their larger, tastier yields (Pausina, 1970). The growth of -this Industry lead to the establishment of the@ Louisiana Oyster Commission In 1902. Louisiana continues to receive economic and cultural benefits from the yearly harvestingI of oysters In.coastal waters. In the first nine months of 1974, Louisiana's oyster harvest was 6.79 million pounds of meat and was valued at 4.02 million dollars. The practice of transplanting is the primary management technique utilized by the oyster industry to maintain a continued commercially profitable harvest. The primary reason for trans- planting oysters is to avoid the setting of new spat (oyster larva) on already existing oysters and.thus smothering then (Pausina, 1970). Generally, seed oysters (sma3l oysters which have grown on suitable substrate, usually planted clam shell.) 17 are removed by dredging from.the state-managed seed grounds east of the Mississippi River, then transported to private leases on both sides of the river wherd they are planted, cul- tivated, and allowed to fatten prior to.marketing (Pollard, 1973). Certain areas are utilized specifically for oyster seed production and the public and private lease areas Are used to fatten the oysters for the conuercial trade. The locations of seed resarva- tions were chosen because of their graot natural prolificacy to and are areas of relative stable salinity since juveniles do not have the euryhaline tolerance of mature oysters.(Pollard, 1973). Within two years of settine or when the oyster is at least 6 cm in height and thus able to withstand the necessary salinity change, they are transplanted to areas which-are usually closer to the rulf of Mexico, Approximately 90Z of the oyster seed producing grounds lie east of-the Mississippi River (Pausina, 1970). The inportance of these seed grounds Is evident when we realize that all of the oyster production east of the Mississippi 'River and 80% of theoyater production from the Mississippi River west to the Atchafalaya River,isdependent upon seed oysters obtained east of the Mississippi River (Perret, et al., 1971). Distribution of Oyster Culture The five prirmary oyster producing parishes in Louisiana are Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Terrebonne, Jefferbon,'ind Lafourche. The combined oyster acreage in these parishes is 580,107 acres (Table 1) or more than 99% of Louisiana's total oyster acreage. In the several years prior to 1973, these five parishes produced a ccnbined averap ge of 2701000 barrels or 3,923,100 pounds of oyster meat per year (Pollard,*1973). Plaquenines Parish and St. Bernard Parish are. undoubtedly the most important oyster producing parishes since their combined acreage of oyster bottorts account for 9OZ of the total in the Coastal Zone. The oyster bottoms in these two parishes are indirectly responsible for the success of the entire Louisiana oyster industry, for their acreage includes more than 450,POO acres of seed grounds, most of which are being nurtured for future seeding purposes. Over the last twenty years,,steadily increasing salt water intrusion has reduced the effectiveness of these seed grounds by some 60-65%. Perlods of droughts, industrial develop- Mont with its accompanying canalization@and dredging. and the @lementation*of the Yississippi Rivar-@-Gulf Outlet .Channel' are the acknowledged causes for this intrusion. With the rise in salinity, oyster predators, such as the Southern oyster drill (Thais haemastoma) and pathogens, particularly the fungus. Labvrinthomyxa marina, have become widespread in this area. The diversion of fresh water from the Mississippi River through 12 Ak controUed outlets into this area east of the river may restore these seed grounds to their full potential (Pollard, 1973). Recentlyinvestigations into the feasibility of raising oysters suspended beneath oilfield production platforms were begun. The idea is attractive since it mav provide uses for any non- producing platforms and also supplement the value of those still vroducing (Ogle, 1975). Although still subject to the same environmental constraints that affect any oyster community, the increased susceptibility of susoended oyster cultures to wave action, storm damage, and contamination from operational Tlatforms is considerable. Mackin and Hopkins (1961) correlated high temperature and salinity to.widespread oyster mortalities. This study indicated only local detrimental effects of various oil production operations on oyster mortalities. Future research and develop- ment should determine if a tremO-ndous potential increase in suitable oyster habitat is possible from the utilization of Louisiana's estuarine petroleum and natural gas production platforms in addition to utilization of new areas adjacent to existing petroleum operations. 