Estimated Impact of Hurricane Hanna on RGV Agriculture

BY ELISHA ENSIGN

Names in RGV history… Beulah, Allen, Dolly, and now Hanna. All hurricanes that had great impact on RGV agriculture. On July 25, 2020, Hurricane

Hanna made its way through the RGV with 90 mph winds and dropped 10-20 inches of rain.

In its wake, it left flooded roads, flooded homes, roof damage, area-wide power outages, and devastating damage to crops.

For many farmers, this is the third consecutive year to experience devastating crop losses due to flooding and high winds.

Many RGV cotton farmers were in the middle of harvest and direct losses of cotton lint is valued at $76 million and for cottonseed at $14.2 million. Cotton was defoliated for harvest prior to the hurricane making landfall, leading to bolls being open and exposed to the elements.

The Cotton and Grain Producers of the Lower Rio Grande Valley estimated about 95-98 percent of the cotton is a loss. With virtually no cotton to harvest or process in the LRGV, both producers and cotton gins are facing financial hardships. According to the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation, there were 168,680 acres of cotton certified in the area. However, 30,000 acres were lost due to drought earlier in the season, decreasing the total cotton acreage to 138,680.

Texas Citrus Mutual estimates that 30% of the citrus crop was lost from immature fruit falling due to sustained high winds. Thankfully the packing and processing facilities were undamaged, but this is a great hit to the industry this season.

Utilizing average production figures from the federal marketing order for the industry leads to a total loss of almost 89,000 tons. The average price for citrus is also reported by the marketing order at $750 per ton leading to a loss estimate of about $66.7 million for the citrus industry.

The full impact of sesame and sugarcane losses are still being determined by industry officials through field inspections. At this time, it is estimated that about 25 percent of the total sugar production was impacted by the hurricane.

Because cane, like citrus, is a multiyear crop, overall tonnage losses could occur over the next few years. The potential losses currently placed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension are $12.2 million, however the true extent to the damage will not be determined until the cane is harvested. Losses are estimated at $3.2 million for sesame from wind damage and flooding.

Corn, soybeans, and sorghum had mostly been harvested by the time the hurricane hit. However, there were significant crop losses in the northern coastal area from flooding. These estimates were totaled at $2.1 million for corn, $1.8 million for soybeans, and $271,688 for sorghum.

Many producers were facing difficult economic times before the hurricane. The losses incurred from the hurricane will undoubtedly place further strain on the farm economy in the area and some may not be able to sustain these losses without assistance. RGV Agriculture came together to request help from state and federal officials.

Overall, according to TAMU AgriLife Extension Services, losses are estimated at $400 million in direct and indirect damages to agriculture in the RGV. These damages are wide and extensive and will affect the RGV for months if not years to come.

But as in the months and years following Beulah, Allen, and Dolly, RGV farmers will pull together and carry on to the next season and Hanna will become a name we will forever remember.

And to end on a positive note, the citrus crop remaining is good size and quality leading into the start of citrus season.