Texas drought causes $1.8 billion loss in cotton
The drought in Texas has led to $5.2 billion in agricultural losses, making it the most costly drought on record, according to Texas AgriLife Extension Service economists. Of that, $1.8 billion worth of cotton will be lost.
“The drought of 2011 will have a lasting impact on Texas agriculture,” said Dr Travis Miller, AgriLife Extension agronomist and a member of the Governor’s Drought Preparedness Council.
“This drought is ongoing,” said Dr David Anderson, AgriLife Extension livestock economist. “Further losses will continue if rainfall does not come soon to establish this year’s winter wheat crop and wheat grazing.”
The $5.2 billion in losses exceeds the previous record of $4.1 billion during the 2006 drought. The losses also represent 27.7% of the average value of agricultural production over the last four years, Dr Anderson said.
“The drought began for much of the state in September 2010,” said Dr Miller. “Much of the Gulf Coast, Central, West Texas and the High Plains had seen abundant moisture in the summer from tropical storm Hermine and other rainfall events. An unusually strong La Niña pattern moved into place in the fall of 2010, which had an impact comparable to turning off the ‘rainfall switch’ for most of Texas and surrounding states.”
October 2010 through July 2011was the driest 10-month period in recorded Texas weather, Dr Miller said.
