The Texas Dairy Industry’s Flood Preparedness Program
Texas floods arrive fast and recede slowly. A dairy that has thought through water, milk and animals ahead of time recovers faster, and field days are a good place to learn how.
What is flood preparedness for a dairy?
It is a plan for protecting people first, animals second and equipment third when water rises. The headline names a Texas dairy industry program for flood preparedness. Confirm the official name, scope and any support at the source it cites, because summaries change faster than programs do.
Floods can come from rivers, creeks, runoff and storms. The National Weather Service issues the watches and warnings you should follow.
What should a farm map before the water comes?
Draw the low spots, the lanes that wash out, and the places water has stood before. Mark where cows can move to higher ground and which gates must be opened. Write down where feed, chemicals and fuel are stored so they do not float into a pasture or creek.
The Ready.gov flood pages help with household planning, and your county emergency manager can tell you about local flood zones.
Practice the animal move once on a dry day. Time how long it takes to gather, load and move a group, and write the number on the plan. Discoveries like a stuck gate or a trailer with a flat tire are much cheaper to make in the sunshine.
- Low spots and lane washouts
- Higher ground for animals
- Feed and chemical storage
- Power and milking contingencies
- Contact list for hauler and vet
What happens to milk and feed?
Flooded feed and spoiled milk are the quiet costs. Ask your milk hauler how they handle road closures and what to do if milk cannot leave. Ask your veterinarian about water-damaged feed. The FDA publishes guidance on food safety after floods that helps producers think about contamination.
For herd care after stress, the dairy herd care guide is a useful reference.
What can a field day teach?
Field days put equipment, people and experts in the same pasture. A flood session might show a farm walking its own drainage, a county emergency manager explaining alerts, or an extension agent on pasture recovery. Organizers can invite Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to help set the agenda.
If you plan a session, give people something to take home, like a one-page checklist, and leave time for questions.
How does water quality factor in?
After a flood, wells and surface water can be contaminated. Ask your county health office how to test a well, and check the TCEQ and Texas Water Development Board for state water resources. Do not assume the water is safe because it looks clear.
Think about manure storage too. Overflow can create environmental and compliance problems, so ask your regulator what to document.
What about money and recovery?
After a flood, you may need records for insurance and possibly federal assistance. Take photos and keep receipts. Ask USDA Farm Service Agency what programs exist and read their current terms. Ask your lender about options if cash flow is tight.
The farm.FM crew has a farm economics section that covers money matters, a dairy section for herd life, and a story on flood recovery that offers community perspective.
Do not forget mental load. Cleanup after a flood is exhausting, and families take turns. Plan rest, meals and a point person to talk to insurers so one worn-out person does not carry it all.
What should you ask your neighbors and local officials?
Floods are local. Ask neighbors where water has crossed the road and which crossings close first. Ask your county emergency manager how alerts are sent and how to register for them. Ask your hauler and feed supplier how they reroute when roads are cut. Those answers belong on the first page of the plan.
Local knowledge also helps visitors. A field day host in the Hill Country or along a Central Texas creek can post a note about the alternate route to the site and what happens if the weather turns. Share the rural farm and community guide with attendees who want more planning ideas, and keep the NOAA climate pages bookmarked for background on weather patterns.
Remember that most flood deaths happen when people drive into water. Teach the family and every hired hand that a flooded road is closed, no matter how familiar it looks.
Sources and further reading
- National Weather Service: forecasts and warnings
- Ready.gov: FEMA disaster preparedness
- FDA: food and drug safety
- TCEQ: Texas environmental regulator
- Texas Water Development Board: water planning and funding
- USDA Farm Service Agency: FSA farm programs and loans
Ask locally: Call your county emergency management office and your AgriLife Extension agent.