YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

Texas crop losses from 2021 disasters totaled over $2 billion

By Gary Joiner
Publisher

Texas farmers and ranchers took one on the chin in 2021 from natural disasters.

A record February winter storm. Hail storms and severe weather in April. Hurricane Nicholas in September. And widespread drought.

Damage estimates from these disasters and other weather events to Texas crops, including rangeland and forage, totaled $2,095,000,000.

The American Farm Bureau Federation reports the damage estimate in Texas only trailed North Dakota as the nation’s worst.

Over $1 billion in damages in Texas were linked to rangeland and forage. An additional $300 million involved destruction to grapefruit and orange groves in the Rio Grande Valley.

Overall, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports 2021 was the third-costliest disaster year ever.

Texas farmers and ranchers experienced it firsthand.

Let’s hope for a much better year weather-wise in 2022.

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.

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