http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

Some rain fell in Far West Texas, but more was needed to end drought. What little wheat survived should show increased test weights from the rain, but yields should not increase. Beef cattle were still in overall good condition, but producers continued to reduce herd numbers due to exceptional drought conditions. Producers continued to feed livestock and wildlife. Planted acreage was likely to be cut in half or more in the Rio Grande Valley due to the lack of project water. All cotton fields were pre-irrigated, and many pecan orchards were receiving their second irrigation, either from private wells or effluent water or district wells from the El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 2. Most wells produce poor quality water that can negatively impact soils in the long term. Established alfalfa fields were also being irrigated. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 4, 2021 Extreme drought conditions continued across Far West Texas with livestock producers drastically reducing herd sizes due to rangeland conditions. Pecan producers were beginning to water their trees. Warmer and much windier conditions returned for the second half of the reporting period and continued to dry out soils. Producers tried to pre-water fields for cotton, but irrigated acres were being reduced to put more water on fewer acres. Some growers were considering turning wells off instead of fighting the drought. Working the soil was very difficult as the ground was basically powder, and high winds continued to create dust storms. Dryland sorghum had still not emerged. Pastures had no grass, very few weeds and many operations did not have any livestock. Ranchers were considering not putting any cattle onto their pastures this year in hopes of some grass growth. A fire in southern Brewster County burned more than 1,350 acres and was over 80% contained. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), April 27, 2021 Wildfires continued to be a concern in Far West Texas. Pastures continued to decline due to severe drought. The cattle were still in overall good condition due to supplemental feed and ranchers avoiding overstocking. However, many producers were starting to ship calves early. Water was an issue in the Rio Grande Valley. Crops were suffering as temperatures continued to rise and less water was coming down the main irrigation canal. Low-quality well water and effluent water were the moisture sources in a majority of the Valley. Some farms without wells had not received any rainfall or irrigation water this year. Those who received water pre-irrigated row crop fields and pecan orchards. Rio Grande Project Water was expected to be released in late-May, which will put water in the El Paso area around the first of June. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), April 20, 2021 Drought persisted in Far West with small fires being reported and sand continuing to blow. Rangeland conditions were poor. Livestock continued to receive supplemental feed. Pre-irrigation continued for cotton in the Rio Grande Valley, and cultivation prior to planting was in process on many farms that received water early. Pecan orchards were slowly being watered as well. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), April 13, 2021 Rangeland forage in the Far West remained very limited, so livestock and wildlife were receiving supplemental feed. Pre-irrigation continued for row crops. No rainfall was reported, and high winds continued. Dry grasslands were a wildfire danger. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), April 6, 2021