Growing conditions split by rain: improved moisture, lingering drought

While soil moisture conditions have improved for much of the state, too much of a good thing, like rain, can also bring problems.

AgriLife Extension agronomists who work in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences provided a round-robin look at the soil moisture conditions around the Lone Star State. Much like summer 2024, Texas is divided into moisture haves and have-nots.

The growing season started very dry. On March 24, 99% of the state was experiencing some level of drought, and 84.5% rated at moderate to exceptional drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. On June 23, only 49% of the state faced drought conditions, with 36% reporting moderate to exceptional conditions.

Heavy rains boost soil moisture, bring challenges

Ronnie Schnell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension state cropping system specialist and professor, Bryan-College Station, said most areas from Central Texas to the Gulf Coast and the Rio Grande Valley started off very dry, but several storm systems greatly improved the soil moisture profiles and saturated some areas.

Dry conditions delayed plantings and/or crop emergence early in the season, but overall crops have benefitted from the rain, he said.

Standing water and soggy soils have been an issue in some parts of the state.

Producers in South Texas reported receiving 10-12 inches of rain over one week, Schnell said. Those areas picked up multiple rain events in the following weeks. Corn crops have shown signs of water stress — yellowing — and some cotton fields were stunted or showed thin stands due to extended periods of standing water.

Sorghum fields that are nearing harvest will need sunny days to dry enough for equipment to access for harvesting, he said. Further rain delays could mean grain quality losses.

“That takes a toll, definitely on crops like cotton,” Schnell said. “I think most grain crops were far enough along that the wet conditions won’t be an issue, but the fields have to dry enough to get in for harvesting, and there have been some reports of sprouting. But I think most producers would say they’d rather deal with too much than too little rain.”

Panhandle dry despite scattered storms

Kevin Heflin, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and assistant professor, Canyon, said the Panhandle remains very dry. Areas have picked up some moisture, but not a soaking rain that could improve the soil moisture profile.

The Panhandle is experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, Heflin said.

Some areas received 1.5 inches from flash storms that also brought damaging winds and hail that impacted young crops, he said. Rains helped seed germination and seedling plants, but subsequent 100-plus degree days and 30 mph winds evaporated topsoil moisture rapidly.

Heflin said all crops have been planted, and many dryland acres were dusted in and emerged and were in decent shape. Irrigated fields also look good, but dryland and irrigated crops will need timely rains. The Panhandle typically picks up 3-5 inches of rain between late July and early August, but Heflin said dryland fields will need rain sooner rather than later to hold on.

“It’s looking like a typical year — relatively dry with early June rains and 100-degree days,” he said. “Some computer models are expecting an El Niño pattern with some moisture. We’re just hoping Mother Nature delivers because 103-degree days and high winds are tough on irrigated fields, much less dryland.”

Conditions improve, but risks remain

Reagan Noland, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and associate professor, San Angelo, said growing conditions from West Central Texas/San Angelo through the Southern Rolling Plains/Abilene areas started bleak but improved significantly in many areas.

March was hot, dry and windy. Established wheat fields were under water stress as grains filled, and many plantings of summer crops were delayed as producers waited for chances of rain. April and May were wet, cool and set conditions up well for cotton and early planted grain sorghum.

Wheat conditions improved significantly, but persistent moisture caused issues with leaf rust and lodging. However, Noland believes those challenges occurred late enough in the season to minimize a broad impact. But some wheat fields sustained severe losses in grain quality as harvesters were unable to access fields in time.

“It’s a crummy situation to go from concern about not enough moisture to getting enough rain to finish out a good crop and then seeing tremendous quality discounts because you can’t get into a field to harvest,” Noland said.

The region hasn’t received much rain in June, and recent hot, dry weather has started to stress plants that progressed under cool, wet conditions, Noland said.  The concern is that 100-degree days and no rain could push areas with adequate moisture toward drought and stress crops when they reach critical development stages.

But conditions are much better than other recent seasons, and producers were optimistic about their crops, he said.

“Rain in July would help, but we’re in much better shape than we were,” Noland said. “I’m optimistic. There are a lot of good crops out there right now, and we’re just hoping to get a little help.”

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

Panhandle

Hot, sunny days with persistent wind continued to draw down soil moisture across the district, even in irrigated fields. Some areas received beneficial rainfall that improved conditions considerably, while others remained in need of moisture. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels ranged from very short to adequate, and pasture and rangeland were in very poor to good condition across the district. Livestock were in very poor to good condition. Extreme temperatures and evaporative demand were challenging for warm season crops as canopy volume increased. Cotton reached the squaring stage in some fields, while corn and grain sorghum grew at stages reflecting varied planting dates. Plant stands were reported as good overall, and producers were keeping up with weed, insect and disease management. Sunflower fields were planted.