13 TV. CQAIJrISH CULTURE The crawfish is so much a part of the Acadiana Region of southern Louisiana that it symbolizes the Acadian culture. In southern Louisiana crawfishing is botb a commercial and recreational pursuito In the first three quarters of 1974, the Louisiana crawfish harvest was 6.75 millions Dounds and had a value of 4.02 million dollars. This industry in.Louisiana is characterized by increased yearly grmqth in both prbduction and profit. Crawfish collecting and the subsequent organized crawfish farmin?, are undoubtedly old practices in Louisiana. Although rice farmers attempted to grow crawfish in fields in the late 1940's, the first true crwifish farms were not developed until a decade later. Increased interest resu 1ted in the Louisiana Wildlif a and Fisheries Co,ml ission's 1966 Crawfish Project whic1h attempted to improve cultural procedures. With increased publicity and the opening of new markets in other areas of the countrv, future growth of this unique fishery is likely. Although 27 species of crawfish naturally occur in Louisiana. the 2 popular edibletypes are the white river crawfish (Pro- cambarus blandingi acutus) and the red swamp crawfish (P. clarki). The red swamp crawfish is the better suited of these two species for any of the pond culture activities encountered in the Coastal Zone because it is more fecund and more tolerant of low.dissolved, oxygen-conditions (LaCaze, 1963). -The red swamp crawfish can almost be considered indigenous to -the 14 Louisiana Coastal Zone since it occurs naturally in coastal Iricefields, fresh water fields at or near sea level, and in most interior river valleys of the area (LaCaze, 1963). it does not naturally occur in brackish water but tolerateR low salinities, Crawfish produced from commercially.managed impoundments in the Louisiana Coastal Zone can be divided into three cate- -gories, depending upon the type of habitat improve=ent,practice utilized. The most popular type of impoundment for commercUl use is the "swamp pond." These ponds are maintained by combinations of natural and man-made levees. The larger rooted vegetatiorL is usually left standing which hampers and often prevents Inten- sive harvesting efforts (LaCaze, 1963). However,, these ponds require the least amount of maintenance and usually the least initial effort to construct. "Swamp ponds" account for 21,340 acres or 51% of the crawfish acreage in the Coastal Zone (narys 1973). The second type of crawfish pond is the "open pond." Earthen levees are constructed so as to allow 12-30 inches of water to stand in the impoundment and all ro oted vegetation is removed prior to flooding (LaCaze, 1963). Complete intensive harvesting is usually possible in "open ponds" and yields 0 f 500-700 pounds of crawfish per acre are not@u ncommon. There are approximately 17,270 acres of "open crawfish ponds" in the coastal zone, or 41% of the total crawfish acreage. The culture of rice and crawfish together or alternately in the same fields, is not as widely practiced as might be expected. Although such culture has been practiced com-ercially since 1947 (Gary, 1973). its expansion throughout the rice. growing areas of the western Coastal Zone has been severely limited. The use of pesticides and the necessity of altering dike formations deter rice farmers from establishing a.crawfish culture opera tion. The only advantage which a rice farmer has over any other land crmer wishing to raise crawfish, is his water pumping.facilities. Although rice fields are already leveed, the height of these levees is usually insufficient to maintain a water depth capable of providing protective