The Louisiana Market Bulletin, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry's farm journal, is actually expanding, commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said.
"The Market Bulletin has expanded from 12 to 16 pages," Strain said. "This newspaper has been around for about a hundred years and it's an invaluable source of information for our farmers, ranchers and foresters."
The Louisiana Market Bulletin is a bi-weekly newspaper and includes features about agricultural life in Louisiana and items of importance from government and other agencies concerning farming.
The first 16-page edition will be the April 23, 2009 issue, Strain said.
The most popular section of the journal is the classified advertising section dedicated exclusively to state agricultural, ranching, aquaculture and forestry interests.
Strain said the expansion includes more advertising categories, including Lumber and Sawing," "Crafts and Woodworks," and "Sewing and Fabrics."
Strain said the added pages also give the Market Bulletin flexibility to include more announcements of farmers markets, livestock auctions and other e vents of interest to ag and forestry concerns across the state.
The expansion will also allow popular features like the recipe page to be included in every edition of the Market Bulletin.
Another new feature of the Louisiana Market Bulletin is a Louisiana parish map on page two. The map will help readers quickly find the geographic locale of any item they may wish to purchase from a classified ad or where a listed event is taking place.
The staff of the Louisiana Market Bulletin is Sam Irwin, editor and Laura Pursnell Lindsay, managing editor. Marilyn Mayeux is the advertising assistant.
Online issues of the Louisiana Market Bulletin may be accessed at www.ldaf.state.la.us. The subscription cost is $10 per year.