(Baton Rouge, LA) -- A burn ban goes into effect today for the entire State of Louisiana. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning and Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain issued the ban effective today at 8 a.m. The ban is in response to dry weather conditions and large numbers of emergency responses by local fire officials. The burn ban excludes general agriculture burns, as well as prescribed burns by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Private burnings will have to be approved by local government or local fire departments.