http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

Temperatures in the Panhandle reached above 100 degrees each day with little to no moisture. Most corn and cotton producers ceased irrigation due to crop maturity levels. Wheat pre-plant preparation continued. Irrigated wheat planting was expected to start soon for fall stocker pasture. Sorghum continued to develop. Producers were harvesting earlier planted corn and sorghum fields for forage. Some dryland fields were suffering due to heat and dry conditions. Rangelands continued to dry down, and grass was no longer growing. Grasshopper numbers were heavy. Overall soil moisture was reported from short to very short. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to very poor, and overall crops reported good to poor. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 27, 2024 Extreme heat and some scattered showers were reported in the Panhandle with a late-week cool front bringing some relief, except for southern counties. Soil moisture varied from very short to adequate while range conditions were very poor to fair. The hot, dry conditions caused pasture grasses to brown and increased the wildfire hazard. Cotton crops were beginning to show signs of stress while irrigated crops were in good condition. Crop conditions were poor to good. Producers started supplementing livestock with hay and protein, but body conditions were good. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 13, 2024 The Texas Panhandle experienced hot and dry conditions, which dried out soil. Rain was needed to improve dryland crop harvests and rangelands. Irrigation continued for corn, sorghum and cotton crops, and spraying was ongoing for preplant tillage. Producers in some areas were reporting a progression in disease in grain and sorghum crops. Grasshoppers also were a problem in all crops. Producers supplemented livestock with protein to better utilize the dry forage. Overall soil moisture was reported to be very short to adequate with pasture and range conditions reported as very poor to fair. Overall crops ranged from poor to good. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), July 30, 2024 The Panhandle continued to be hot and dry, with most fields needing moisture to support crop growth and development. Early planted corn and cotton reached the flowering stage and were beginning to set fruit. Heat units were accumulating at a sufficient pace for warm-season crops, and crop irrigation continued. The extremely dry conditions and heat were decreasing potential yields in irrigated crops. Overall, soil moisture was very short to adequate, with very poor to fair pasture and range conditions. Crops were in fair to good condition. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), July 16, 2024 The Panhandle received scattered showers, but hot and dry conditions quickly dried up any moisture. The wheat harvest continued in some areas, and cotton and feed grains looked good but needed more rain to keep up with growth and development. Overall crop conditions varied from good to fair and soil moisture ranged from very short to adequate. Pasture and range conditions were very poor to fair. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), July 2, 2024