U.S. Water News Online
BRYAN, Texas -- The financial toll of Texas' long-running drought has risen to $820 million and could soon slow the state's booming economy, Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs says.
The commissioner told Brazos Valley farmers and ranchers that losses to producers will have a ripple effect in the rest of the Texas economy.
``It's the cumulative effect (of droughts in) 96, 98, 99, 2000, and there is tremendous concern about where agriculture will be in the next year,'' she said. ``It's very, very serious and I'm trying to remind folks in the cities that if agriculture in Texas hurts they'll feel the pain, too.
``It makes a real difference if you've got every small town struggling because the farmer and rancher doesn't have the spare cash to do things,'' Combs said.
The drought could cost producers $1 billion this year, Combs said Texas A & M agricultural experts are estimating. Dry weather has cost the industry more than $4 billion since 1996.
Sales tax revenues will plunge if farmers and ranchers have no money to spend, hurting schools.
``It ripples and ripples and ripples,'' Combs said.
Rains have done little to slow this year's drought, which has kept reservoirs in many parts of the state at low levels. Thirsty towns have had to pipe water in from neighboring communities because their own lake levels are too low to provide safe drinking water.
The drought has heightened the danger of brush and forest fires statewide.
The agriculture department's Go Texan program, which markets products made in the Lone Star State to other states and abroad, could give farmers and ranchers needed economic assistance.
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