A Vermilion Parish rice/crawfish farmer received a $1,700 grant from a $2.4 million federal aquaculture grant program designed to aid state aquaculture producers with qualifying feed costs during 2008.
Dwyer Griffin of Abbeville was the first recipient of the grant money.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry administered the USDA Farm Services Agency program. It was a cooperative effort between the LDAF, LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana office of the Farm Services Agency.
LDAF Deputy Assistant Commissioner Carrie Castille said the goal of the grant was to provide assistance to Louisiana aquaculture producers for high feed costs during the 2008 calendar year and Griffin’s aquaculture operation qualified for the program.
Griffin has 90 acres in crawfish production.
Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said the feed costs for 2008 increased more than 25 percent for state aquaculture producers.
“I was pleased to see this program included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,” Strain said. “It will help our aquaculture producers.”
More than 56 applications were filed and 56 qualified for the program and received grants ranging from $300 to $100,000, Castille said.
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