SENATOR THOMPSON MOVES AHEAD WITH EFFORTS
TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY

  As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development, District 34 State Senator Francis Thompson (D-Delhi) is aggressively moving forward with a series of measures under consideration at the Regular Session to preserve and promote the agriculture industry, particularly in the Delta region. He is also focusing on changes in state agriculture industry rules and regulations to remove unnecessary red tape and protect consumers.

  Shortly after assuming his new leadership role in the Senate, Sen. Thompson held a special committee meeting to urge the LSU and Southern University agriculture centers to take a larger role in tackling housing, heath care, economic development and education problems in the Delta region.

  "We are still largely an agricultural-based economy in the Delta region and small farmers are struggling," Sen. Thompson said. "With an aging farming community, we must make every effort to recruit young men and women from all walks of life to the agriculture industry and our universities should play a significant role in that effort."

  During this legislative session, Sen. Thompson is pushing a series of measures to improve operations of the state's agriculture department to aid both the industry and consumers. The bills promote the development of agritourism in the state; remove the possibility of unnecessary fertilizer regulation, streamline licensing of horticulturists and landscape contractors; provide more funding for reforestation efforts and require the department to operate under the state public bid law.

  "What we are trying to do in cooperation with the new agriculture commissioner is to make the department more service-oriented and customer friendly, reducing government red tape, saving taxpayers' dollars and making sure consumers' interests are protected," Sen. Thompson said.

 To learn more about the agriculture-related measures supported by Sen. Thompson, go to the Louisiana State Legislature's Website at www.legis.state.la.us .

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