re: Why isn't Louisiana an agricultural powerhouse?

Alluvial soils along the Mississippi, Atchafalaya, Red rivers are the most fertile soils. Forest in other areas of the state is/was a big industry. Florida parishes’ soils are not great for agronomic crops. The climate is also conducive to pretty much all insects and diseases that affect the major crops we can grow (corn, soybeans, cotton). Our climate is too hot for wheat, other than a small amount of winter wheat grown in a few areas.