Agriculture plays a vital role in Louisiana, contributing over $4.8 billion in agricultural products from 25,006 farms across nearly 8 million acres, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture.
Though the number of farms in Louisiana has seen a decline of about 8.7 percent since 2017, agriculture remains integral to the state, with top commodities like broilers, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, rice, and cattle. In addition to production, Louisiana is the nation’s largest handler of grain for export to world markets. More than 40 percent of the country’s grain exports move through the ports of Louisiana — thanks to the Mississippi River which flows directly from the Heartland.
Recognizing the industry’s importance, Louisiana offers specialty agriculture license plates as a unique way for residents to show support for the state’s farming community while directly funding agricultural education initiatives.
In a push to integrate agricultural knowledge into classrooms, Louisiana’s agriculture specialty license plates support programs like Agriculture in the Classroom. Louisiana’s agricultural specialty license plates are emblazoned with a red tractor working farm fields backed by the rising sun.
Emblazoned with the words, “Agriculture … Growing Our Future,” the plates are available for private passenger vehicles, vans, light trucks up to 16,000 pounds, and private buses, offering a way for residents to contribute to agricultural education with each purchase.
Introduced under Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:462 and 47:463.74, the agriculture plate initiative allows Louisiana residents to support youth agricultural education in exchange for a small additional fee. Initial issuance costs $19, with an $8 handling fee, and renewals incur a $19 fee as well. This revenue helps fund materials and resources that bring agricultural learning into K-12 classrooms, connecting students with Louisiana’s farming traditions and helping them understand the industry’s impact on food, economy, and culture.
Any Louisiana resident can apply for this specialty plate, and the process is relatively simple. Applicants need a photocopy of the vehicle’s registration certificate, and if the vehicle isn’t in their name, they must submit all documentation required for vehicle titling.
Plates are available at any motor vehicle office or public tag agent, or they can be ordered online at Louisiana’s ExpressLane.org. The plates can even be transferred between vehicles under the same owner, adding flexibility for those upgrading or changing vehicles.
4-H and FFA agricultural specialty plates
For those interested in supporting specific agricultural youth organizations, Louisiana offers specialty plates for the FFA and 4-H as well.
By purchasing an Agricultural Education License Plate, residents can directly support the Louisiana FFA. This plate, which features the words “Leadership, Growth, Success,” contributes to FFA’s mission of developing young leaders in agriculture, helping fund their programs statewide.
Given the demographic shifts in farming — with an average farmer age of 58 and a majority over age 55 — the support from programs like Agriculture in the Classroom, FFA, and 4-H can inspire the next generation to continue Louisiana’s farming legacy.
With the motto “Learn by Doing,” Louisiana 4-H engages young people in activities that foster essential life skills. The 4-H plate costs $25 per year in addition to regular registration fees, with $15 going to the Louisiana 4-H Foundation and $10 supporting 4-H initiatives in the registrant’s parish. Proceeds help fund a variety of educational programs that benefit communities statewide.
