The February winter storm affected just about every sector of agriculture, including the broiler chicken industry.
Preliminary data shows that slaughter volume dropped 44 percent in late February when the weather was the worst. Egg sets and chick placement data show that fewer birds will likely be available for slaughter into April.
That made USDA lower its forecast of first-half production by half a point.
Initial estimates show that the winter storm caused more than $600 million dollars in ag damages to Texas alone, but the total is still being tallied.
Related:
One Texas ag sector may have avoided the devastation of February’s winter storm
The aftermath of last week’s winter storm left many producers heartbroken
Closer look at last week’s devastating winter storm