After seeing torrential storms ranging from tornadoes in one area to blizzards and 40 to 80 mph winds in others Dec. 24th through the 29th, New Mexico and Texas dairy farmers are cautioning the industry to prepare for a tightening in milk supply.
"Like all agriculture, dairy producers always operate at the mercy of Mother Nature," Darren Turley, Executive director of the Texas Association of Dairymen, said in a statement, according to CNBC. "With Goliath, she dealt a particularly harsh and costly blow to the area's dairy producers, from the death of thousands of livestock they spend so much time caring for to a loss of milk production over the weekend and in the future."
The storm, aptly called Goliath, caught many off guard in certain regions that were unused to and unprepared for such conditions as 14 feet of snow.
"We can't really put into words what it's like, other than we're just doing everything we can to get through it," Cliff Pirtle, a New Mexico dairy farmer, told KOAT7 Albuquerque. "When the meteorologists first started talking about a blizzard on the eastern plains of New Mexico, I was like, 'No, this is a desert. That's not going to happen.'"
While assessing the extent of the damages, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller released a statement addressing the blows Mother Nature has dealt to the state, announcing that relief resources are available through the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to rural communities, farmers, and ranchers who have been impacted by the recent severe weather.
“Texans are no strangers to extreme weather, and time after time, we pitch in to help our neighbors when Mother Nature throws us her worst. Whether through the STAR fund or any other reputable charitable organization, I encourage all Texans to lend a hand to those who have been affected by this storm,” Commissioner Miller said in the release. “TDA is committed to providing any assistance we can, and our prayers remain with the families who have lost so much, our first responders, and everyone who is beginning to rebuild after this terrible storm.”
DeliMarket News will continue to follow and report any developments on the situation as more information comes to light.
