http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

Extremely dry conditions continued across the South Plains. Most dryland cotton was not expected to make a crop this year due to the lack of rainfall and extreme heat. Pumpkin harvest started a couple of weeks ago. Producers have been busy harvesting corn and sorghum silage over the past few weeks. Estimates for irrigated cotton harvest ranged from 1 bale to 2 1/2 bales per acre. Pasture grazing was depleted due to the lack of rainfall, and a few producers were supplemental feeding cattle. Cattle were reported to be in good condition. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 12, 2023 Rainfall may have occurred over the week in the South Plains region but was very sporadic. Most cotton fields hit cutout, 3.5 nodes above white flower, excluding those few where irrigation was high, as they could continued irrigation during the drought. Scouting of fields for insects was still needed. Crops were attacked by multiple pests such as Lygus and bollworms in cotton, Banks grass mites, corn earworms, mites in later corn fields and aphids were the primary issue in sorghum fields. A few acres were cut for silage, with more scheduled in the coming weeks. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 29, 2023 Dry conditions continued across the district with a few spotty showers. Temperatures were above 100 for multiple days with little relief in sight. Nighttime temperatures were not below 80 degrees, which was not allowing crops to rest between 100-degree daytime temperatures. Producers who planted dryland cotton early expected to make a crop, but those who planted later had not received enough rain needed for a good crop. Irrigation systems were going strong across the district. Irrigated cotton fields were in good to excellent condition. Corn was doing well. Pumpkin growers were treating insects as the plants started to grow fruit. Cattle were in good condition. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 15, 2023 South Plains farmers were irrigating to keep their crops progressing. The rains in the early summer were a great start to the growing season and helped many farmers keep their irrigation systems off until the past two weeks. Cotton was in good condition across much of the district and receiving necessary heat units with a lot of fields starting to square. Corn was in fair to good condition with a few farmers reporting problems with worms. Sorghum was also starting to head out. All dryland crops needed rain quickly. Temperatures were hot with no relief in sight and not much of a cool down at night to allow crops to recoup for daytime temperatures. Cattle were in good condition with the improved native grass grazing from the early summer rains. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 1, 2023