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BATON ROUGE — The LSU AgCenter is surveying agricultural producers to estimate damage totals resulting from last month’s freezing weather.
The recent freezing weather came just as farmers were getting back on their feet from last year’s disastrous hurricane season.
Kurt Guidry, LSU AgCenter economist, said he is compiling information for a report on how the freeze has affected agriculture, and he is sending out emails for a survey to make estimates.
Most of the losses he’s heard about involve livestock, particularly in north Louisiana. The storm came as cows were in the middle of calving season, and many newborns did not survive the cold.
Guidry also has gotten reports of damage to the horticulture industry, including significant damage in the Forest Hill area.
Michael Polozola, LSU AgCenter horticulturist, said some Forest Hill nurseries may have lost half their crop.
“Many had more damage from this storm than they had from the hurricanes last year,” he said.
Damages for some were minor, he said, but totaled into the millions of dollars for others.
He said his survey so far has shown more than 175 structures were damaged, and many more are still being reported. The first wave of damage occurred with heavy sleet that was followed by an ice storm.
Plants that weren’t contained in a structure were damaged.
“A lot of these plants were still in dormancy,” he said. “As they emerge, we’ll find out if they are able to sustain growth.”
Some growers were able to cover their plants, but even some covered plants didn’t survive, he said.
Polozola said nursery owners usually would spend February getting ready for the busy spring season. But they’ve had to divert their efforts to freeze preparations and, now, recovery.
Poultry losses were reported in Natchitoches, Arcadia and Farmerville.
“It’s a bad situation,” said Jason Holmes, LSU AgCenter regional livestock specialist based in Farmerville.
Several poultry facilities collapsed under the weight of ice and snow, killing thousands of birds, he said. Also, feed mill operations were frozen for several days, but deliveries could not be made anyway because of icy roads.
The losses include breeder chickens that produce birds for maintaining flocks or establishing new ones.
“When you start to lose breeders, that affects everything down the chain,” Holmes said.
He said it’s unlikely that consumer prices will be affected because the poultry industry in other states, such as Arkansas, is significantly larger and has a bigger effect on the marketplace.
“In the scheme of things, we’re a smaller player,” he said.
Holmes said many of the cattle in Louisiana are Brahman influenced, and they are more suited for hot weather than freezing temperatures.
“We’re not structured for calving in that weather,” he said.
Cattle producers had difficulty providing adequate water for their herds as troughs and ponds froze. Sledgehammers and shotguns came in handy to break ice, he said.
Vince Deshotel, LSU AgCenter regional livestock agent based in Opelousas, said calf losses were common. He lost two in his own herd.
The cold also was stressful on mature cattle.
“I see some stress in my cattle,” he said. “I’m hoping they’ll come out of it in a few days. They lost weight. There’s no question about it.”
Producers scrambled for five days to get hay to their animals, he said, and the cost of hay and supplements probably cost producers $25 to $50 per animal in extra expenses.
He said winter forages were damaged by the cold, but warm temperatures are helping grass recover.
Deshotel said Louisiana cattle operations aren’t structured for severe cold weather. Back when square hay bales were used, the bales were housed in sheds that could be used for feeding and shelter in bad weather, he said. Most of today’s larger round bales are stored outdoors, eliminating the need for sheds.
He said now may be a good time to wean fall calves to alleviate mother cows’ stress from providing milk.
The cold snap hit before planting season for most row crops. The impact to the state’s wheat crop should be minimal, Guidry said.
The cold forced crawfish to retreat into dormancy at the start of Lent, but the crop is expected to return to normal.
“The milder temperatures this coming week will make crawfish more active, and they will be more available,” said Mark Shirley, LSU AgCenter aquaculture specialist.
Kenneth Gravois, LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist, is optimistic the damage is not too severe. Like most severe weather events, he said, it may take a while before a complete and accurate assessment can be made.
There could be a silver lining from the freeze, however. LSU AgCenter experts said at a recent crop consultants meeting that some diseases and insects that damage crops could be suppressed by the unusually cold temperatures.

On March 3, at approximately 10:46 p.m, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff's Office was dispatched to assist Kaplan Police Department with regards to a subject wielding lawn mower blades at 2705 N. Herpin St. in Kaplan.
While VPSO patrol division is en route to assist, call received of shots fired at same location.  VPSO Detectives responded and are currently obtaining information as to the sequence of events which took place leading to the shooting. 
A preliminary investigation indicated that Kaplan P.D. responded to 2705 N Herpin St. at approximately 10:12 p.m. on March 3, in reference to a disturbance. Shortly after departing the first call, officers returned a second time for a crash at the residence.
When KPD officers responded the second time, they observed the suspect/victim, Larry Litwiler Jr., wielding two lawn mower blades and damaging vehicles at the residence. As KPD officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, Litwiler Jr. began advancing on officers. Two KPD officers fired their duty weapons, striking Litwiler Jr.
Larry Litwiler Jr. was transported to a local hospital with non life threatening injuries.
The investigation is still in the early stages and additional information will be forthcoming as the investigation moves forward.

