(Distributed 09/17/08) The deadline has been extended to Sept. 30 for farmers who need waivers from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to qualify for federal disaster insurance to help cover their losses from hurricanes Gustav and Ike. “The deadline had been Sept. 16, but because some of the FSA offices were without power because of the hurricanes, the deadline was extended a couple of weeks,” said Dr. Kurt Guidry, LSU AgCenter agricultural economist.

(Distributed 09/16/08) Coastal residents assessing their damage from Hurricane Ike compared this storm with the Hurricane Rita in 2005. In Vermilion Parish, residents said the water rose much slower and was not as high. That wasn’t the case in Cameron Parish, where LSU AgCenter county agent Gary Wicke said the surge even reached the Lake Charles airport.

(Distributed 09/12/08) LSU AgCenter economists estimate Louisiana’s agricultural damage from Hurricane Gustav will total hundreds of millions of dollars while stressing the economic losses stretch well beyond the losses to farmers and associated businesses.

(Distributed 09/11/08) Red Cross officials were so impressed by the inaugural operation of the Louisiana Emergency Shelter near Alexandria during Hurricane Gustav they have invited the manager to address chapter and city officials in New York City later this year.

(Distributed 09/11/08) Earl Fontenot may have to wait a month before any losses are apparent in his sweet potato crop after Hurricane Gustav. “It’s too early to tell if we’re going to have some loss,” he said. “But it’s not looking good. They are under stressful conditions now.”

(Distributed 09/11/08) For the first time in the history of the LSU AgCenter, a powerful storm did not completely shut down communications in the hardest-hit areas.

(Distributed 09/10/08) Louisiana’s farmers are facing lost income from reduced yields and product quality in the neighborhood of $370 to $450 million as a result of the effects of Hurricane Gustav, according to economists with the LSU AgCenter.

(Distributed 09/10/08) One sure vestige of a hurricane or bad blow is a large, dead area of the lawn. It usually is located near curbside where yard debris is piled up for many days.

(Distributed 09/10/08) Rains from Hurricane Gustav significantly affected a diversity of crops in Northeast Louisiana – particularly with parts of Tensas and Franklin parishes getting 19 inches of rain.

(Distributed 09/10/08) Hurricane Gustav caused many problems for people throughout Louisiana, and wildlife also are feeling the effects of the storm.