Aid available for aquaculture

LOUISIANA - Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Bob Odom has announced that $4.5 million in federal aid is available to state aquaculture producers who were affected by last year's hurricanes.

The Louisiana Aquaculture Block Grant Program funds were made available to the state from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The $4.5 million will be administered by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the USDA's Farm Services Agency.

"I'm glad the Louisiana aquaculture industry is getting the help it needs to be up and running strong again," Odom said in a news release. "I hope those hardest hit by the hurricanes will be able to use this money to bring their businesses back to pre-Katrina and Rita levels or even better."

The application period for producers in the Gulf Opportunity Zone is today to July 31. The application process for all other Louisiana aquaculture producers runs from July 31 to Aug. 31.

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