cover in the fall for the newly hatched crawfish. Other requirements for successful crawfish culture which are incompatihle with rice farming techniques are: 1) no contamination of fields with insecticides, 2) rice stubble. and straw should be left in the field after harvest to decay and provide food for the young crawfish and protective cover f birds, and 3) filtering of water supply to remove predatory fish and invertebrates during flooding (Hill, at al., 1972). There are only 3,648 acres of "rice field:" crawfish ponds in the Coastal Zone. This is less than 9% of the total crawfish acreage in the Coastal Zone.. 16 Distributionlof Crawfish Culture Crat-7fish pond acreage Is conspicuously-concentrated in the Bayou Teche and Bayou Lafourche areasof the Coastil Zone.- St. Martin, Iberia and St. Mary parishes, adjacent to Bayou Teche, contain 14,334 acres or 412 of the crawfish acreage In the zone, Ascension, Assumption, St. James, and Lafourche parishes contain 11,655 acres of ponds In the Bayou Lafourche area, which is 33% of the Coastal Zone's craiffish ar-reag ee St. Martin Parish contains the greatest acreage (10,169) devoted to commercial crawfish (Tables I and 2). St"James; Parish ranks second in acreage with 8,285 acres which represents almost 5% of the parish area while St. Martin Parish has slightly less than 2% of its total area devoted to crawfish production. Several other parishes such as Ascension, Assumption, Iberia, and Vermilion'contain significant concentrations of crayrfish ponds, all with more than 0.5% of their area in crawfish acreage. Vermilion Parish is of particular interest since the majority of its crawfish.acreage lies within the coastal marshes south and east of White Lake. Crawfish ponds are virtually non-existent in the coastal marshes elsewhere in the Coastal Zone. The coastal marsh west of Vermilion Bay (see Figure 1). is characterized bv soils containing greater amounts of clay and less or&anlc matter than those in the marshes to the east. This marsh area, known as the Chenier Plain (Chabreck. 1970). is geologically more stable than the eastern marshes and subsidence is not as great of a problem as it is east of Vermilion Bay. Ask, There Rre areas withl-n the Chenler Plain with saliniti es; and soil 17'. characteristics which render them completely unsuitable for crawfish culture. However, the prominent chenier compleoces provide areas for potential expansion of crawfish farming westward from White Lake. 1b. V. CATFISH CULTURE Farm raised catfish are widely advertised in Louisiana's CO.'stal Zone but in reality they are not as abundant here as khe advertising indicates (see Kilburn, 1972). 'Catfish farming 'section of the Mid is much more popular in the northern -South, such as southern and eastern Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. Within Louisiana, the fourth ranked catfish producing state, the total acreage in catfish production amounts to 6,400 acres. of which only 550 acres are in the Coastal Zone. There vem ne in 678 acres in catfish production within the Coastal Zo 1969 (Kilburn,. 1972). The acreRge has been therefore reduced in thisares by almost 19% in the past six years or approximately 3.25% per year. The annual catfish harvest in the-state is approximately six million pounds and has a value of.2.7 million dollars. The yield for the state in 1974 was 1.02 million pounds greater than the 1972 yield for thisfishery. Considering the disproportionateincreases in the cost of catfish and trout feeds in the recent few years, this,state- wide trend may be a short-term phenomenon. The Peruvian Anchavetta fishery,, upon which most cou ercial fish feeds are based, has proven extremely unstable in recent years and until a suitable substitute ingredient is found, feed prices will increase. A substantial increase in.the utilization of native, noncultured.catfish may result from this change in the economics of catfish fa=ing. 19 Distribution of Catfish Culture St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Livingston Parishes account for 47% or 260 acres of the catfish acreage in,the Coastal Zone (Table 1). In the western part of the state the parishes of Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, and Acadid contain 27% or 147 acres of the Coastal Zone's total of 550 acres. Thus these six Coastal Zone border parishes contain 407 acres or 74% of the state's total catfish acreage. The five remaining northern boundary parishes: Lafavetteq St. Martin, Iberville, West Baton Rouge, and East Eaton Rouge account for only 2 acres. A conspicuous gap occurs between the two.most productive catfish farming areas of the Coastal-Zone (Figure. 