Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) are pushing legislation to deliver additional financial help to ranchers who lost excessive numbers of unborn livestock in a disaster. The bill could assist those in the Texas Panhandle who are working to recover from wildfires that killed at least 15,000 head of cattle, including pregnant cows, earlier this year.
“Texas ranchers are the backbone of the Texas Agriculture industry,” Mr. Cruz said in a statement. “This will give Texas cattle producers the relief they need to build back their herds and restore this pillar of Texas agriculture.”
How it Works
The proposed measure would add a payment for ranchers and farmers for unborn livestock deaths under the current indemnity program. Payments would be capped at “85 percent of the payment rate established with respect to the lowest weight class of the livestock, as determined by the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency.”
The type of livestock and average number of babies the animal typically gives birth to would also be considered in determining the payment.
Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening said there is a “critical” need for assistance in the Panhandle.
Recovery in the Panhandle is expected to take years, but the enhancement program could be an important step in helping to speed the recovery.
“While the Livestock Indemnity Program will assist affected livestock producers with cattle losses due to the wildfires, their recovery has been set back several years due to the limitations on the program’s ability to compensate for unborn livestock losses from the loss of pregnant livestock,” Mr. Jackson said in a statement. “By creating a payment rate for unborn livestock losses, we can better assist our producers, helping them recover quicker and mitigating the long-term effects of these wildfires.”
Devastating Losses
Last month, a Texas House Committee tasked with investigating the panhandle wildfires estimated cattle losses of $27 million. (pdf)The findings also estimated the cow-calf pairs were valued as high as $3,000 in April, with “calves in the 500-600 pound range selling for $3.14 per pound and bulls at $10,000.”
The committee also noted that it could take three to five years for pastures to be suitable for grazing livestock.
