Texas Ranchers Battle Hurricane Harvey to Protect Cattle
Ranchers are assessing damage and trying to evacuate livestock after Hurricane Harvey invaded the Texas coast, bringing torrential rains, tornadoes and high winds.
Texas A&M University’s AgriLife Extension Service is coordinating animal sheltering sites across the state in case ranchers need to relocated cattle or other animals, says Andy Vestal, TAMU Extension specialist. Some livestock owners closest to the coast have already been working to move animals to higher ground via trailers, away from low-lying areas and tributaries.
For Texas ranchers needing information about animal shelters and livestock holding facilities in their area, should call 2-1-1 for emergency details.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by Hurricane Harvey and the catastrophic flooding now occurring in its aftermath,” says Russell Boening, president, Texas Farm Bureau.
Prior to Hurricane Harvey's arrival, many farm and ranch families worked around the clock to harvest crops and move livestock and equipment out of Harvey's reach, he adds. “Some crops remain in the field, though, and it's too early to estimate the amount of crops that have been lost to the storm.”
Ranchers in Dayton, Texas, got a police escort to safely move this group of cattle through town to higher ground.
Police moving cattle to higher ground just outside Dayton, TX with team @contessabrewer @CNBC pic.twitter.com/yRuqvahPOw
— Harriet Taylor (@Harri8t) August 27, 2017
Hundreds of cattle rescued from Texas flooding https://t.co/iBfUIhLVIg pic.twitter.com/Vjsnt0Q6nj
— Rincon News (@rincon_news) March 26, 2017
Harvey slammed ashore as a Category 4 hurricane near Rockport, Texas, on Friday night. The strongest storm to hit the U.S. since 2004 has since been downgraded to a tropical storm and has dropped several feet of rain.
Grain elevators suspended shipments earlier this week as port facilities braced for flooding, storm surges and possible power outages. Cotton and soybean futures climbed on Thursday amid the outlook for heavy rains, which could damage crops from Texas to Mississippi.