1)'. Ascension Parish Is the only parish not lying'on the northern Coastal Zone boundary,, which contains concentrations of catfish acreage comparable with the six primary catfish producing parishes In the northeastern and northwestern corners of the Coastal Zone (Figure 1). Comm rcial catfish farming activities are.complately- absent from the coastal marshes of the Louisiana Coastal. Zone. Experimental catfish raising activities-are being conducted or were recently concluded by a team of investigators from Loiiislans State University (Perry and Avault, 1971) at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in the western coastal marsh and In both ponds and pipeline canals In the eastern marshes by per- sounal-". from Nicholls State University (Harris at al., 1973). Various combinations of channel, white, and blue catfish were grown in these experimental ponds. Extension of catfish culture 20 into the mirsh areas of the Coastal Zone would most likely utilize the more saline tolerant channel catfish. This Species .I.s hardy in brackish water and would be the best investmeat in coastal areas for growth periods of one or .two years CFerry, 1970). The establishment of catfish culture in the marsh areas would, in many instances, conflict with current recreational and industrial. land use activities., Furthermore,, a corres-. ponding loss In marsh production and breeding nurseries of aquatic species would accompany the establishment of such ponds in this area of the Coastal Zone. 21 VT. SUMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 1. Aquaculture activities are common throughout the Coastal Zone. Catfish, oysters, and crawfish are the three' major organisms %.,-hlch experience some degrhe of management. .2. Catfish and oyster production are almost entirely dependent on mana ged operations. Approximately 50Z of Louisianals. crawfish crov comes from swamp, open, or ricefield ponds, 3. Oyster production in Louisiana is dependent on transplanting and freshwater diversion programs. In the first three quarters of 1974 the Louisiana oyster harvest (6.79 million pounds of meat) had a value of 4.02 million dollars. The five primary oyster producing p arishes in Louisiana aret Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Terrebonne,, Jefferson, and Lafourche. 4.' Salinity changes, increases in predators, and habitat destruction and contamination threaten this Louisiana Industry. 5. Crawfish production is centered in the Bayou Teche and Bayou. Lafourche areas of the state, Cultural operations are' located primarily within the non-estuarine marsh areas of the Coastal Zone. 6. The crawfish industrv in Louisiana is characterized by increased yearly production and profits. Fxpansion of the crawfish industry into other areas of the country Is predicted. 7. Within Louisiana, the fourth ranked catfish producing 6 0 state-, only 550 acres of the 6,400 acres of catfish ponds 22 are in the Coastal Zone. The annual catfish harvest In the state Is approximately 2.7 million dollars. S,' Increasing costs of feed and pond construction limit the expansion of catfish culture operations, Little expansion of such operations is predicted into the coastal marshes. 9. The culture of frogs, alligators, shriz@p, and fish such as pompany may be*commercially successful in the Coastal Zone in the next few years, 23. TABLE 1 ACREAGE UTILIZED IN EACH AOUACULTURAL ACTIVITY-By PARISH oyster Cratfish 2 Catfish 3 Total Parish Acreage Pond Acreage Pond Acreage Aquaculture Acreage Acadia 19325 22 10347 Ascension 19050 43 19093 Assumption 19322 15322 80 19330 Calcasieu 19200 50 Cameron 60 20 so E. B. R. 27 27 Iberia 701 2,915 3,616 Iberville 19335. lp335 Jefferson 14,0774 14x774 Jeff. Davis 3 .45 48 Lafayette 440 440 Lafourche 7P955 998 6 SpP59 Livingston 80 80 Orleans 333 333 Plaquemines 2659320 760. 