© Sam Craft/Texas A&M AgriLife CommunicationsSnow-covered Texas grapevines.
, 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, 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 that the following sectors were among the state's biggest agricultural losses by commodity:
- 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.
Comment: See also: