By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Ranchers like Daniel McCurdy are feeling more optimistic after a wet spring.

“Cows are in pretty good shape going into the summer. Same with calves. I would say everything is in a whole lot better shape than we were last year,” McCurdy, who raises cattle in Wise and Hopkins counties, said. “We’ve had much more rain all winter and in the spring.”

Pasture conditions are improving across much of the state, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest Crop Progress and Condition report shows 64% of the state’s pastures as fair to excellent and 36% as poor to very poor.

This time last year, 81% of the state was experiencing drought. This year, farmers and ranchers are seeing much needed and prayed for rain.

The drought forced some ranchers to sell more cattle than normal, but McCurdy was fortunate and didn’t have to sell more than a normal year.

“We didn’t personally have to really sell anything out of the ordinary last year. We had some extra grass going in. But a lot of people around us definitely cut back,” he said. “We got lucky, but we’re not out of the woods just yet.”

McCurdy noted they have had close to average rainfall this year, despite a dry April. He was also able to bale some of his winter grass.

He’s optimistic about the year with the recent rains.

“Our native pasture is dinged some still from last year’s drought and shorter than it needs to be at this time,” he said. “But with the rain we’ve received and with a few more chances next week, I think we’ll have a shot at kind of catching back up.

He said the hay outlook in Wise and Hopkins counties looks promising.

“It looks like there’s going to be some hay back in the country. As of now, it looks like this first cutting’s going to be pretty good and should get us all back to closer to even again,” McCurdy said.

The drought is still lingering, but rainfall helps farmers and ranchers gain hope for a wetter season.

“We’re definitely not out of the woods. We’re not out of the drought quite yet, but there’s a whole lot more hope,” McCurdy said.