Farm Progress

Extension economist estimates Texas Panhandle wildfire losses will top $21 million.

Kay Ledbetter, Texas A&M Communications

March 16, 2017

4 Min Read
The loss of equipment such as this pickup and one-of-a-kind hay trailer was not included in economic damages at this point, according to Dr. Steve AmossonKay Ledbetter

 

The total will go higher as more information comes in over the next few weeks, but livestock producers in the Texas Panhandle are looking at losses in excess of $21 million so far, according to a Texas A&M AgriLIfe Extension economist.

Steve Amosson, Extension economist in Amarillo, says burned acreage is about all analysts have to go on, so far and the $21 million figure does not include equipment losses. There are a lot of losses, and we just don’t know all of them at this time.

 “The basic categories considered are: lost pasture, $6.1 million; fence repair or replacement, $6.1 million; buildings and corrals lost, $3.8 million; livestock death losses, $4 million; and emergency hay and feed, $1 million.

“Every individual rancher will weather these losses differently, depending on financial position was at the time of the fire,” Amosson said. “If they had large losses and already had a marginal financial position then it could put them out of business, but in most cases it will just create more financial stress for them, and they will keep ranching.”

For many ranchers, little insurance money will come into play, he said.

“Typically, not much is insured except for ranch houses, sometimes major buildings and once in a while the cattle,” Amosson said.

Related:We know the people who sacrificed to save their animals

But some programs, such as the 2014 farm bill Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), are designed for this specific purpose and may help offset losses, he said. Eventually, livestock losses are required to be registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency in order to receive partial compensation.

With proper documentation, this LIP can compensate ranchers for 75 percent of the market value of cattle lost in the fire until the preset loss limit for a producer is reached, Amosson said. Additionally, a portion of fencing replacement costs may be covered through the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

While the current estimate is about 2,500 cattle lost as a result of the wildfire, Amosson said that number is expected to climb as more animals succumb to severe fire-related injuries. Other animals are being sold to packing plants, depending on how badly burned they were, he added.

DEALING WITH CHAOS

“When we value the deaths of cattle at market value, including disposal costs, we’re talking about $3.6 million at this point, and I expect that to go up,” he said. “We’re still dealing with chaos. They’re still trying to find cattle.”

So far it will cost roughly $6.1 million to recover about 480,000 acres of pasture burned, which has to be set aside for the rest of 2017, Amosson said.

“Basically, ranchers will not be able to graze these pastures this year and will only be able to stock them at half capacity next year while they recover,” he said.

Amosson estimates the second major expense tied to the fires in the northern Texas Panhandle will be about $6.1 million to replace and repair fences that were either destroyed by the fire or from cattle trampling them to escape the blaze.

“An estimated 975 miles of fence were affected,” he said. “We are assuming that half will be repaired at a cost of $2,500 per mile, and the other half will have to be replaced at a cost of $10,000 per acre.

“I expect the amount of fence that has to be replaced to rise once they start to repair it and if the wire is too brittle to be effective due to the heat; therefore, this loss will increase,” Amosson said. “The total amount that will have to be replaced versus repaired will not be known for some time.”

FEED SHORTAGE

The longer term concern for the cattle industry in the most affected areas is trying to determine how the remaining 13,000 to 14,000 cattle in the path of the fire will be fed because of depleted grazing land, he said

“Initially, ranchers are being provided donated hay and feed that has come into three Livestock Supply Points if they choose to use it,” Amosson said. “But long term, they will have to make a decision to buy hay for a long period of time, send the cattle to market or lease pasture elsewhere.”

The estimated $1 million in feed costs is based on 30 pounds consumption per day per animal for a 60-day period for cattle in the fire area, he said, with the expectation they will either be moved or sold by the end of that period.

Amosson said one of the hardest figures to determine is for assets such as corrals, equipment and outbuildings.

“While undoubtedly losses have occurred, no firm tally has been made to date,” he said. “However, with an estimate of 125 structures lost throughout the three fire regions, that loss is expected to be in the neighborhood of $3.7 million to replace. At this point, we have no idea how much equipment has been damaged.”

Amosson said he did not figure the losses from the 2006 Panhandle complex fire, which according to the Texas A&M Forest Service is considered the largest fire ever in the state of Texas, burning 907,245 acres.

However, increased costs and higher cattle prices, indicates the total damage will be about 70 percent of the 2006 fire.

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