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Hurricane Katrina affects ag producers

The wind, surge, and flood waters produced by Hurricane Katrina not only affected city residents, it also affected rural farms and businesses within 60 miles of the coast.

Many farm organizations and agriculture-related businesses are providing relief efforts specifically for agricultural producers in the areas affected by the hurricane.

After the hurricane, cattle were wading in chest-deep water with nothing to eat. Thousands are expected to have died and will need to be buried.

Dairy producers were shut down because of lack of power and washed-out roads. They couldn't keep milk cold, couldn't operate milking machines, couldn't get milk to market, and couldn't get feed for the cattle.

Many poultry houses were damaged or destroyed and millions of chickens were killed.

Almost the entire pecan crop in Mississippi was lost. Rice and cotton also were affected.

The timber industry along the coast took a big hit. Enough timber was destroyed or damaged to build 800,000 single-family homes and produce 25 million tons of paper and paperboard. Much of the timber was owned by small landowners.

About 99 percent of oyster beds were lost and 40 percent of oyster and shrimp boats were damaged or destroyed.

One parish in Louisiana lost 80 percent of its Japanese citrus trees which produce mandarin oranges.

Sugercane fields were knocked flat in the wind and rain, making harvest more difficult.

Citrus growers and especially nurseries in southern Florida suffered severe losses.

The economic damage extends to agriculture producers throughout the Midwest. They are affected by the tie-up in shipping at the mouth of the Mississippi River. It slowed down exports of corn and soybeans and also slowed down shipments of supplies up the river.

The long-term overall effect on ag prices and costs is not known. Barges are the cheapest way to haul grain and agricultural supplies. Train or truck transport is more expensive.

Some market watchers fear increased costs could hamper the ability of the U.S. to remain competitive with other countries.

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