Napa cabbage- Damaged from 22-degree temperatures at Val Verde Vegetable Co., McAllen, Texas. Max Schuster, Val Verde Vegetable Co.
Green kale covered in ice. "No insurance is available on any of these crops. No way to recoup our losses." Max Schuster, Val Verde Vegetable Co., McAllen, Texas
Swiss chard damaged by the freezing temperatures. As of today, Feb. 22, Max Schuster continues to assess the damage caused to his vegetable crop.
"Severely damaged backyard papaya plants due to historic cold snap in Texas Rio Grande Valley." Olufemi J.Alabi, associate professor and Extension specialist, Department of Plant Pathology & Microbiology, Texas A&M University AgriLife Research & Extension Center, Texas AgriLife Extension, Weslaco.
Severely damaged backyard papaya plants due to historic cold snap in Texas RGV. pic.twitter.com/24hJPguKqS
— Olufemi J. Alabi (@nov1873) February 17, 2021
"Storm-ravaged ornamental banana nursery trees." Olufemi J. Alabi, Texas AgriLife Extension
"A cold-ravaged avocado orchard." Olufemi J. Alabi, Texas AgriLife Extension
"Peach trees covered in ice at an orchard near Stonewall. Texas agriculture producers are dealing with harsh conditions after an arctic front delivered snow, frigid temperatures and icy conditions." "Arctic conditions deliver frigid blow to Texas Ag," by Adam Russell, Texas AgriLife Extension
Ice-covered peach trees near Stoneville, Texas.
Ice-covered peach tree limbs. Temperatures were well below the threshold for crops and for long periods of time, said Juan Anciso, AgriLife Extension horticulturist, Weslaco. "That’s not a good combination for growers.”
Springklake, Texas, producer Alton Synatschk relocates this cold calf during the storm. He, his wife Adrienne, family and employees spent many long days caring for the livestock in the subzero temperatures.
"This poor guy was hanging out by himself outside of the fence. We loaded him up and took him back to the herd and got him to lay on the hay with the other calves for warmth. No worries, his momma found him!" Adrienne Synatschk, Synatschk Farms
Adrienne documented their week on her Facebook page, Synatschk Farms.
"Sweet guy found him a spot out of the wind." Adrienne Synatschk, Synatschk Farms
John Synatschk's barn bathroom is converted into the calf warming station.
A pickup ride for Samantha: Rescued, warmed up for the night and then returned to her mamma in the field. Below, Pat, short for Patricia, gets a pickup ride to the warming station before being reunited with her mom.
"We watched her for an hour before picking her up. She had yet to get up and and eat. Odds were not in her favor. We do prefer to leave calves with their mommas, but we also prefer them to live." Adrienne Synatschk, Synatschk Farms
Frozen tank water. "Battling through the winter storm," by Kay Ledbetter, Texas AgriLife Extension
Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, rancher and Texas AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist, tweets her experiences during the storm.
We’re still doing the best we can. It was a busy morning trying to help this little heifer. We got her warmed up and back with her mama, so at least she has a fighting chance. #reallife #ranchlife #cavingseason #doingthebestwecan pic.twitter.com/JqO6K3YIv1
— TiffanyDowellLashmet (@TiffDowell) February 18, 2021
"Kate de Gennaro with Texas Sea Grant rescuing a cold-stunned green at Boca Chica Beach. More than 5,000 sea turtles are rescued from freezing temperatures." Tony Reisinger, Cameron County Extension agent-Coastal and Marine Resources, Texas Sea Grant College Program, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
"Cold-stunning occurs when sea surface water temperatures drop below 12°C, causing torpor in sea turtles that can render them unable to continue on their natural southward migrations to warmer waters," according to the SWOT, State of the World Sea Turtles, website. https://bit.ly/2Nt43aV
"Rescued green sea turtles loaded at Isla Blanca Park for transport to warming center." Tony Reisinger, Texas AgriLife Extension
Thank you to all the volunteers who have saved 2500+ cold stunned #seaturtles in the lower Laguna Madre. (And thanks @t_reisinger for the pics) #TexasWinterStorm2021 pic.twitter.com/WRBBqaX0vZ
— Texas Sea Grant (@TXSeaGrant) February 17, 2021
"Volunteer carrying rescued turtle." Tony Reisinger, Texas AgriLife Extension
Uriel and Gricelda Ramirez, Olton, Texas, convert their pig show barn into a makeshift maternity ward for their goats. They installed a camera inside and one near the outside pen to monitor the expectant goats during the frigid temperatures.
