Heavy rains and flooding have caused widespread damage across Texas, hitting farms and ranches hard. Rivers overflowed, sweeping away equipment, livestock, and crops, leaving many in the agricultural community struggling to recover.
In Bend, Texas, located about two hours north of Austin, Boyd Clark found himself wading through floodwaters to rescue one of his ostrich hens. Meanwhile, Matthew Ketterman was trapped for hours on top of his truck in strong currents while checking fences on his exotic game ranch near Burnet, an hour south of Bend. Further east, in Georgetown, the rising San Gabriel River damaged Christmas tree farms and forced staff at Sweet Eats Adventure Farm to urgently relocate their petting zoo animals.
By Friday, at least 120 people had died and over 160 were still missing. As human losses are being counted, farmers are now assessing what the floods have done to their land and livestock. Many face the tough job of caring for surviving animals, salvaging crops, and cleaning the wreckage left behind.
The damage is severe. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller described tractors submerged and ruined, irrigation systems twisted beyond repair, and cattle found drowned amid debris. Equipment losses alone amount to significant financial blows. Miller also highlighted resources available to help farmers through this crisis, including disaster funds, feed donations, and a mental health helpline.
Specialty farms faced even greater struggles. Ostrich farmers like Clark said their birds struggle in heavy rain, with eggs lost and production halted. Small farms that rely on visitors or don’t have crop insurance find it especially hard to bounce back. Fruit and vegetable crops left underwater can’t be sold and may cause future pest and disease problems.
Sweet Eats, which is an agritourism operation growing mainly Christmas trees, was lucky that the flood came months before the busy holiday season. Still, the damage to their trees and property means there’s plenty of work ahead to get back on track. Owner Jon Meredith said they are already planning to reduce future risks since floods like this aren’t a matter of if, but when.
This flood is part of a larger trend of extreme weather hitting farms across the country. From wildfires in California to droughts affecting pumpkin fields in the West and unpredictable winters disrupting maple syrup producers, farmers everywhere are adjusting to new challenges brought by climate change. Extension educators encourage farmers to prepare for emergencies and consider how changing weather affects their operations year-round.
Despite the losses, those affected by the Texas flooding are leaning on each other’s support. Meredith described a strong sense of community as neighbors reached out to ensure animals were safe and resources were shared. Ketterman, though facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, focused on recovery and rebuilding stronger fences in the coming weeks.
The cleanup ahead will be slow and hard. But for these farmers and ranchers, resilience runs deep. They know living close to nature’s power means accepting the risks and coming back ready to face the next storm.