Texas cotton losses estimated to be as much as 400,000 bales
By Julie Murphree
Arizona Farm Bureau Outreach Director
Out west, just about everyone has some connection to Texas. I do. All my dad’s farm family migrated from Texas to Arizona in the early 1900s. And, though they fully embraced this desert state, I will always remember my grandpa’s stories about Texas.
So, when Hurricane Harvey landed on the gulf shore, the Arizona Murphree clan was all ears and full of prayers. And now we can do something to help thanks to the Texas Farm Bureau.
Agricultural Devastation
Texas Farm Bureau has established a relief fund for the agricultural losses from Hurricane Harvey. The Category 4 storm struck Texas with a vengeance, flooding farm communities, small towns and major cities.
Those farm and ranch families in Harvey’s wake are now left facing overwhelming odds following high winds and unprecedented rainfall. The area declared as a disaster by Gov. Greg Abbott contains about 1.2 million cattle, which is roughly 27 percent of the state’s cowherd.
Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening says the cotton crop on the Texas Gulf Coast was expected to be good, which was needed after several years of low prices and high costs. The losses from Harvey will reduce the expected 2 million bale harvest by as much as 400,000 bales, according to estimates from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Tax-Deductible Donations
Texas Farm Bureau’s Agriculture Research and Education Foundation has established the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to aid in recovery efforts following the devastating storm.
Tax-deductible donations can be made to the foundation to assist farmers and ranchers. Donations to the fund will be dispersed via an application process directly to the farmers and ranchers affected by the hurricane.
“Texas agriculture suffered major losses,” Boening says. “Some of that will be covered by other means, but much of it will not. Farmers and ranchers are left to pick up the soggy pieces.”
Harvey was the strongest storm to hit the U.S. since 2004, dropping several feet of rain. “Harvey roared into Texas and overstayed his welcome,” Boening says. “But now we look ahead — to recovery and rebuilding the farms and ranches in that part of our great state.”
Get The Details
Visit http://bit.ly/TxFBHarveyfund to make a tax-deductible donation and get details of the relief fund and how to apply for assistance. Applications for assistance will be posted on the Texas Farm Bureau website at a later date.
My effort to donate took less than five minutes. Let’s invest in Texas’ agriculture future and help those affected by Harvey rebuild.