Too dry to plant wheat, fall crops in Texas' Rolling Plains
9/18/2025 11:18:07 AM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Plants & Wildlife
AFFECTED AREAS:
Archer County, TX
Baylor County, TX
Childress County, TX
Clay County, TX
Cottle County, TX
Dickens County, TX
Foard County, TX
Hardeman County, TX
Haskell County, TX
Jack County, TX
Kent County, TX
King County, TX
Knox County, TX
Montague County, TX
Motley County, TX
Palo Pinto County, TX
Parker County, TX
Stephens County, TX
Stonewall County, TX
Throckmorton County, TX
Wichita County, TX
Wilbarger County, TX
Wise County, TX
Young County, TX
Start Date: 9/16/2025
-
Winter wheat planting began in areas of the Rolling Plains that received rainfall the previous week, though progress was expected to slow as soil moisture continued to decline. Farmers were preparing fields and plowing ground, but many were waiting for additional rain before planting more wheat and fall crops. Cotton remained in very good condition and benefited from recent heat. Producers stressed that at least one more timely rain would be needed to finish the boll fill. Producers were choosing to reduce late-season inputs, opting instead to let nature take its course. Hay harvest was ongoing, but dry topsoil and persistent heat limited production. Pastures were also stressed, reducing grazing for livestock. Despite the warm days, livestock condition remained good with cooler nights helping ease stress. Farmers and ranchers agreed that moisture was critical moving forward, but forecasts showed little chance of rain in the near future.
AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sep 16, 2025
Sources