AUSTIN – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller declared on Thursday, July 16, an agricultural emergency for dozens of counties, including Goliad, Karnes and McMullen counties, as catastrophic flooding continues to damage farms, ranches and rural communities across Central and South Texas.
The declaration activates Texas Department of Agriculture relief resources for agricultural producers affected by widespread flooding and encourages Texans to contribute to the State of Texas Agriculture Relief (STAR) Fund, which provides grants to help farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses recover from disaster-related losses.
“Texas agriculture is taking another heavy blow,” Miller said. “Families who make their living on the land are watching their crops, livestock, and homes threatened by rising floodwaters. The Texas Department of Agriculture will always stand with our Texas farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. We’ll do everything we can to help them recover, and I encourage every Texan who is able to support the STAR Fund so we can get help where it’s needed most.”
The declaration comes as major flooding continues along several river systems across Central and South Texas, including the Nueces River southeast of Uvalde, where floodwaters have reached major flood stage. State officials said floodwaters have inundated cropland, pastureland, roads, bridges and agricultural infrastructure while threatening livestock operations throughout the floodplain.
Agricultural producers are reporting damaged crops, washed-out fences, submerged grazing land and transportation disruptions that have complicated efforts to care for livestock and assess damage.
For producers in Goliad, Karnes and McMullen counties, the declaration makes them eligible to seek assistance through TDA disaster recovery programs as damage assessments continue.
“The floodwaters will recede, but for now I’m asking producers to stay safe and follow the guidance of local emergency officials,” Miller said. “No crop or piece of equipment is worth risking your life.”
The emergency declaration also includes Atascosa, Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Bexar, Blanco, Brazoria, Brewster, Burnet, Caldwell, Colorado, Comal, Crockett, DeWitt, Dimmit, Edwards, Fayette, Fort Bend, Frio, Galveston, Gillespie, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Jackson, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, La Salle, Lavaca, Lee, Llano, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, Medina, Menard, Pecos, Real, Schleicher, Sutton, Terrell, Travis, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Waller, Washington, Webb, Wharton, Williamson, Wilson, Zapata and Zavala counties. Additional counties may be added if conditions worsen.
The Texas Department of Agriculture said it is coordinating with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and agricultural organizations to connect affected producers with available recovery resources.
The STAR Fund provides grants to eligible farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses to repair or replace agricultural infrastructure damaged by natural disasters. The fund is supported through tax-deductible private donations.
Agricultural producers seeking STAR Fund assistance may apply through the Texas Department of Agriculture or call 833-380-8282 for information.
The department also reminded livestock producers that its Hay and Feed Hotline remains available to connect donors and producers needing emergency feed assistance. The hotline can be reached at 877-429-1998.
In addition, producers dealing with the emotional strain of disaster recovery can receive free, confidential support through the AgriStress Helpline, available 24 hours a day by calling or texting 833-897-2474.