The face of warmth and contentment.
Waking to another subzero day on the Texas South Plains.
By Friday, Feb. 19, the sun was finally shining and temperatures on the Texas South Plains rose above freezing.
Sunshine is good for the soul. So are warm temperatures!
The extent of damage throughout Texas and the Southwest will not be known for several weeks. But what we do know is that Southwest farmers and ranchers and their employees endured harsh conditions, were creative and innovative, and exhausted every avenue to care for their livestock, families and operations. The days and weeks ahead will be spent assessing and reporting the damage and developing a plan to move forward.
Dee Ann Littlefield, Henrietta, Texas, said it well in her Feb. 22 post:
"Just all back to “normal” now. Kids go back to school tomorrow. I go back to work. Chris goes back to riding and ranching under normal conditions. But one thing is for sure: we will never forget the time Siberia Came to Texas. What a week of challenges, lessons and blessings. So many people have blessed us in the kindest and most thoughtful ways. We are so appreciative. Thank you all."
The extent of damage throughout Texas and the Southwest will not be known for several weeks. But what we do know is that Southwest farmers and ranchers and their employees endured harsh conditions, were creative and innovative, and exhausted every avenue to care for their livestock, families and operations. The days and weeks ahead will be spent assessing and reporting the damage and developing a plan to move forward.
Dee Ann Littlefield, Henrietta, Texas, said it well in her Feb. 22 post:
"Just all back to “normal” now. Kids go back to school tomorrow. I go back to work. Chris goes back to riding and ranching under normal conditions. But one thing is for sure: we will never forget the time Siberia Came to Texas. What a week of challenges, lessons and blessings. So many people have blessed us in the kindest and most thoughtful ways. We are so appreciative. Thank you all."
Historic, below-freezing temperatures swept across Texas and much of the Southwest last week. Temperatures less than 28 degrees for extended periods of time, damaged, and in some cases, destroyed winter crops such as citrus and vegetables grown in the Texas Rio Grande Valley.
The harsh conditions challenged farmers and ranchers across the region. Farm Press gathered the following social media posts, photos and information about the impact of the storm throughout the region.
Dangerous situation-- millions without power in Texas and one of its coldest nights on record ahead. Forecast lows early Tuesday from @NWS (via @PivotalWeather) mostly in the single digits or lower: pic.twitter.com/W2LYdf9ybZ
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) February 15, 2021
BREAKING: The National Weather Service says OKC tied the record for the lowest wind chill at -29 degrees!
— Emily Sutton (@emilyrsutton) February 15, 2021
8:30AM MON @kfor #okwx pic.twitter.com/yfhuYWCoRK
Livestock producers spent the week outside enduring single-digit temperatures reduced to below zero due to the wind chill, breaking ice and rescuing calves or other newborn livestock from the frigid temperatures. Conditions were further challenged by power outages and frozen pipes.
See, Winter storm leaves empty Texas grocery shelves – again
In her Facebook posts entitled, "Siberia Comes to Texas," Dee Ann Littlefield, Henrietta, Texas, documented their experience caring for their cattle and horses.
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Citrus producer and President of Texas Citrus Mutual, Dale Murden, Harlingen, Texas, posted the following pictures of frozen citrus on his farm. He calls the winter storm the "St. Valentine's Day Massacre of 2021." He and others will spend the next several weeks assessing the damage.
See, Recent storm freezes Texas citrus
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