http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

Northern, southern and eastern parts of South Texas reported mostly adequate soil moisture and areas with short soil moisture while western areas reported very short to short conditions. Atascosa County conditions have improved slightly but have a long way to go. Heavy rains delivered up to 10 inches in some areas, and most areas across the district received more than 1 inch of rainfall. Crop and irrigation wells received some relief, but rains came too late to impact most row crop outcomes. Corn harvest was complete. Cotton and peanut fields continued to develop. Some cotton and sesame fields were harvested. Continued rainfall could impact cotton quality. Fall crop preparation for wheat, oats and triticale is underway. Pastures and rangelands were greening up, but cattle still relied on supplemental feed and were being culled. Tank water levels were full or improved with runoff. Producers prepared cool-season forage fields or were expected to when conditions dry enough for equipment. Irrigation in sugarcane and citrus ended. Water and browse availability for wildlife improved dramatically. Creeks and rivers were full and running. Falcon Lake water levels were rising from rainfall in the watershed. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 23, 2022 Most areas reported short soil moisture levels, while others reported very short to adequate conditions. All areas reported high temperatures, including daytime highs above 100 degrees. Winds and heat were hurting irrigation applications. Vegetable crop production declined significantly, and row crop conditions were declining as well. Sorghum was showing signs of moisture stress. Cotton was blooming, but many dryland fields were not progressing well. Watermelons and cantaloupes irrigated by canal water were doing well. Sunflower harvest was almost halfway complete, with 1,200-1,800 pounds-per-acre yields reported. Irrigated Bermuda grass was producing good bales. Forage quality in pastures and rangelands were declining. Hay production was below normal. Pastures and hay grazer were being sprayed with herbicides and liquid fertilizer, but pasture and rangeland conditions continued to decline. Producers were providing supplemental feed to livestock and trying to secure hay. Cattle were being marketed in above-average volumes as producers continued to cull deeper. Cattle body condition scores were declining. Deer were beginning to fawn, but water and food sources were scarce. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), June 28, 2022 The weather in South Texas was hot and dry. Northern and western parts of the district reported very short soil moisture levels. Eastern and southern areas reported short soil moisture levels. Multiple counties reported 110-degree days. Some row crops that received recent rains improved while others continued to decline due to drought. Cotton looked stressed and was in full bloom and setting small bolls. Water districts were planning to cut off all irrigation from the Rio Grande River and Lake Amistad. Growers with irrigated crops like watermelons, cantaloupes and Coastal Bermuda grass were concerned over possible water rationing. Rangeland and pasture conditions continued to decline, but conditions were poor to good overall. Native grasses bounced back well in some areas following recent rains, but some areas looked bare. Cattle producers continued to provide supplemental feed. Ranchers were culling deeper, and some were liquidating herds. Hay grazer emerged but will need rain soon. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), June 14, 2022 The northern, western and eastern areas of South Texas remained very short on moisture, while soil moisture levels in southern areas were very short to short. Most areas remained dry. Temperatures were above normal with daytime highs around 100 degrees. Cattle producers were destocking due to drought and high input costs. Extreme heat was slowing down vegetable production. A high percentage of row crops were total losses in drier areas. Wildlife, including deer, turkey and feral pigs were browsing along roadsides and entering suburban-urban areas to feed on landscapes. Water sources for wildlife were becoming scarce. Water sources for livestock were declining in some areas and full in others. Producers continued to provide supplemental feed for livestock as rangeland and pasture conditions continued to decline. Sale barns reported above average cattle volumes and steady prices. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 24, 2022