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Ag losses due to drought more than $30 million locally

Drought has reduced area crops to little more than dry stalks, as it has to this corn crop near Inez. So far, Texas farmers have lost more than $3 billion dollars and is expected to pass $4 billion in damages. Drought has reduced area crops to little more than dry stalks, as it has to this corn crop near Inez. So far, Texas farmers have lost more than $3 billion dollars and is expected to pass $4 billion in damages.
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  • Originally published August 3, 2009 at midnight, updated August 4, 2009 at 7:50 p.m.

Drought Issues Continue

Visiting with landowners throughout the county, the drought, as everyone knows, is continuing to get worse.

Farmers are once again baling grain sorghum stubble and in area counties are even baling corn stalks. Hay is constantly being trucked in and of course many pastures are void of cattle - sold out weeks or months ago.

Texas AgriLife Extension Service Economists already estimate Texas' agriculture losses of more $3.6 billion and they could easily go over $4.1 billion by the end of the year.

Locally, we included our ag losses from Victoria County which went into the state total. Two weeks ago, we estimated those losses to farmers and ranchers in Victoria County have already reached $30.1 million.

The majority of this loss was due to reduction in cattle herd numbers, which reduces the calf crop and income ($9.3 million), losses in hay and pasture production ($7.2 million) and increased feed costs ($4 million).

Crop losses also have added up with corn suffering the most ($3.3 million) followed by soybeans ($2.5 million), grain sorghum ($0.9 million) and cotton ($0.1 million).

The big question is: How long will it last? Already, drought figures and losses are at or above what many say was the worst drought in the 1950s.

While not proclaiming to have an answer, we will be addressing this partly at the South Texas Farm and Ranch Show, Oct. 28-29, where we will discuss "Climate Change and Texas Agriculture."

We, and several others, are also working on proposals trying to secure hay to be trucked or railed into the Victoria area although nothing is confirmed yet and details will be announced only if something can be finalized.

Another resource for assistance has just been received. The Natural Resources Conservation Service announced on July 28 technical and financial assistance through the Grassland Reserve Program to assist landowners devastated by natural disasters including drought in Central and South Texas, Hurricane Ike in Galveston and surrounding counties, and wildfires across North and North Central Texas.

The Grassland Reserve Program assists landowners and operators in protecting grazing uses and other related conservation values by restoring and conserving eligible grassland and certain other lands through rental contracts and easements.

For the fiscal year, the primary focus of the Grassland Reserve Program is the drought- stricken areas of Central and Southern Texas.

Eligibility criteria for the program are:

Must remove all cattle for proposed land within 30 days of contract acceptance.

NRCS will develop a conservation plan that includes the practice of Prescribed Grazing Use which involves livestock exclusion.

Livestock exclusion will be required as long as the drought persists and until the recovering grasses and forbs have been allowed on full growing season.

After grasses and forbs have fully recovered, grazing will be allowed according to a planned grazing system developed by NRCS.

Program options for GRP include rental agreements and permanent easements.

Rental rates are 75 percent of the published value.

Rental agreements allow cost share for grazing improvements through GRP and/or EQUIP.

Grazing improvements can include cross fencing, stock tanks, wells for livestock water, brush management, range/pasture planting and critical area planting.

Applications for the program are available at local USDA Service Centers in NRCS and FSA offices.

Program sign-up is continuous.

For more information go to the NRCS Web site at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/GRP/

Upcoming CEU opportunity

Winter Pasture/Forage Legume Grazing and Management - Monday, Aug. 17 at the Jackson County Services Building. Registration begins at 6 p.m. and program begins at 6:30 p.m. Program is worth 1.5 CEU's in IPM.

Joe Janak is a Victoria County extension agent.



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