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Tuesday, February 9, 2010 |
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County declares drought disaster
Published February 25, 2009
SEGUIN — County commissioners declared a drought disaster Tuesday — a move that could help ranchers obtain state or federal help for a local industry that brings in more than $20 million in revenue in this county each year.
Tuesday’s vote ratifies a similar declaration made Monday by County Judge Mike Wiggins on behalf of the county’s cattle ranchers, who have been beaten down in recent years by an ongoing drought that over the past 18 months has proven to be the worst since 1885 and has resulted in a rainfall of about 18 inches over the past year.
The action was taken after Benno Luensmann of the Seguin Cattle Company and the Texas Independent Cattlemans Association told commissioners the drought conditions are hurting ranching because the lack of water has dramatically raised feed and hay prices and is causing ranchers to sell off larger portions of their herds, which he said could depress the local cattle business to the point that it could take years to recover — if it ever does.
“If our herds get sold down, there’s no place we can go to find replacements,” he said. “We’re going to have to raise them.”
And right now, there’s nothing in local pastures to feed the animals, and costs for feed and hay transportation are further harming local ranchers.
Luensmann said no rancher or farmer likes to ask for help, but the drought threatens a livelihood and a way of life whose fortunes have been intertwined with those of the county since its founding.
“We’re not asking for a bailout,” Luensmann said. “We’re asking for some assistance. It’s not due to mismanagement — it’s due to the drought.”
Luensmann said the $20 million in local livestock sales each year might not sound like much compared to a major manufacturer, but more of the money generated stays in the local area and recirculates through the economy seven times as opposed to three or four times in industrial manufacturing.
To lose half of that annual income, Luensmann said, would result in a loss of $70 to $80 million throughout the local economy, and area cattlemen hope the government can help.
“What we’d ask you to do is whatever is possible to declare a disaster so we can get a little help,” Luensmann said. “If we can get some assistance in hay transportation or a reduction in protein feed costs, we could maintain some of the herd we presently have.”
Wiggins informed Luensmann he’d declared the disaster Monday afternoon, but that he would need the support of the rest of the commissioners to extend it past seven days.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Roger Baenziger made an immediate motion for approval followed by three simultaneous seconds — one by each remaining commissioner — and then a unanimous vote.
The next step, Wiggins said, would be for Gov. Rick Perry to consider a region- or statewide disaster that could open the way for ranchers to receive money from state or federal funds.
“We will forward this to the state level and request that any available state and federal aid be applied to this area,” Wiggins promised. “We don’t know what that help will be, but we’re making the first step. Guadalupe County has a long and deep history of farming and ranching, and that’s what’s brought this county to where it is today. It’s the least we can do, and this court stands ready to do whatever we can to support you.”
Precinct 4 Commissioner Judy Cope, whose precinct includes a lot of cattle country stretching from New Berlin to New Braunfels, agreed.
“We really need to ensure that our farm and ranch community in Guadalupe County remains viable,” Cope said.
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