Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 5, 1988)
Friday, August 5, 1988/The Battalion/Page 3 15 State and Local >1! Texas faced with changes caused by drought By Gina Rumore and Susan Erb Reporters The Drought of 1988, the worst to ue the country this century, has spread HgJl Irom the cornfields of Indiana to the hay rops of the coastal bend counties of Texas, levastating feed crops, rendering range- and susceptible to fire and forcing ranch- rs, farmers and the government to take mergency action. Fortunately for Texans, most of the .one Star State has fared a little better than ifeI he Corn Belt states, but some areas of Texas are suffering. The Panhandle, South Plains, Rolling Plains and west central areas of Texas have jeen blessed with timely rains, a Texas A&M Department of Communications crop report said. However, the eastern and southern parts of the state have been less fortunate, i* n f The coastal bend counties, Lower Rio j-j Grande Valley, the region southwest of San " Antonio and the eastern third of Texas are drier than normal. Dr. B. J. Ragsdale, range specialist with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, aid that in terms of loss of lives and loss of acreage due to fire, 1988 has been one of Texas’ worst years. “There have been some sizable fires, and lots of small ones,” Ragsdale said. “In January you could drive along the highway and see small areas where there had been fires. Most were probably started by catalytic converters on cars. “And I don’t think we ever can discount the misuse of fire as a cause. Fire is an ex cellent tool, but you have to be as careful with it as with any other tool.” )trti euni: ire Ragsdale said the fires occurred in areas that had a dry enough fall and winter to make conditions right for fire but that re ceived enough rain last year to grow vegeta tion. “It has been dry enough in South Texas over a long enough period of time that we haven’t had to worry about fire,” he said. “There’s nothing to burn.” Ragsdale said a wildfire in Breckenridge in February claimed two lives. Another 230,000 acres of rangeland were lost in Shackelford County in April in one of the largest range fires in Texas his tory. “The Shackelford fire destroyed many miles of fence and oilfield structures and many head of cattle,” Ragsdale said. Economists expect Texas dairy produc ers and cotton farmers to come through the summer almost unharmed, but their pre dictions for cattlemen are a bit more grim. Dr. Robert Schwart, economist for the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, said the forecast for Texas dairy producers is encouraging. Milk production in Texas is up 12 per cent from last year, and economists expect an overall production increase in 1988 de spite the drought. “If we keep up with the current trend,” Schwart said, “Texas dairy farmers will pro duce 4.7 billion pounds of milk in 1988. “Revising projections down because of the drought, 1988 production is expected to be 4.4 billion to 4.5 billion pounds, still an increase over last year’s 4.3 billion pounds. “There’s been one silver lining in this for Texas dairymen: the drought in the North east.” Areas that normally import milk from Wisconsin, where milk production has been down in 1988, have been importing from Texas, where dairy yields are near normal. “It’s been a rough summer for a lot of dairymen as far as cash flow in Texas,” Schwart said. “We are not out of the woods yet by any means, but it’s not as bad as it first ap peared. It’s much worse in other parts of the country.” Dr. Carl Anderson, an extension service economist, said the drought is affecting the cotton market, but that the impact is minor and limited to certain sections of the state, the worst damage being on the coastal bend and in the South Texas region. “The cotton industry has been safe from drought,” Anderson said, “because Lub bock, which produces 50 percent of Texas’ cotton, has been fortunate to have enough rainfall. “The drought will affect livestock the greatest. The grain has been hit the hardest and that is what’s needed for cattle.” Feed grain shortages have forced ranch ers to resort to burning prickly pear cactus for emergency feed — an expensive, labor- intensive survival technique. And ranchers in South and Southwest Texas have thinned their herds, either by sending cattle to slaughter early or to alter nate grazing sites. The 1987 calf crop of 40 million head was the lowest since 1959, and the 1988 calf crop, extension service sources said, is ex pected to be one million head less. Total beef production for 