Initial Texas agricultural loss estimates from Uri exceed $600 million

[thackney]

Initial Texas agricultural loss estimates from Uri exceed $600 million
https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2021/03/02/initial-ag-losses-from-uri-exceed-600-million/

Winter Storm Uri, which blasted through the entire state of Texas, caused at least $600 million in agricultural losses, according to preliminary data from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agricultural economists.

“A large number of Texas farmers, ranchers and others involved in commercial agriculture and agricultural production were seriously affected by Winter Storm Uri,” said Jeff Hyde, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension director, Bryan-College Station. “Freezing temperatures and ice killed or harmed many of their crops and livestock as well as causing financial hardships and operational setbacks. And the residual costs from the disaster could plague many producers for years to come.”

AgriLife Extension estimates of some of the state’s biggest agricultural losses by commodity were:

— Citrus crops: At least $230 million.
— Livestock: At least $228 million.
— Vegetable crops: At least $150 million.

Another agricultural sector that experienced significant losses was the green industry. AgriLife Extension, in collaboration with the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, developed and distributed a loss assessment survey to more than 4,000 nursery, greenhouse and other green industry-related businesses requesting input on the type and extent of losses encountered. It will be several weeks before there is sufficient data to provide an assessment of those losses....

[thackney]

Dairy Farming and the Texas Freeze Effect
https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming/dairy/dairy-farming-and-the-texas-freeze-effect/article_893e055a-7abc-11eb-a048-1bd8ab3bc57c.html
3 Mar 2021

Power outages caused by the devastating winter storm in Texas put some dairy farmers in crisis situations, forcing them to dump milk as processing plants shut down.

The impact from the storm has brought up concerns of long-term production delays and ripple effects on supply.

Texas farmers who lost power for milkings may see prolonged lower production rates given possible negative health impacts for dairy cows.

While it’s possible there will be milk shortages in Texas and the surrounding regions, national milk production levels have been high, so most U.S. consumers will not see supply issues caused by the storm.

Weather events that result in loss of power and/or shut down highway travel have implications up and down the dairy supply chain. When farms lose power, unless there is a backup generator, cows will miss one or more milkings.

This results in not just lost milk on the days without power but lost production in future days, weeks and months because of the health problems that can follow....

[PeteS in CA]

It'll top $2B, probably. Sadly, a lot of big-city people - e.g. Houston and DFW - will be whining about food prices a few months from now and not making the connection to this storm.

Do Texas vegetables have hooves and horns?

[thackney]

It'll top $2B, probably. Sadly, a lot of big-city people - e.g. Houston and DFW - will be whining about food prices a few months from now and not making the connection to this storm.

Do Texas vegetables have hooves and horns?

It may be worse if you can figure costs of lost future crops with tree damage.

Total damages in all will likely be $200 Billion, not just Ag but everything.
http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,430025.0.html

[PeteS in CA]

The economies of many small towns up to medium-sized cities are heavily reliant on providing goods and services to the farms around the community. So whatever that crop damage ends up being, the effects will be multiplied by the hit on many communities' farm-related companies.

And like you said, orchards are different from annually planted crops. Ditto for crops like alfalfa and asparagus which, if cared for, can be harvested multiple times a year for years (IIRC, 15-20 years for asparagus). Replacing a producing orchard or vineyard or field of asparagus will mean 3-5 years of care with no harvest.