Will Hurricane Harvey Affect Beef Prices?

While Hurricane Harvey has produced a major disaster for ranchers and livestock producers in southeast Texas, the storm is not expected to significantly disrupt the nation۪s beef processing operations. That۪s because the only major beef packer in the path of Harvey is Kane Beef in Corpus Christi, which processes 225 head per day. The facility has been closed since Friday, but has not sustained major damage due to the storm. Transportation will be the biggest obstacle to the reopening of slaughter operations.Farmers and ranchers in the area, however, have suffered substantial losses. Fifty four counties in Texas have been declared a disaster in the wake of Harvey. The disaster counties were home to 1.2 million beef cows, and a corresponding number of calves. The post of Houston is also of importance to U.S. imports and exports, though it is of less importance to beef and pork trade. Last year the port of Houston/Galveston accounted for just 1.2% of the pork export volume, and only one-half of 1% of the beef export volume. As for imports, the port of Houston accounted for about 3.5% of the beef imported into the U.S. last year. For more Drovers coverage of Hurricane Harvey's impacts on Texas ranchers and cattle herds, visit: Torrential Rains Hammer Texas Ranchers After Hurricane Harvey Texas Ranchers Battle Hurricane Harvey to Protect Cattle TSCRA Members Report on Storm Damage Cow-Calf Producers Take Harvey۪s Hit Where Will it Go Next?