Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority

Spurring economic development in Louisiana's agriculture industry

In 1983, the Louisiana legislature formed the Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority (LAFA) to provide financial assistance to Louisiana's agriculture industry. LAFA's original mandate was to address the lack of capital and credit available for agricultural investment by offering financial assistance to Louisiana businesses at affordable interest rates.

Today, LAFA enhances Louisiana's agriculture industry by providing capital investment, spurring economic development, administering grants to agriculturally related Louisiana businesses, and managing and maintaining all department properties. 

Services

Louisiana Agricultural Workforce Development program

The LAWDP provides businesses a monetary incentive to establish intern programs to train students for careers in the agriculture and forestry fields. Participating businesses may be reimbursed for up to 50 percent of the cost of hiring an intern. A maximum of $5,000 per internship is allowed.

See here for program details and application information.

A qualified agricultural business includes agricultural producers or a person or legal entity who engages in agriculture or provides support activities, products, or services to an agricultural producer and such products or services that are directly related to the planting, growing, production, harvesting, or processing of Louisiana products.

Businesses may submit applications by mail. Once approved, the applicant will be required to submit an intern application to be completed by the intern or beginning farmer. Students currently enrolled at a Louisiana secondary or postsecondary institution or a young and beginning farmer or rancher employed by an agricultural business are eligible to participate in the program.

Applications accepted July 1- September 1.

For more information on the program, call 225-922-1277.