Region's ag producers significant to economy

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas

March 21, 2002 -- As Texas honors its farmers and ranchers during National Agriculture Week, South Central Texas has a lot to be proud of, according to Dr. Larry Falconer, Extension economist-management of District 11 in the Corpus Christi area.

According to Falconer, the latest figures from 2001 indicate that there were cash receipts in the amount of approximately $1.2 billion dollars in the Coastal Bend area.

He said that the economic impact of these dollars on the state equaled to approximately $2.3 million dollars. This means for every dollar connected to agriculture, almost two were produced in transportation, restaurants, retail and other businesses connected with the industry.

Since the droughts of '96-'98, receipts have continued to climb, with cattle on the increase in the past two years. All agricultural receipts were up 6.4 percent, over all.

Falconer said that 2002 predictions for the area indicate that prices and costs will remain about the same as last year, but most areas are in need of rain. He said that cotton prices are expected to remain depressed, but rice and soybean crops should remain about the same as last year.

Although some cotton producers had crops left in the fields due to heavy, fall rains, those that were able to harvest, earlier, had near record crops in some areas.