http://droughtreporter.unl.edu/

v 2.4.3.0

The Panhandle received some widespread rain. Soil moisture was very short to adequate. Some areas received light rain while other areas experienced flooding and tornadoes. The moisture was beneficial for wheat growth and development and was much needed for rangeland and pastures. Corn planting continued on days and locations suitable for fieldwork. Six-inch soil temperatures continued to warm, approaching those acceptable for planting cotton. Recent rain showers were very timely for irrigated and dryland warm-season crops being planted, maturing wheat and other small-grain crops. Improved and native grass pastures showed a flush of new vegetative growth. Cattle grazing wheat were doing excellent. Supplementation of cattle on rangeland had ceased as green-up continued. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to good while crops were poor to good. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), April 29, 2025 Conditions in the Texas Panhandle remained extremely dry. Overall, soil moisture levels ranged from very short to adequate. Daily high winds had depleted all available moisture, and rain was desperately needed. Corn planting season should begin within the next couple of weeks, and prewatering was underway as field conditions remained extremely dry. Wheat was developing rapidly due to warmer soil temperatures, but moisture was needed to complete the crop and build soil moisture for cotton and corn plantings to follow. Supplemental feeding of cattle continued. Pasture and range conditions were very poor to fair, and overall, crop conditions were poor to fair. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), April 1, 2025 The Panhandle experienced a wind event with gusts approaching 80 mph late in the week. Such conditions pulled additional moisture from the soil profile and led to greater erosion. With extreme winds and very low humidity, the area experienced several wildfires. Temperatures were favorable for steady growth of small grains and other cool-season crops. A considerable number of operators shipped livestock, especially stocker calves from winter pasture to market. Overall, soil moisture ranged from very short to adequate. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to fair. Overall, crop conditions were poor to good. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 18, 2025 Conditions improved for small grains and other cool-season crops in the Texas Panhandle, with daytime temperatures reaching the mid-60s to mid-70s and overnight lows in the upper 20s and low 30s. Topsoil moisture reserves gradually declined in dryland production areas. Field preparation for warm-season crops increased. Irrigation began on wheat and summer cropland. Overall, soil moisture ranged from short to adequate. Pasture and rangeland conditions ranged from very poor to fair. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), March 4, 2025