1988 is ex pected to be 3 percent less than in 1987. In response to the cattlemen’s plight, the U.S. Department of Agriculture opened Conservation Reserve Program land for emergency grazing in June and will spend an extra $50 million on ground beef in hope of easing the financial stress suffered by ranchers who have been forced to sell cattle early. Crop farmers hope other government aid, in the form of the proposed Drought Relief Act of 1988, will lighten the financial blow of a brown summer, keeping farm losses to a minimum. The act, if passed, will aid farmers who have suffered total or near-total crop losses. The financial relief package could total as much as $6 billion, bringing farmer in comes up to 50 percent of those expected. Proposed payments, which would make up portions of projected differences be tween the actual market prices and target prices set by law, would be made on three levels: to farmers with crop losses up to 35 percent, those with losses between 35 and 75 percent, and those whose losses were 75 percent or more of their crops. As crops progressively disappear from farmland, overall consumer prices will be changing. While crops have suffered substantially from the drought, it is difficult to predict the extent of the impact on retail food prices. However, experts are predicting in creases in consumer costs of meat, poultry and produce. Dr. Richard A. Edwards, an economist for the extension service, said the most sig nificant increases in consumer prices will be in fruits and vegetables, but consumers also will feel the pinch at the meat and poultry counters. “We usually have an abundant supply of fruits and vegetables at harvest time,” Ed wards said. “This year we just don’t have that in creased supply, so prices are going to rise.” Corn and soybeans, used primarily in cattle and chicken feed, have suffered the worst crop losses, Edwards said, resulting in higher prices. Earlier in the summer, economists pre dicted reduced consumer meat prices in re sponse to a surge in livestock selling. Edwards said those predictions were pre mature. “Not all of the cattle sold have gone di rectly to slaughter,” he said. “Some have gone to feed lots, where they are being fed expensive grain.” Expensive grain leads to expensive cattle, expensive cattle to increased consumer beef prices. And the feed grain shortage is not lim ited to cattle. Chickens have to eat too. “Poultry have been fed with feed dramat ically higher in price than normal,” Ed wards said. “Consumers are pressed to find a whole bird for 79 cents a pound. Last spring they could buy one for 49 cents a pound.” The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago agricultural newsletter reported consumers may not see changing prices until the late summer, when farmers and ranchers con tinue to sell off their stock. According to the newsletter, the current large supply of poultry and eggs will allow for low prices throughout the summer. However, this period may be fairly short lived. The shortage of feed for poultry farmers translates into reduced chicken flocks, eggs and slaughters. Dukakis of being out of touch CORPUS CHRISTI (AP) — Vice ^resident George Bush returned to tis adopted home state Thursday md accused Massachusetts Gov. Mi- :hael Dukakis of being out of touch dth the values of Texans and His panic Americans. “My heartbeat is the Texas heart- )eat, and his is the liberal Democrat ;rom Massachusetts, who is not Texas,” Bush said. “That is what is going to decide his election,” Bush told reporters before addressing the American GI Forum, a predominantly Hispanic veterans’ and civil rights organiza tion. “When you have a man that stands for getting rid of guns, that is not the Texas viewpoint,” Bush said of Dukakis, the Democratic presi dential nominee. “Texans don’t favor federal gun control, for example. Texans think it’s OK to say the Pledge of Alle giance in the public schools of the United States.” He was greeted at the airport by Oscar Moran, immediate past na tional president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, and Republican Gov. Bill Clements, who said he was proud “to welcome the hometown boy home.” Bush, who maintains a residence in Maine, has called Texas his home state since 1948 and lists a Houston hotel as his voting address. Bush, expected to be named the GOP presidential nominee at the party’s convention later this month in New Orleans, said in winning the Hispanic vote, it does not matter that he cannot speak Spanish the way Dukakis can. “It isn’t whether you speak Span ish,” Bush said. “It’s