By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Sporadic rainfall across the state helped provide some relief, but more is needed to escape the intense drought conditions.

“The rains in September renewed hope for some,” Tracy Tomascik, Texas Farm Bureau associate director of Commodity and Regulatory Activities, said. “Pasture conditions have suffered across the state for the last four months, and some areas haven’t had relief in two years or more. This rain was beneficial, but much more is needed to bring Texas out of extreme drought.”

Prior to the rains, nearly 80% of Texas pastures were rated poor, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Texas Crop Progress and Condition report.

Ranchers began supplemental feeding earlier due to the dry conditions and lack of available forage. And as pasture conditions continued to decline with high temperatures and limited moisture, ranchers once again began culling herds and selling calves early.

“Some producers were able to store hay after the wet spring we experienced, but the summer drought forced them to dig into that hay, so supplies have dwindled for many,” Tomascik said. “The long-term forecast calls for a transition to the El Nino weather pattern, so there’s still hope for a late season cutting of perennial grasses for additional hay supplies.”

Rain that is expected this fall will also help farmers and ranchers with their small grain crops like oats and wheat to help alleviate the need to purchase hay and other supplemental feed, Tomascik noted.

Limited supplies will continue to drive up prices for hay.

Farmers and ranchers should make decisions regarding stockpiled forages and hay supplies, planning for ways to stretch available nutrition.

“As expected with supply and demand, if there’s less hay, it’s going to be more expensive,” Tomascik said. “But properly storing what hay you do have is important, as is testing the hay to know the nutritional value.”

The mid-September rains also brought cooler temperatures, except in the south and southwestern parts of the state. Those areas are expected to continue reaching triple-digit temperatures.

According to State Climatologist John Neilsen-Gammon, there is a higher chance for rainfall from January to March.

“The El Niño is looking more and more prominent. But it’s going to take a lot more rain to break the drought since certain areas are 12-15 inches below normal water level,” Nielsen-Gammon said.