Katrina cuts wide birth across U.S. agriculture

By KARI KRAMER | East Texas Edition

Terrebonne Parish sugarcane farmer Norris Matherne stands next to a field of downed cane along Louisiana Hwy. 311.  -- Photo courtesy of LSU Ag Center

Sept. 15, 2005 - Hurricane Katrina has delivered an uncertainty to the agricultural industry. Even before the damage has been completely assessed, it has become evident that the effects of this disaster will linger, and there is sure to be an aftermath of consequences to agricultural producers and consumers in the coming months.

Citrus growers and nursery operations in Florida have reported severe losses in some regions; a fact that is expected to have little impact on prices for consumers. In Louisiana, the largest citrus production area was mauled by the storm.

Poultry producers suffered losses along the Gulf Coast. Dead chickens and demolished houses littered fields throughout southern Mississippi. 

Beef cattle were seen chest-deep in water. Some will be rescued, some will not. Cattle groups are joining forces to support ranchers and their operations.

Horses fortunate enough to survive the storm have been left, in many cases, without a home. Equine rescue groups are working to find foster shelters.

Dairy producers, according to several sources, have been hit the hardest. Without electricity, milking became an ominous chore, milk was unable to be kept cold, and because trade routes were closed, many parlors were forced to dump their product.

Row crops and grains were damaged by the storm. Some crops are self recovering, while others will be ruined as a result of Katrina. Grain processors have little to process. The full effect varies, but for some growers, the storm washed away any hopes of a profitable year.

The aquaculture industry is reporting mixed results. In many areas, the loss of shrimp trawlers alone is expected to have an effect on the local economy. 

Even in areas where production is commencing, transportation difficulties are creating a logistical nightmare. Barges on the Mississippi are unable to reach the Gulf Coast in a timely manner, and not only are some large roadways damaged, but several smaller farm-to-market roads are inaccessible, leaving producers no way to get products out and bring in supplies.

Beef cattle operations blasted by Katrina faced many difficulties. Livestock in coastal parishes are reportedly roaming free, chest-deep in salt water. With nothing to eat, the situation can become fatal, and pose another clean-up problem.

The Louisiana Farm Bureau reported state agencies are working to move cattle out of flooded areas, and in some cases, out of state.

The Texas Animal Health Commission is allowing livestock from Mississippi and Louisiana to enter the state without the normally required health documents, so long as the TAHC is notified first. Owners and/or shippers of these animals can call 800-550-8242, and after providing information (species, numbers, and destination), will be given a permit number. TAHC will track the animals later and address health concerns. 

In addition, TAHC is also maintaining a list of facilities that have volunteered to provide shelter for livestock. TAHC said those seeking shelter for their animals should call TAHC (800-550-8242), and leave a message for the regulatory veterinarian.

Cattle groups are joining together to aid fellow ranchers. The Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA) began by donating $25,000 to the general hurricane relief effort. Many livestock barns have committed to holding “Katrina relief auctions,” where ranchers can donate cattle to the sale, and the money will go to the Cattlemen’s Katrina Fund, to aid all hurricane victims. For more information on these sales, dates, and locations, call TCFA at 800-358-3681 or email info@tcfa.org.

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) is also taking donations. Donations will be divided and coordinated between the Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana cattlemen’s associations. The NCF said, “The money collected will go directly to delivering necessary supplies and services to help those affected rebuild their homes, ranches, and lives.” NCF can be reached at 303-694-0305.

Dairies were crippled by Katrina. The list of hurdles is long - power outages, feed deficiencies, structural damage, and inadequate milk storage.

Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) has been trying to reach its members in the storm’s path.

�Communication� with the area is difficult, but we know that hundreds of dairy farms are� without power and flooded, and blocked roads are making milk pick-up very difficult,� said a DFA spokesman. DFA said 312 dairy farms were in the hurricane�s path.�

Dairy is a large industry in Louisiana, where more than $75 million of milk is produced, according to Louisiana State University’s Ag Center.

The storm left many dairies without power, unable to use mechanical milkers or cool milk. In addition, roads were cluttered with debris, which made shipping milk off the farm impossible, forcing large amounts of milk to be dumped. The closed roadways also made it difficult for producers to access feed for their herd.

