•   Arctic Freeze Damage in Texas.  An Arctic freeze swept through the state into the southernmost Rio Grande Valley, starting Sunday, February 14, 2021, lasted days. 

    Texas’s electric power grid’s massive failure resulted in no power for 32 hours, beginning February 18. The electric grid managed by ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) was not reliable – resulted in an estimated market cost of about $47 billion. The fiasco resulted in $16 billion in electric overcharges alone by ERCOT for wholesale electricity providers. Freezing weather knocked down about half the Texas power generation. 

 •   Damage to the Citrus and Other Agriculture Sector in the Rio Grande Valley. According to the San Antonio Express-News article, ‘All Shades of Dead Brown’ on February 26, 2021, an estimated over $300 in citrus fruit damage alone. US Citrus estimated damage is between $8 to $10 million.  

A detailed report of the San Antonio Express-News is available here.

 The last freeze that affected the Texas citrus industry was in 1989. I had witnessed it. 

A freeze can be a very damaging and unavoidable act of God. 

 Fortunately, several cultural practices are available to citrus growers minimize freeze impact – examples are microjet irrigation, mulching, lower bud union, close density planting, windbreaks, and cold tolerant citrus types. Tree and crop insurance are also available.  But none of the above are 100% match for all economic loss; however, they will help you resurrect after death and destruction. Power failure would stop electric power-assisted irrigation. The ability to rebuild plant loss and back into fruit production is another mitigation of damages. 

Though there was tree death, there is resurrection and hope!

 Like the medical workers risking their lives working through the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers are risking their livelihood in a freeze, bringing fruit and vegetable to the dinner tables. 

In our family, the children work through the COVID pandemic’s trenches, and the dad is a citrus grower. And Mom maintained her single Persian lime tree with fruit and flowers intact in her kitchen! We ALL have a risky business, but it is rewarding and honoring God!

US Citrus CRAFT Citrus Club will ship SUBSCRIPTION boxes from US Citrus – high quality but a limited quantity in the 2021-22 season.