YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

Greener pastures on the horizon

By Gene Hall

Flooding rains.

They’ve wreaked havoc on farmers. But there is a bright spot for Texas ranchers. And down the road a bit for beef consumers.

Heavy rains mean green pastures. A chance to heal the earth devastated by drought. Fill soil profiles with water. Give grass a fighting chance to grow and thrive.

Just what Texas ranchers needed. It’s a key ingredient to rebuilding the Texas beef herd, the largest in the nation.

Years of drought devastated pastures. Ranchers were forced to sell. There wasn’t enough grass for cows to eat.

The result was less beef. And higher prices for consumers.

All that should start to change. Pasture conditions statewide are the best since 2007. And better than the national average.

So Texas ranchers will start rebuilding their herds. Which means more beef in the meat case. Eventually.

Lower prices won’t happen overnight. But they are on the horizon.

So keep eating beef. And thank the good Lord the Texas drought is broken.

The preceding commentary is brought to you by Texas Farm Bureau, the “Voice of Texas Agriculture.” Called “Your Texas Agriculture Minute,” TFB will issue thought-provoking editorials each week—via print and audio—to spark understanding of agriculture in the Lone Star State and its impact on each and every Texan.

You may read this week’s editorial above or listen to the audio version.

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