By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Drought conditions continue to intensify across the state and especially in the Hill Country.

“Conditions are severe as severe gets. We thought last year was about as bad as it could be, but it’s way worse and has been worse for the last two to three weeks than it was last year,” Melody Kneupper said. “It’s very, very dry, and all of the vegetation is yellow, brown and crispy. Nothing is green around here.”

Cody and Melody Kneupper raise cattle, sheep and goats in Kendall County and are experiencing similar, if not worse, drought conditions compared to last year.

“There’s absolutely no grass growing right now,” Cody said. “The stock tanks are drying up, if they’re not dry already. Our wells are holding up so far, but I know a lot of people who are having trouble getting water.”

The Kneuppers are taking extra steps to monitor their livestock, ensuring they have plenty of water to drink and cool off.

The lack of available forage in the Hill Country has also promoted the Kneuppers to start feeding earlier than they would in a normal year.

“We did this last year, so it’s not as scary as it was before,” Melody said. “We’re hopeful because we do have hay.”

The Kneuppers headed into the summer with some hay left over from last year. Spring rains also helped the Kneuppers get one cutting to add to their hay stocks to get them through the rest of year if conditions don’t improve.

Without those springs rains and one good cutting of hay, Cody noted they would have had to take a different approach to feeding right now.

It’s a consistent theme across the state—dry conditions intensifying and pasture conditions deteriorating. The most recent Texas Crop Progress and Condition report shows 84% of range and pasture is rated fair to very poor.

And if they don’t receive measurable rainfall soon, the Kneuppers will have to start selling livestock.

“I just hope we can get some rain here in August and September to get some grass grown going into the fall and not have to supplement as much throughout the winter,” Cody said.

Although the dry conditions are tough on ranchers and livestock alike, the Kneuppers remain hopeful for rain and thankful for the resources they have to help get them through another dry year.

Hill country drought worsens but farmers, ranchers remain hopeful Drought conditions worsens in Hill Country for farmer and ranchers, but Cody and Melody Kneupper remain hopeful for August rains.