By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Severe weather swept across the Lone Star State this month, bringing damaging hail and excessive rainfall that has taken a toll on some farmers’ crops.

Among those affected were Matthew Hoelscher, who raises cattle and grows hay, corn and wheat in Falls County.

“The corn was looking like it was on the right track,” Hoelscher said. “But we’ve had excessive amounts of rain the past few weeks. The corn was starting to show signs of some drowning out, but overall, I had a good, healthy crop that was potentially going to be something.”

But a storm in mid-May changed that for some of his crop.

“We had some hail that blew in, and it was kind of light for a minute. Then all of a sudden, we had some massive, heavy winds pick up,” Hoelscher said. “Then, the hail came down hard, and the storm lasted about five to 10 minutes. It was very intense and very, very windy.”

The hail was anywhere from the size of a marble to a ping-pong ball.

Hoelscher has about 100 acres with slight damage from the storm, but 60 acres that were severely destroyed.

“The hail just stripped the corn to pieces,” Hoelscher said. “Lost all the leaves, snapped the stalks off in half, and it just looks completely stripped.”

This growing season is vastly different from the past two years for Hoelscher.

While the rain was initially a welcome relief from the prolonged drought, the sheer volume has created its own set of challenges.

“I’ve quit counting how much rainfall we’ve been receiving, but just in May and mid-April, it’s been 15 to 20 inches,” Hoelscher said.

As the weather continues to fluctuate, Hoelscher, as well as farmers across the state, will keep adapting and finding ways to sustain their livelihoods through the challenges.

“It’s just how it is working with Mother Nature,” Hoelscher said.