Texas ag losses forecast at record $5.2 billion

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas agriculture officials say the blistering drought in the state has caused an estimated $5.2 billion in crop and livestock losses this agricultural season — a record figure that could still rise.

AgriLife Extension Service economist David Anderson said today that field surveys indicate livestock losses of $2.1 billion and crop losses of $3.1 billion through Aug. 1. And he said by the time crops are harvested, it might be higher.

Texas officials say the previous record annual loss was $4.1 billion for the 2006 growing season.

Drought has affected much of the south this year, but the situation is especially severe in Texas, which leads the nation in cotton and cattle production and is the second-largest agriculture state behind California.

Since 1998, drought has cost Texas agriculture $13.1 billion.