20 266,100 St. Bernard 261p939 2619939 St. Charles 270 270 St, James 8p285 6 89291 St. John 105 105 St, Martin 100169 2 10*171 St. Mary 713 19 250 5' 1,968 St. Tammany 208 169 130 507 24 W TABLE 1 (Continued) Oyster Cratif ish Catfish Total Oarish Acreagel 2 3 Pond Acreage Pond Acreage Aquaculture Acreage Tangivahoa 10 60 Terrebonne 309119 52 3 300174 Vermilion 709 4,620: 38 367 1-7. B. R. 0 5830971 350215 550 6190736 2) 04'%* of actually existing crawfish ponds were assumed missed, so the adjusted figure is 42,258 acres (Gary, personal communication) Adjusted figure is.626,779 acres. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, 1971. 2 Gary. Don L., 1973. 3 Fowler, J., 1975. Personal communication. 25 TABLE 2 PERCENT OF PARISH AREA (DRY AND SUBMERGED) UTILIZED IN EACH AQUACULTURAL ACTIVITY Area of /Pntal Parish oyster Crawf@ish 4% '.fish Parish arresl % Cal Ppercent2@_! Acadia 41g,84o 0.32 0.01 0-33 Ascension .199,68o 0.53 0.02 0-55 Assumption 236,16o o.56 0-56.. Coacasleu 708,48o 0.17 0.01 0.01 0019 Cameron IrOM920 0.01 00002 0,012 E.B.R. 302,720 0101 0001 Iberia 524t800 0.13 o,56 o.69 Iberville. 4o6,4oo 0-33- 0-33 fte@ erson 3899120 'if f 3.8 308 Jeff.Davis 417t920 01001 0.101 01011 :-Lafayette 178.,56o 0-25 0-25 Lafo,urche 895060 0.89 0.21 0.001 1.101 Livingston '440 960 0102 0102 Orleans 126080 0.26 0.26 PlaquL-mines i.271,o4o 20.9, o.o6 0.002 20.962- St.Bernard 901p120 29.1 29.1 St.Charles 249,6oo 0011 0.11 St.James 166.4oo 4.98 0.004 4.984 St.john 2249640 0-05 0.05 St.14artin 5319840 1,91 0.0004 1.9104 St. Mary' 663j040 0.11 V.19 0.001, 0-301 .t.Tammany 730,24o 0,.03 0.02. 0.02 0.07 S Tanglpahoa 536g960 0.002 o.di 0.012 26 TABtE 2 (Continued) Total Area of oyster Parish Parish acresl % Crawfish % Catfish Piercentag '6.0002 2.4942 Terrebonne 1t211,520 2.49 O,oo4 Vermilion go6,24o 0.08 0.51 ooo4 0.594 W.B.B. 133.760 000 Area of 13,846.4oo 4.22% 0.25,9* 0.004% 4.48%** Coastal Zone Adjusted for crawfish ponds assumed missed* the figure is 0-31%- Adjusted figure is 4-53%- Louisiana Almanac, 1973. 27 TABLE 3 OYSTER BOTT014 ACREAGE AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL SUB1',M-RGED ACREAGE--BY PARISH Parish. Submerged Oyster gottom Acreagel Acreage2 Cameron 141,44o 11200 0-85 Iberia 150.4oo 701 o.47 Jefferson io4,320 14,774 14.2 Lafourehe 4og,6oo 7,955 1094 Plaqueaines 6389080 265020 41-058 StBernard 567,o4o 261t.939 46.19 St,Mary 269,44o 713 0.26. St,Tammany 176,ooo 208 .0e12 Terrebonne 356,48o 309119 8.45 t_77 Vermilion. @135 709 0-53 o4o t Total 2,947't840 583r638 19.8 Louisiana Almanac# 1973- 2Louisian Wildlife and Fisheries, 1971- 28 VII. REFERENCES Avault, J. W., C. L. Birdsong, and W. G. Perry. 1969. Growth, survival, food habits and sexual development of Croaket, Micropogon undulatus, in brackish water. Proc. 23rd Ann. Conf. Southeast Assoc, Game and Fish, Comm. Chabreck, R. 1970. Marsh zones and vegetative types in the Louisiana coastal marshes. Ph.D. dissertation, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. de la Bretonne, L. W. and J. W. Avault, Jr. 1970. Shrimp mariculture methods tested. Am. Fish Farner and World Aquaculture News 1:8-12. Gary, D. L. 1973. A geographical systems analysis of the commercial crawfish industry in south Louisiana. Ph.D. dissertation, Oregon State University, Corvalles. Gosselink, J. G., E. P. Odum and R. M. Pope. 1974. The value of the tidal marsh. Center for Wetland Resources, LSU, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Harris, A. H., R. H. Kilgen and D. Kraemar. 1973. Mariculture in estuarine oil-pipeline canals in Louisiana. Proc. 4th Annual Workshop World Maricultural Soc. Eill, L. and E. A. Cancienne. 1972. Grow crawfish in rice fields. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. Joanen, T. 1971. 14th Biennial Report of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. Kilburn, J. W. 1972. Catfish farming in the mid-south; its distribution and growth potential. Ph.D. dissertation, University Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg. US Department ,)f Commerce rOA,A Coastal S,@rvicos Center Library @234 Scuth Hob.-.on Avenue Chz@@,:Ieston, SC 29405-2413 v 3-6668 14101 9051- -