It is no surprise that some schools in Vermilion Parish are overcrowded, while many are underutilized.
Vermilion Parish School Superintendent Tommy Byler gave the school board a usage update on the 20 schools in Vermilion Parish.
Six schools have a capacity of 80 percent or higher, and another six have a capacity of 59 percent and less.
It is no surprise that North Vermilion High School can not take any more students because it is 93 percent full. NVHS was built for 943 students, and today there are 878 students.
Cecil Picard Elementary and North Vermilion Middle School are both 80 percent full and growing. They are expected to continue to grow, creating headaches for the school system.
“At some point, you guys (board members) are going to have to decide if you all are OK with 1,000 students at an elementary school,” Byler said. “If that is the case, then I will be coming to you to build a new cafeteria or build up. “
Dozier Elementary in Erath is 90 percent full.
The schools that can handle more students are Gueydan High School (41 percent capacity), Eaton Park Elementary (52 percent capacity), Jesse Owens Elementary (53 percent capacity), Herod Elementary (53 percent), Abbeville High (54 percent capacity) and J.H. Williams Middle School (59 percent capacity).
The four Abbeville schools are less than 60 percent full.
Byler threw out numbers of how many students can fit in certain school buildings.
Gueydan High School’s total capacity is 585 students, and today, there are only 234 students in the school.
Jesse Owens Elementary has a building capacity of 352 and there are 199.
“We have no choice. The school board has to give me direction on where we want to go with school buildings,” said Byler. “We can not wait five years.”
Byler said he would give the School Board members 15 options to consider.
Kaplan High was built for 685 students, and today there are 570 students.
Erath High was constructed for 778 students, and today there are 558 students.
Abbeville schools are a “major concern” for Byler because they are less than 50 percent full.
Abbeville High School is built for 1,207 students. Today there are 648 students at AHS.
J.H. Williams Middle was built for 911 students. Today there are only 549 students.
“We have buildings being underutilized,” said Byler.
Byler mentioned using “a wing” of an Abbeville school to house the “Alternative School” or “Virtual Vermilion School.”
Byler also brought up the nasty word, “rezoning.” He told the board to fix the overcrowding in certain parts of the parish, all 20 schools will be affected. Every rezoning line in the district will have to be redrawn, and he does not see that happening in the near future.
“You will have to give me direction,” Byler told the board.

ERATH — Funeral Services for Brandon Paul Renard, 25, will be at 3:00PM Thursday, March 4, 2021 in David Funeral Home of Erath with Deacon Tim Marcantel officiating. Interment will follow in Our Lady of the Lake Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at David Funeral Home of Erath Thursday, March 4, 2021 from 9:00AM until service time.
Brandon passed away Saturday, February 27, 2021 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. He had love for many things. He looked up to his older brother Jake, often wearing similar clothes and taking interest in similar hobbies. He was proud of his younger brother Cade for all that he did. Brandon’s friends were a big part of his life. He enjoyed watching MMA fights on TV, going to live concerts, partying, gaming, and most of all being surrounded by his friends and family. Brandon’s smile and personality brought light into every room. He was very loved by his brothers and especially his parents. He will live on in the hearts of many and be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his parents, Duff and Tracie Renard of Delcambre, his brothers, Jake Renard and girlfriend Devon Klaus of St. Louis, MO, and Cade Renard of Delcambre, and his maternal grandmother, Lona Romero of Erath, a paternal great grandmother, Mae Rose Mire of Kaplan, and his girlfriend, Hailey Escarra of Broussard.
He is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather Johnny Romero and his paternal grandparents Ronald Renard and Audrey Mire.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to friends, family, coworkers, first responders, medical workers and their community for their outpouring of care and concern during this time.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.davidfuneralhome.org
“In order to help keep the community safe we will honor the July 13, 2020 Louisiana Mandates.  All families and their guests are required to wear a face covering while at the funeral home. Thank you for your understanding during this unprecedented time.” 
David Funeral Home of Erath is in charge of arrangements. 209 E. Putnam Street Erath, LA 70533 (337) 937-0405