Texas food supply chain in critical condition

News

Texas food supply chain in critical condition

Power outages in Texas have left the food supply chain in critical condition in the state.

And Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said with no reserve power in the form of natural gas, processing for all agricultural products is at a standstill. Miller issued a red alert Tuesday stressing the risk of food shortages.

“Unfortunately, my prediction came true,” he said. “There’s no food in the grocery stores right now.”

He tells Brownfield with the processing closures; no products are leaving the state.

“Consumers, probably all over the United States, are going to feel an increase in food prices,” Miller said. “Texas is the largest exporter of agriculture goods in the United States.”

Miller points to the lack of foresight from the governor and Public Utility Commission of Texas for not acquiring backup power ahead of the severe winter weather. He said the plant closures resemble processing struggles last spring due to COVID-19 but says this time it’s worse because feed mills are also down.

“They have no electricity or natural gas [and] can’t run,” Miller said. “So, our dairies are running out of feed, our poultry houses are running out of feed, our feedlots are running out of feed, our equine facilities are running out of feed.”

Miller said millions of dollars’ worth of agriculture products are being lost every day and energy won’t be supplied until Tuesday at the earliest.

Sid Miller Interview

.