Scarce hay was expensive in Southwest Texas
2/21/2024 12:00:00 AM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Bandera County, TX
Bastrop County, TX
Bexar County, TX
Blanco County, TX
Caldwell County, TX
Comal County, TX
Edwards County, TX
Gillespie County, TX
Gonzales County, TX
Guadalupe County, TX
Hays County, TX
Kendall County, TX
Kerr County, TX
Kimble County, TX
Kinney County, TX
Medina County, TX
Real County, TX
Sutton County, TX
Travis County, TX
Uvalde County, TX
Wilson County, TX
Start Date: 2/6/2024
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Dry weather continued with no significant rainfall expected and near-normal temperatures anticipated in the upcoming week. Most pastures were still in winter dormancy, but cool-season grasses and forbs were thriving. Overgrazed pastures were filled with annual winter forbs, including bluebonnets and wild mint. Conditions were expected to remain ideal for early spring planting for the rest of February. Oats and wheat looked good to excellent, and livestock markets held high to steady. Corn planting was set to start soon, and producers continued supplemental feeding their livestock and wildlife. Landowners were preparing to seed pastures. Rivers and creeks were noticeably elevated but not enough to fill dry creeks.
AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 21, 2024
Moisture conditions persist in some parts of Southwest Texas, thanks to ongoing rainfall. The rain has maintained favorable pasture and rangeland conditions, ensuring the well-being of livestock. The fall and winter rains have been crucial in sustaining producers’ operations for the past few months. With good soil moisture, livestock feeding activities were ongoing. However, despite the green appearance of pastures, they remain short. Producers began preparing their fields for spring planting, and the outlook for wheat and oats was positive. Nighttime temperatures were cold, while daytime highs reached the mid-70s. Producers faced challenges as they diligently searched for and paid more for hay. Producers were urged to stay vigilant and make strategic decisions in light of the weather conditions to ensure the sustainability of their operations.
AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Feb 6, 2024
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