September 15, 2000

Dry & Hot
Losses mount as heat,
drought take their toll

Drought conditions that have plagued farmers and ranchers throughout the year and continue across the Lone Star State have led to $595 million in agricultural losses, Extension Service economists reported in late August.

Cotton, the top cash crop in Texas, has been hardest hit, with an estimated $285 million in crop losses.

“As we look at the Southern Plains from San Angelo, to Big Spring, Lamesa and on up into the Snyder and Roscoe area, it’s just simply burning up,” said Dr. Carl Anderson, Extension cotton marketing economist. “If it continues on for another 30 days, half of the dryland crop will be lost and you can add another 500,000 bales.”

Billy Warrick, an Extension economist based in San Angelo, said cotton grown south of Interstate 20 would be lucky to make 150 pounds of lint per acre.

“A lot of cotton is six inches tall with one boll on top. That doesn’t contribute much to yield to say the least,” Warrick said.

Anderson said much of the irrigated areas in West Texas have been hampered by both drought and insect problems.

“Yields are a little less because of insect pressure and the cost of insect control has been severe on many farmers,” he said. “In many situations, farmers have been trying to save their crop from insects and drought has been taking away from it as well.”

Federal aid promised
Other estimated agricultural losses due to drought this year include: grain sorghum, $15 million; wheat, $125 million; added irrigation costs, $27 million; wheat grazing, $11 million; forage crops, $50 million; and added feed/water cost, $62 million.

Of the $285 million in cotton losses, Anderson said the economic impact felt by rural communities and agribusinesses could reach $600 million.

During a Texas visit to assess drought damage to agricultural crops, August 29, USDA Secretary Dan Glickman promised federal aid, declaring 157 counties as primary or contiguous agricultural disaster areas. That day marked a 60-day, record-setting dry spell for the Lone Star State. The previous streak of days without rain was 58, which occurred in 1934 and 1950.

Glickman said low interest loans may provide some short-term relief for farmers and ranchers facing economic fallout from the drought. He said, however, if the dry spell continues, the government will be forced to find other ways of helping.

Panhandle crops stressed
In the Panhandle, all dryland crops are stressed, according to Dr. Bob Robinson, district Extension director in Amarillo. “Hot, dry conditions have resulted in premature drying of corn,” he said. “Dryland peanuts are also in very poor condition.”

Robinson said some open cotton bolls were reported.

“Pest problems have declined, but dryland cotton remains stressed,” he said.

Robinson said cattle are in good condition, although range grasses are dry and some producers have begun early supplemental feeding.

Joe Pena, Extension economist in Uvalde, said some parts of Southwest Texas received seven-tenths of an inch of rain Friday, Aug. 25.

“It was not a general rain, however,” he said. “So most of the district, especially the more western counties, have remained dry for about 75 consecutive days.”

Pena said the corn and sorghum harvest is complete, and the cotton harvest is winding down.

“Below average yields were reported as a result of the extended dry period,” he said.

Pena said the peanut harvest is gaining momentum, and excellent yields and quality are being reported.

Conditions perfect for rice
At the same time conditions have hurt most crops, hot, sunny days and cool nights have brought Texas rice growers a flood of success.

Dr. Arlen Klosterborer, Extension agronomist in College Station, at the end of August said harvest of the first rice crop is 95 percent complete along the upper Gulf Coast and in Northeast Texas, where 202,000 acres have been harvested. He said the crop thrived in the high temperatures that threatened other row crops, and yields are expected to exceed 6,000 pounds per acre.

“Yields are outstanding this year, and I’d attribute it to great weather,” he said.
“Hot days with lots of sunshine and cool nights are best for rice production. Rice is grown flooded and water levels were adequate throughout the season. It made for an excellent crop.”

Klosterborer said there were scattered armyworm and chinchbug problems during the growing season, but no significant diseases were reported.

“With such a great start, we are expecting an excellent ratoon crop, too,” he said.

The ratoon crop, or second rice crop, results from the new tillers that grow from the stubble of harvested plants. Production costs are reduced because of the savings from seeds, land preparation and irrigation.

Regional conditions noted
The following specific livestock, crop and weather conditions were reported by district Extension directors in early September:

PANHANDLE: soil moisture is very short. Corn harvest under way. Dryland cotton fields stressed; aphids, beet armyworms, bollworms, boll weevils continue to concern producers. Harvest preparations beginning for peanuts; some leaf spot being reported.

SOUTH PLAINS: soil moisture is very short. Pastures in poor to fair condition. Peanuts in good condition. Irrigated cotton is in fair condition; most fields have cutout. Harvest of corn for silage nearing completion with yields ranging from average to poor.

ROLLING PLAINS: soil moisture is very short. Cotton is in fair to very poor condition. Light peanut crop expected; dryland peanuts may not be harvested. Cattle are in fair condition; supplemental hay feeding beginning in overgrazed pastures.

NORTH TEXAS: soil moisture is very short. Pastures are burning up. Cattle remain in good condition despite record-setting temperatures; some producers feeding hay. Sweet potato yields low. Peach trees dying from lack of water. Pecans continue to drop.

EAST TEXAS: soil moisture is very short. Record high temperatures; no rain. Hay feeding active. Stock water supply a growing concern. Culling of livestock increasing due to drought. Fall vegetable planting delayed. Pecan yields diminishing.

FAR WEST TEXAS: soil moisture is very short. Dryland cotton burning up. Ranges parched from lack of rainfall and high temperatures; cattle producers continue supplemental feeding. Low dryland sorghum yields expected. Cantaloupe, watermelon harvest complete.

WEST CENTRAL TEXAS: soil moisture is very short. Cotton fields showing severe heat damage. It is too dry to prepare oat and wheat fields for early planting. Pastures in poor condition. Grazing is limited; stock tanks are low to empty. Pecan crop is fair.

CENTRAL TEXAS: soil moisture is very short. Pastures are very poor; supplemental feeding of livestock in progress. Some irrigated peanuts surviving, but more water is needed. Cotton yield will be greatly affected by lack of moisture. Crops are drying down quickly.

SOUTHEAST TEXAS: soil moisture is short. Condition of cattle continues to decline due to heat, no rain and low tank levels. Cattle being fed; producers weaning calves early and culling cows. Grasshoppers hurting fruit trees. Preparing land to plant winter oats.

SOUTHWEST TEXAS: soil moisture is very short. Forage availability below average; insufficient for winter. Home lawns under stress and turning brown. Water being trucked in. Cotton harvest continues. Peanut harvest gaining momentum. Excellent peanut yields.

COASTAL BEND: soil moisture very short. Weather conditions remain hot and dry. Farmers are preparing fields for next season’s crop. Producers are doing a good job of destroying cotton stalks early this year. Irrigation continuing on ratoon crop.

SOUTH TEXAS: soil moisture is short. Cotton harvest complete. Stalk destruction continues. Sugarcane crop progressing well. Preparations for fall vegetable planting continue. Citrus increasing in size. Supplemental feeding of livestock continues.