Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M, Natchitoches Mayor Wayne McCullen, State Senator Gerald Long and other dignitaries broke ground for a new 6,000-square foot Agriculture and Forestry district office at the Natchitoches Industrial Park on September 24.
The new building and eight-acre site will replace the wooden LDAF forestry district building, which needed extensive repair. The old building, located on Hwy. 6, dated back to the 1930s.
“This new building will allow us to better serve the forestry and agricultural needs of Natchitoches, Sabine, DeSoto and Red River parishes,” Strain said. “At the same time it will be an economic boost for the city of Natchitoches.”
McCullen and Long agreed.
“The LDAF building is located next to the Pilgrim’s Pride feed facility in our industrial park,” McCullen said. “Not only do we have a strong forestry base here, but the poultry, cotton, corn and other row crop industries are very strong in this area. We see agriculture as an economic plus.”
“We’re proud of our agricultural and forestry heritage,” Long said. “The new building will help us keep Louisiana agriculture viable in this area for years to come.”
Strain said the new building will house LDAF District 6 forest fire fighting equipment as well as offices for the Weights and Measures, La. Brand Commission and Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Among the equipment stored at the new facility will be four bulldozers and two pumper trucks used to combat brush and forest fires. A fueling station will also be located at the new office.
“This location will give us another place that can be used as a staging area in times of state emergency like hurricanes,” Strain said.
Alexandria-based Petron, LLC was awarded the contract for the construction of the building.
Petron LLC spokesperson John Butterfield said he expected the building to be completed in six months.
The funding for the $577,000 project was provided by 2006 state bond proceeds.
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