HOUSTON, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Texas, the second-largest agriculture state in the United States, has lost about 3.6 billion U.S. dollars in agriculture due to prolonged drought, and without sufficient rain, the state's agriculture losses could exceed 4.1 billion dollars by the end of this year, officials said Monday.
"Extreme or exceptional drought conditions for the second year in a row and prolonged weather with over 100 degree temperatures" have devastated agricultural crops and livestock operations, especially in central and south Texas which covers about 40 percent of Texas, said Carl Anderson, an economist with the Texas AgriLife Extension.
Texas agriculture officials on Monday estimated that the state's total crop losses have reached 2.6 billion dollars, while livestock losses since last November have reached another 974 million dollars.
"The impact of this drought - the losses and associated wildfires - are devastating to Texas farmers and ranchers," Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said Monday, adding that intensive management and planning are essential during these "extremely difficult times."
The commissioner said he had made a second formal request last week to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to "take immediate action in providing federal emergency assistance for Texas producers."
Texas, the second-largest agricultural state in the United States following California, accounts for about 7 percent of the total U.S. agricultural income. Texas also leads the country in cotton and cattle production.
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