Usually the mudbugs are $1-$2/pound for live ones. $5+ this year so far...
Crawfish prices up, numbers low
Associated Press | 6 Mar
NEW IBERIA, La. It's a bad year for crawfish, and it's not all because of Hurricane Rita.
Greg Lutz, an aquaculture specialist at L-S-U Agcenter, says last year's drought hurt producers statewide.
The storm surge's salt water did affect many crawfish ponds along the coast.
But August and September were both dry months, and Lutz says that killed many crawfish.
He says the worst damage from the hurricane wasn't the salt water but stagnation: the rain and storm surge also filled ditches, so farmers couldn't drain their fields. Lutz says fields flooded by Rita are completely out of production.
Acadiana crawfish production is about 20 to 30 percent of last year's with prices 60 to 70 cents higher.
New Iberia crawfish farmer Steve Minvielle said he's been more lucky than other farmers to the West. He's been able to produce 60 percent of what he did last year. Minvielle, who also is on the board of directors of the Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Association, said many farmers are losing money on their crawfish crops and are seeking hurricane relief.
Crawfish prices up, numbers low
Associated Press | 6 Mar
NEW IBERIA, La. It's a bad year for crawfish, and it's not all because of Hurricane Rita.
Greg Lutz, an aquaculture specialist at L-S-U Agcenter, says last year's drought hurt producers statewide.
The storm surge's salt water did affect many crawfish ponds along the coast.
But August and September were both dry months, and Lutz says that killed many crawfish.
He says the worst damage from the hurricane wasn't the salt water but stagnation: the rain and storm surge also filled ditches, so farmers couldn't drain their fields. Lutz says fields flooded by Rita are completely out of production.
Acadiana crawfish production is about 20 to 30 percent of last year's with prices 60 to 70 cents higher.
New Iberia crawfish farmer Steve Minvielle said he's been more lucky than other farmers to the West. He's been able to produce 60 percent of what he did last year. Minvielle, who also is on the board of directors of the Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Association, said many farmers are losing money on their crawfish crops and are seeking hurricane relief.