Plight of Louisiana Cattle Producers After Heavy Flooding

Beef producers in some parts of Louisiana are wading through the damage from what's been called the worst natural disaster to hit the U.S. since Hurricane Sandy. Significant rainfall overwhelmed southern portions of the state, where catastrophic flooding left at least 13 people dead and thousands without homes. According to some reports, the anticipated costs neared a minimum of $30 million.

Of course, beef producers in the region weren't spared from the damage. Lee Robbins is a Louisiana Angus breeder who resides just north of the flooding and says the effects on producers are far from over.

Robbins: "We deal with rains and floods but this was just beyond what we have seen in this area before. The rains just came in similar to a hurricane but a lot more rain than a hurricane normally brings so neighborhoods were flooded, pastures were flooded. The river is running through that area, the banks were just overwhelmed. Fortunately now we are seeing a lot of the water receding. I've been earning reports that some of the cows are back in the fields."

The exact number of cattle lost in the flood remains unknown, and Robbins says the region's cattle producers will struggle in the months ahead to provide adequate hay and pasture ground for their herds.

Robbins: "Long term we are going to need continued supplies of hay. A lot of farmers lost their hay barns or lost the hay stocks within them, because they all flooded. It is going to be tough to resupply the farmers in that area because so many were affected."

 

Robbins also says the support shown by neighbors and fellow farmers and ranchers has been significant. Anyone who wishes to donate hay or financial support can contact the Louisiana Department of Agriculture or the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.