Hurricane Dolly probably doomed South Texas's cotton and sorghum crops already damaged by heavy rains earlier in the summer.
Analysts say the loss could be devastating for local producers but that it will have only a short-term effect on the markets.
About 92,000 acres of cotton in the region was awaiting harvest until driving rains and high winds stained the cotton and drove the bolls to the ground, where harvest becomes useless. Even if the bolls had remained on the plants, the resulting cotton cloth's quality would have been severely diminished.
No firm figures will be available on the damage until after Dolly passes and cotton producers are able to get back in their fields.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)