Livestock and damaged crops were disappeared due to floods in Texas. Here’s how farmers are working after disaster

Across a wide health of Texas, Communities destroyed Also through the fields and fields.

In the city of Bend, about two hours a north of Austin, Boyed Clarke went into growing water to help one of his stranded ostrich chickens. Matthew Ketterman spent several hours stuck on top of his truck, stuck between the rapids among the rapids, which after exiting the fence on his exotic game chain outside the barnett in the south south of the bend. And the San Gabriel River knocked on the Christmas tree sideways and the employees had to receive the petting zoo animals in a temporary pen at the Sweet Eats Adventure Farm in Georgetown, about 65 miles east of Ketterman’s farm.

According to local law enforcement and village Greg Abbott, Death Toll is at 121, and there are more than 170 people still missing after Flash floods Consuming the area in the morning of 4 July. In Camp Mystic, a summer camp of a girl with a cabin on the banks of the river in a rural part of Ker County near Hunt, At least 27 campers and consultants The camp died in the camp described as “frightening floods”. Some survivors said that they woke up in the water race through the windows.

President Trump and first woman are Melania Trump On Friday, Central is moving towards Texas To survey the devastation fed by floods, as the first respondents and family members have continued their discovery to disappear.

Meanwhile, farmers and farms are working to assess their properties, crops and losses to animals. Many people are facing livestock care work, while they can boil crops and clean the debris.

While many farmers bend at an tireless optimism through uncertainty to rely on the weather to remain one, extreme weather disasters such as frightening floods, droughts and forest fire can take a toll. Weather events also create unique challenges for those who trust seasonal tourists or who cannot have crop insurance.

It is a two -edged sword: as some farmers turn agroism or top crops into unexpected weather markets, climate change is also intensifying many natural disasters that can make it more difficult for those experiments to be successful. Even large operations are not immune, as farmers producing all types of crops should plan for emergency.

“We hope this will happen again. It is never a question that if, but when, but when, John Meedith said, Sweet Eats co-owner, an agroism outfit that mainly grows Christmas tree.” And so we just try to reduce our losses and reduce our risk around such incidents. “

Survey of damage and repair

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said that it has rained so soon that some farmers are suffering completely loss or serious damage to their crops and infrastructure, in many counties and beyond banks flowing rivers.

Miller told Associated Press, “We have farm equipment that are washed under the river. We have tractors under water, so they are total, they will not be able to use those.” We are finding cattle dead above trees. So it is very devastating. “

Miller said that resources are available for farmers. These include Texas Agricultural Relief Fund State, which helps farmers reach disaster funding, grass and feed hotline, which makes animal food and donation. just It provides 24/7 mental health assistance.

Now the work of cleanup comes: repair of the destroyed fence line, Tally lost livestock and carry the debris from the leaves and mud to the pile-up picnic table.

After a harsh night, waiting to save hours, Ketterman, who was stuck on his vehicle, felt lucky to survive. But he and his team were also mourning the loss of a member, who died in floods on the way to work. They lost some animals in churning water.

“We are in a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars, but you know, at the end of that day that is just monetary and we will overcome him,” he said.

How is flood difficult for special farmers

Small farms that provide experience to visitors, do not sell or crop insurance, are particularly weak, Professor and Chairman of Antomology Department at Michigan State University, Hannah Burak, who has worked with the fruit farmers after the floods.

Clarke stated that ostrich producers can use some American agricultural programs that cover grass loss, grazing birds, but otherwise there is not much aid. In heavy rains, ostrich also gets very cold. And it cuts egg production; Chickens almost stop laying eggs and mud and water, they can ruin anything they do.

“It certainly affects our production and our profitability this year,” Clarke said.

Barrack said that other crops are submerged for consumption like fruits and vegetables, they cannot be sold anymore. The fields can produce unwanted plants, which may lead to insect issues or an unpleasant experience for visitors. And once the submergence is submerged, “long -term echoes of these short -term stress” can make trees more vulnerable to the disease.

Meredith said that sweet bricks were lucky that the Christmas season is still months away; They still had a chance to keep trees back. If they were still doing peach tree, they would have a difficult time, like they used to do. He said, “Because so much of our luggage is for you, if we cannot be open to customers, it increases challenges that we encounter due to cash flow issues,” he said.

Climate Change is motivating farms to plan emergency situations

This is not just flood: In recent years, fields across the country have taken hits due to extreme weather. Wildfier has redeemed farm-based businesses in California, including pick-yor-on Apple Orchards in the southern part of the state and winery in the north. An unusually warm winter was produced by midwastern maple syrup in 2024, while the drought was hit with pumpkin, many other crops, with many other crops in the west.

It is good to see how climate change can affect your operations and make adjustments accordingly, Rob Leeds, an extension educator at Ohio State University, said, who works with farmers, especially with those interested in Agritorism. He explained how in recent years, after looking at a barrage of tornadoes and high winds, some cattle producers in Ohio are constructing a tough barn that will usually be seen in the West’s Pawan Khakki regions. Some decline-themed agreeturism operators have begun to install fans and exhausy, which is later expected to have more hot days in the decline.

The farmers of Texas will take some time to recover completely, but some are already constructed strong. Ketterman said that he feels that he is going to post strong fences in the coming weeks as they secure the fence line.

They will also bend at each other. Many farmers described the conflict spirit of the community as they faced the storm.

“We all started calling each other, to make sure that we can take out our animals and anything that we need to save us,” said John Meedith, the owner of Sweet Eats. “Just because it is a fact of life. When you live on a river, it is beautiful and pleasant, but sometimes there are times where things can go to the south very soon.”