In response to a severe drought impacting Louisiana's crawfish industry, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is extending low-interest federal disaster loans to affected businesses. This move comes after Louisiana's governor declared a disaster in March 2024, acknowledging the drought's toll on 365,000 acres dedicated to crawfish farming, with estimated losses nearing $140 million. The SBA's loans are designed to cover operating expenses, aiming to aid the crawfish aquaculture sector and its associated businesses in navigating the financial and environmental hurdles presented by this drought.