Milk processing plants were without power, but are now back in business according to several reports. Because of blocked or damaged roadways, there is still the problem of getting milk from producers, and that has kept processing to a minimum.

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) is allowing dairy cattle, like beef cattle, to enter the state without all the required health certificates, but insists that dairy cattle entering the state without a cattle tuberculosis test must be isolated from other cattle and meet specific requirements upon entering Texas. Information about bringing hurricane livestock into Texas is available by calling 800-550-8242.

DFA has started a relief fund that is designed to aid dairy farmers and their operations. According to the website, the “DFA Cares” fund, has been established to aid dairy farmers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama affected by Hurricane Katrina. Donations can be made by mailing a check made to “DFA Cares Inc.” to Dairy Farmers of America, Attn: DFA CARES, 10220 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153.

Horses were stranded by the storm’s aftermath. Many owners have taken their animals to holding facilities throughout the state and across state lines. 

The Louisiana Farm Bureau reported that holding facilities are equipped with enough space, feed, and water, but record keeping is the largest obstacle. Bonnie Clark, a volunteer who is working with the effort said, “We learned many lessons during Hurricane Andrew, in which some horses weren’t returned to their rightful owners. I want to make sure these horses get back to their rightful owners.”

Equine rescue groups in Texas are stepping up to the plate. Jerry Finch, president of Lone Star Equine Rescue/ Habitat for Horses (LSER/HfH), released a statement detailing the situation.

�A large number of horses, mules, and donkeys are now in danger of starvation, injury and death if relief efforts are not immediately taken,� said Finch on Sept. 6.

LSER has been authorized to aid in the efforts, and is helping organize relief efforts for equines and their owners. The group hopes to keep all animals in their original areas in order to make reunions with owners easier, and is taking supply and monetary donations to assist the effort. There are several drop-off locations in Texas, where equine medical supplies, feed supplies (including buckets and blocks), and halters can be donated. For more information on the LSER effort, visit www.lser.org. A list of drop-off locations and supplies is available.

The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) is seeking foster homes and volunteers to provide transportation for equines that were victims of the storm. Information about their project can be viewed at www.aqha.com/hurricanerelief. AQHA is not accepting supply or monetary donations.

It has been reported by several entities in Mississippi that the poultry sector was dealt the majority of the damage among agriculture industries. Mississippi producers are responsible for approximately 10 percent of consumable poultry in the United States, according to the National Chicken Council. Poultry production is also the state’s leading farm income producer.

On Aug. 31, Sanderson Farms, Inc., a company that produces, markets, and distributes poultry products, said they believed significant damage was not sustained at any of their facilities and power had been restored to nearly all of their plants. That picture, however, seemed to change quickly. 

On Sept. 6, Sanderson Farms released a statement saying that while no significant damage was experienced, they estimated that 72 of their 1,874 broiler houses in Mississippi were completely destroyed. Two breeder houses and two pullet houses were believed, at that time, to be heavily damaged or destroyed. Sanderson Farms estimated that 3 million of its 35 million live inventory were lost. Furthermore, because of power outages and losses, the company said it was unable to incubate or place many eggs and hatchlings and as a result, 5.2 million hatching eggs are believed to have been lost.

The company said temporary changes are expected to make up for these losses, and no long-term effect is expected. 

The chore of gathering and destroyed dead birds is great. According to the Hattiesburg American, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has sent 11 veterinarians to Mississippi to deal with the disposal situation. 

Sanderson farm facilities in Georgia and Texas were not affected by the storm.

Crops and grains throughout the coastal regions were damaged, the extent of each differs according to crop and location.

Sugarcane is a major crop in the coastal area and was blown to the ground as the storm blew through. It is also a hardy crop, that with adequate weather conditions, can stand itself upright again and eventually be harvested. More energy and time will be invested in harvest, but the sugarcane scenario is still more promising than most. the Associated Press has reported that Katrina damaged 5 to 30 percent of Louisiana’s sugar cane crop, and damaged two refineries, one that had contracts with Texas farmers.

According to Mississippi State University (MSU), corn was plowed over by the winds, and Mississippi crops specialists estimate yields will be down at least 20 percent. In addition, harvesting downed corn is expected to take five times longer, which will require more fuel. Some corn will not be fit for harvest, even with dry weather. About a third of the state’s crop had been harvested before the hurricane hit.

