Farmers are facing fast rising prices for agricultural plastics as manufacturers try to recover from Februaryâs severe freeze in Texas.
Several distributors of bale wrap, silage covers and other plastics used by farmers have reported delays in ordering products, increased demand and rising prices.
Some of the snarl appears to be self-inflicted, with fears of a shortage prompting people to buy more and earlier than normal. But the root cause lies with Mother Nature.
Many chemical plants around Houston shut down in mid-February when the area was slammed by single-digit temperatures, ice and snow that resulted in massive power outages. The area produces most of the nationâs resin used in plastic manufacturing.