Conservative estimates put a $1 billion
9/1/2005

Conservative estimates put a $1 billion price tag on the damage done directly to crops and livestock by Hurricane Katrina, according to Terry Francl, senior economist with American Farm Bureau Federation. He says an additional $1 billion in indirect costs could result from a growing waterway shipping crisis and soaring fuel prices.

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"Unfortunately, crop, livestock and poultry losses in the Delta may be the tip of the iceberg," he said.

Francl notes the extent of the destruction resulting from Hurricane Katrina will likely take weeks or longer to assess.

His preliminary analysis for sugar cane, cotton, soybeans and corn in Mississippi and Louisiana, which suffered the primary impact of the storm, indicates considerable harm was done to crops. However, the impact on farm production and prices nationwide will likely be negligible in light of strong harvests elsewhere in the country, particularly in terms of soybeans, corn and cotton.

With the United States already facing a tight sugar supply - and subsequently increasing the allotments for imported sugar - the price of sugar from sugar cane is likely to be the most significantly impacted by Katrina.

Cotton prices will be tied to the quality of the remaining plants, rather then the quantity, Francl said. If the bolls were opened and stained by the rain, the cost of processing will increase with the value to the producer and adjust downward proportionately. However, the overall impact on the U.S. price will be minimal given the 21 million bale-plus domestic cotton crop, as well as large global stocks.

Despite the minor effect on crop prices nationwide, Katrina's impact is already reverberating nationwide throughout the agriculture industry, primarily in the form of a severely crippled river shipping and Gulf port system and spiking fuel costs, Francl said.

Just over 60% of corn and soybean exports originate from the New Orleans area. With barges loaded with farm goods stranded on the Mississippi River and no access for ocean-going vessels, grain elevators have reduced the prices they are paying growers.

Francl cautioned that US grain and oilseed producers may see the cash prices bid for exported crops decline another 5- to 10-cents per bushel while the Gulf ports are effectively shutdown for repair and restoration.

"Furthermore, there is mounting concern that the shutdown will compel international buyers to look to other sources, such as China for corn, or South America for soybeans," he said. This could translate to a $500 million export loss for US producers.

Rising energy prices are also likely to further undercut growers' bottom lines. Crude oil derived from the Gulf accounts for 30% of domestic production, while the natural gas produced in the region accounts for 21%. About 95% of oil output was disrupted during the hurricane and in its aftermath.

The ensuing 30- to 40-cent per gallon jump in gasoline and diesel prices presents another significant challenge to farmers nationwide preparing for harvest and could come with a $500 million price tag, Francl predicted.

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