what’s in your blood, what values you share.” GI Forum leaders this week have criticized Dukakis for not attending their 40th annual national conven tion and said it may cost the the Mas sachusetts governor votes among Hispanics. Bush told reporters he does not think U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen Jr. of Texas will help Dukakis in the state because, “Texans are going to vote at the top of the ticket.” On energy policy, Bush said he fa vors deregulating natural gas, lower ing taxes on producers and devel opment of nuclear energy. Correction A story in Thursday’s Battalion incorrectly indentified the call number of KANM as 90.9. The station’s correct call number is 99.9. The campus cable station plans to broadcast over the FM air waves by next summer thanks to grant from the Department of Student Activities. Call number 90.9 belongs to campus radio station KAMU. The Battalion regrets the er ror. We have received a new shipment of loose diamonds. We have over 146 stones V2 carat to 12 carats all shapes, sizes and prices. Ask about our Lay-A-Way now for Christmas. We have a large stock of semi mounts and bridal sets with round and baguette di amonds. eai» 12.26 2.04 2.01 1.78 1.61 1.51 1.43 1.24 w/GIA 1.18 1.17 1.11 1.11 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.05 w/GIA 1.04 1.03 1.03 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.01 .95 .93 .92 .92 .91 .90 .89 .89 .88 .85 .84 .83 .81 .80 .77 .77 .75 report report ir Price Compare at Our Price Compare at Come by to see .75 $1,375 $2,200 $6,950 $14,000 .75 1,395 2,600 5,250 11,000 .74 1,480 2,800 4,965 10,000 .73 1,495 2,800 5,325 11,500 .73 1,125 2,200 3,875 7,000 .72 1,395 2,600 5,550 12,000 .71 1,395 2,700 2,500 5,000 .71 1,395 2,700 2,325 4,600 .71 1,050 2,100 2,750 5,000 .70 1,395 2,700 2,350 4,600 .70 795 1,400 3,950 8,000 .68 995 1,800 2,195 4,000 .64 895 1,800 2,750 5,000 .63 795 1,500 3,850 7,000 .62 795 1,500 2,950 2,950 .60 795 1,500 2,150 4,000 .58 850 1,600 2,195 4,000 .57 795 1,500 3,595 7,000 .56 695 1,400 1,495 3,000 .55 695 1,400 1,895 4,000 .55 795 1,500 3,495 7,000 .55 895 1,700 2,185 4,200 .53 595 1,000 2,395 4,600 .53 695 1,400 1,595 3,000 .53 795 1,500 1,850 4,000 .52 875 1,600 1,650 3,200 .52 795 1,500 3,195 6,000 .51 795 1,500 1,750 3,100 .50 695 1,300 1,350 2,600 .50 695 1,300 895 1,700 .50 795 1,500 1,340 2,600 .48 695 1,400 1,685 3,000 .47 695 1,400 2,150 4,000 .47 695 1,400 1,595 3,000 .46 650 1,200 1,025 4,000 .45 595 1,100 985 2,000 .44 595 1,100 1,075 1,800 .44 495 1,000 950 2,000 .43 575 1,200 1,135 1,900 .39 275 500 .37 .36 .34 .33 .30 .24 .21 .22 .21 .19 .18 .16 .15 .14 .12 .10 .09 .08 .07 .06 .05 .04 .03 .02 1.75 1.43 1.24 1.21 1.13 1.04 1.01 .93 .82 .64 .65 .62 .59 .60 .58 Our Price Compare at $375 $600 335 600 335 600 275 500 335 600 210 400 165 300 185 400 215 400 165 300 155 300 118 200 111 200 95 180 78 140 63 120 55 110 48 90 45 90 41 80 35 70 30 60 14.95 30 10.95 30 PEAR SHAPE PEAR SHAPE Our Price 5,425 3,780 4,285 2,375 2.295 2,495 2,675 2,095 1,590 1.295 895 1,395 795 1,150 995 Compare at $11,000 7,000 8,000 4.600 4.500 4,800 5.200 4,000 3,000 2,400 1.600 2,700 1.500 2.200 1,900 Our Price Compare at .47 .52 $665 $1,200 .41 .45 325 600 .35 .10 95 200 .25 .23 PRINCESS/RADIANT .18 Our Price Compare at .11 1.11 $2,740 $5,000 1.02 2,525 5,000 1.02 1,650 3,200 .99 2,570 5,000 2.12 .81 2,385 4,500 1.61 .64 1,295 2,400 1.23 .62 1,475 2,800 1.23 .52 1,250 2,400 1.18 .47 795 1,500 .95 .33 395 800 .70 .28 385 800 .65 .25 325 600 .63 .62 MARQUISE .58 Our Price Compare at .58 2.04 $11,875 $23,000 .57 1.56 4,775 6,500 .53 1.10 3,275 5,300 .51 1.05 2,675 4,900 .50 1.02 2,275 3,900 .41 1.01 1,275 2,200 .28 .89 1,750 3,300 .10 .89 1,795 3,590 .82 1,575 2,900 .79 1,895 3,600 .74 795 1,500 .90 .72 1,650 3,300 .75 .70 1,795 3,300 .58 .70 1,250 2,400 .51 .61 975 1,800 .55 850 1,700 .55 895 1,800 .51 950 1,900 2.16 .50 895 1,800 1.37 .50 825 1,600 .73 .49 795 1,500 .41 .38 MARQUISE Our Price Compare at $795 $1,300 650 1,300 495 900 250 500 275 500 195 400 110 200 OVAL Our Price Compare at $8,075 $16,000 5,875 11,000 2,250 5,000 2,250 5,000 2,250 4,500 1,850 4,000 1,395 2,780 1,195 2,390 895 1,600 1,275 2,400 1,195 2,000 995 1,800 1,225 1,400 1,225 1,400 1,095 2,200 1,050 2,000 795 1,400 312 600 105 200 HEART SHAPE Our Price Compare at $1,890 $3,600 1,590 3,000 1,375 2,600 1,395 2,600 EMERALD Our Price Compare $6,795 $13,000 4,850 8,900 1,850 3,200 595 1,100 495 900 Ask About Our 30-day Money Back Guarantee Jewelry Repair Done in the Store TEXAS COIN EXCHANGE 404 University Dr. East College Station 846-8905