An MSU soybean specialist said soybeans received the least amount of damage, but those in the southern half of the state will still incur some losses. A 10 to 15 percent loss statewide is expected.

Cotton was blown from plants throughout Mississippi and Louisiana. According to the Louisiana Farm Bureau, the remaining cotton will determine the price. Discolored and tainted cotton will cost more to process. Still, a minimal change in price is anticipated. In some areas, cotton may not be salvageable, resulting in total losses for those producers. Boll rot may bring further problems in the months to come.

LSU agricultural agents in East Carroll Parish and Tensas Parish have reported rice losses between 70 and 80 percent. These areas, in the northern part of the region, had not been harvested prior to the storm. In other areas of the state, hit hardest by the storm, rice harvest had concluded, sparing many from economic losses.

Many grain crops were damaged, but to add to the situation, processors are expected to offer less for grain products because fuel needed to process the goods has become more expensive. In addition, shipping those products has created problems, as the Mississippi River is log jammed with shipments that are waiting to be exported. 

Citrus crops were shaken from trees by Katrina. Nursery plants in Florida were tossed in the wind. 

Citrus losses in Florida’s Miami-Dade County have not been specified, but the Associated Press reports that Thomas Spreen, chair of the University of Florida’s food and resources economics department, does not expect consumers to see a price increase because the loss occurred in only a small portion of an industry that is spread throughout the state.

Nursery losses were more of a concern. Several nurseries were wiped out when the storm struck the area. Total direct losses were initially estimated at $427 million, 80 percent of which was incurred by the nursery sector. Nursery operations contribute more to Florida’s economy than citrus production. In addition, repair costs are expected to drive many out of the business, and the large number of migrant workers who manned the nurseries and orchards are now unemployed.

In Louisiana, the state’s most productive citrus cite, Plaquemines Parish, is believed to have been severely damaged by the hurricane. According to Louisiana State University’s 2004 Agriculture Summary, Plaquemines Parish was credited with providing $5 million to the state’s $6.3 million citrus industry. 

Not only have hopes of a profit this year been wiped away, but for those faced with the decision to replant, a productive season will be long awaited, as most trees do not produce fruit for several years.

Aquaculture sites reported hits and misses.

According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, shrimp production was responsible for 85 percent of the state’s edible fisheries production. Shrimp trawlers have been tossed ashore along the coastline from Louisiana to Alabama. Without adequate insurance, many of these fisherman will not return to the business. 

With towns still devastated, even if shrimping commences, product movement may lag. Shrimp processing plants were damaged by the winds and rains, a fact that has made it more difficult for the industry to rebound. 

Some reports indicate the oyster industry in the Gulf states was completely wiped out by Katrina. The region was responsible for a large portion of the U.S. oyster market. The anticipated decrease in supply may encourage price increases, which will discourage consumers from purchasing the product. Oyster industry observers have suggested that 20 to 30 percent of oyster boats were sieged by the storm, according to Dr. Robert Romaire, the resident director of the LSU AgCenter’s Aquaculture Research Station in Baton Rouge.

As polluted flood waters are flushed out to sea, seafood safety will be examined.

Logistical issues are being addressed. A domino effect has occurred due to the many Gulf ports closed or operating at low capacities. 

Many commodities were shipped down the Mississippi on barges before the storm, where they arrived in New Orleans. The port there has been closed, but is slowly reopening, operating under several stipulations, with commercial operations anticipated to commence in a few weeks. The slow barge traffic is prompting shippers to pursue more expensive alternative means of transportation, such as railways.

Barges have been the cheapest way to move agriculture cargo. The Texas Grain and Feed Association reported the Mississippi Gulf was previously responsible for 55 to 65 percent of raw U.S. grain exports. These commodities will cost more to ship via trains and trucks, especially considering increasing fuel prices. The bottom line results in less money in the producers’ pockets and higher prices, making competition with other countries harder to maintain.

Railroads are busy clearing tracks in the storm’s trail in order to move products to ports.

Shippers are receiving less cargo because roads and bridges have been swept away in many places. Producers have not been able to send products out or gain access to much needed supplies. Downed trees, power lines, and structures have clogged routes in and out of production centers.