Thursday, March 21, 2019

UPDATED—Agriculture: "Full Impact of Flooding Likely to Take Months "

Update: the source for the "million head..." quote says he misspoke and meant to say affected, not "lost"
Here are the stats for cows in Nebraska via the National Cattleman's Beef Association:
Industry Statistics
Top 5 States
  • All Cattle
    • Texas: 12.5 million - 2% increase
    • Nebraska: 6.8 million - 5% increase
    • Kansas: 6.3 million - 2% increase
    • California: 5.2 million - 1% increase
    • Oklahoma: 5.1 million - 2% increase
  • Cows and Heifers that have Calved
    • Texas: 5.1 million - 3% increase
    • California: 2.4 million - no change
    • Missouri: 2.25 million - 5% increase
    • Oklahoma: 2.17 million - 2% increase
    • Nebraska: 1.97 million - 1% decrease
  • Beef Cows that have Calved
    • Texas: 4.59 million - 3% increase
    • Missouri: 2.17 million - 5% increase
    • Oklahoma: 2.13 million - 2% increase
    • Nebraska: 1.91 million - 1% decrease
    • South Dakota: 1.8 million - 8% increase
...MORE
 
Original post:
Rain on top of deep snow on top of frozen ground equals world class flooding.
There are reports Nebraska may have lost up to one million head of cattle.
From AgWeb:
Early estimates are putting the cost of the blizzard and flooding to agriculture in Nebraska at nearly $1 billion, but how big could the impact ultimately be? AgriTalk host Chip Flory tells Tyne Morgan on AgDay-TV the market impacts are still an unknown.

"I think we're a few weeks away from finding out just how big of an impact it could be," says Flory.  "How long are the issues going to linger and how long is it going to be before fields are fit?"
Flory says questions about fertilizer application, planting and acreage mix are endless.

"I think it could lead to higher prevent plant, which would mean fewer corn acres and fewer soybean acres," says Flory. "Those acres that typically do get planted in the Missouri river bottoms well that's not getting done [this year]."

Farming isn't the only part of agriculture facing challenges. Cattle ranchers and feeders first had to deal with blizzard conditions before seeing floods sweep whole herds aways.
"The Platte River got wider and deeper than it's ever been," says Flory....MORE