South Plains

Severe storms rolled through portions of the district during the week, dropping up to 2 inches of rain along with hail ranging from pea- to ping-pong ball-sized, and high winds that damaged pivots in some areas. The district remained highly variable. Some areas received adequate moisture while other parts of the district experienced temperatures reaching 100 degrees, leaving shallow-rooted crops stressed. Cotton fields suffered significant hail damage in the hardest-hit locations, and corn and hay grazer also sustained losses. Cotton ranged widely in development, from recently emerged plants to squaring fields with eight true leaves. Peanuts bloomed but maintained the necessary in-canopy humidity for pollination under difficult high heat and wind. Weed control remained a top priority across all crops. Livestock conditions were poor to good, and pastures deteriorated rapidly in the drier southern and eastern portions of the district.

Rolling Plains

Rainfall was highly variable across the district. Some areas received beneficial rains over the past two weeks while other parts of the district remained hot, dry and largely rainless, with temperatures at or above 100 degrees. In the driest areas, cotton that sprouted failed to establish a stand, and prospects for the crop were diminished. A strong storm brought winds up to 85 mph and small hail to parts of the district, causing damage to equipment, buildings, and trees and limiting farming activity. Where moisture was sufficient, summer crops looked good overall. Hay cutting was active, with producers harvesting both coastal Bermuda grass and Sudan for first and second cuttings. Corn crops advanced from grain fill into the denting stage, and sorghum was headed with early-planted fields beginning to color. Feral hog damage was reported in crop fields and hay patches across the district, with animals encroaching near residential areas. Pasture and rangeland conditions ranged from very poor to excellent, and livestock conditions were poor to excellent depending on local forage availability.

North

Rain continued across much of the district, though soils began to dry sufficiently for fieldwork in some areas by late in the week. Wheat and oat harvest was mostly complete across a majority of the district, with dry weather helping to remove the remaining acres. Corn progressed well, with fields ranging from silking into dough stage, and soybeans were in good to excellent condition, with many fields blooming and setting pods. Aphids were detected on sorghum and cotton in some areas, and the first corn leafhoppers of the season were reported. The watermelon harvest began in northern portions of the district. The blackberry harvest continued, and the first figs came in. Hay meadows were ready to cut, and producers were eager to get equipment moving as the forecast turned drier. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to excellent. Livestock were in fair to excellent condition with abundant grazing available.

East

Temperatures climbed into the upper 80s and 90s with high humidity. Rainfall tapered off across much of the district, and producers moved quickly to cut and bale hay with a dry stretch of weather. Hay production was in full swing across multiple areas, with fertilizer applications also underway. Ponds, lakes and rivers were full following a wet spring, and warm-season grasses remained in good condition. Garden crops produced well, with peas, squash, okra, sweet corn and watermelons being harvested in many areas. Producers were scouting actively for fall armyworms and pasture mealybug. There were no confirmed mealybug cases reported in all parts of the district as of late in the week, but vigilance remained high. Sale barns reported varied cattle prices across classes.

Far West

Conditions were sharply divided across the district. The Big Bend area received widespread weekend rainfall that brought cooler temperatures, and highs were expected to be in the 80s for the coming week. Central and western portions of the district endured temperatures frequently exceeding 100 degrees and little measurable rain. Topsoil moisture declined rapidly under persistent heat and wind in the drier areas, while subsoil moisture remained short to adequate from earlier events. Cotton planting was complete across the district, with fields emerged and progressing; irrigation demand increased significantly in the driest areas. In the El Paso area, Pima and upland cotton were irrigated. Pecan orchards were irrigated and mowed, and alfalfa producers were moving into their fourth cutting. Pastures in one area were described as the best in 10 years following a strong hay and small-grain season. New World screwworm concerns prompted intensified livestock observation across ranching areas, with some producers increasing feeding frequency to allow closer animal inspection. Pasture and rangeland conditions ranged from very poor to good, and livestock conditions were poor to good across the district.

West Central

Hot, dry and windy conditions accelerated soil moisture depletion across much of the district with temperatures reaching near or above 100 degrees on most days. Parts of the district received 2-5 inches of rainfall earlier in the week. Cotton planting wrapped up with generally good emergence where soil moisture was present. However, some fields were at risk of failure without follow-up rain. Rainfall provided relief to grasses and helped stock tanks recover in areas that received rain. Forage and grain sorghum were in fair to good condition, and native grasses were heading out. Hay producers cut and bailed Sudan and coastal Bermuda grass, and some noted that hay yields were up while quality was expected to be lower due to crop maturity. Pecan prospects were very good, with most orchards carrying a heavy crop. The livestock market remained strong and active, with lightweight stocker steers and packer cows both posting higher prices at one area sale. Pasture and rangeland conditions ranged from very poor to excellent. Livestock conditions were poor to excellent across the district.

Central

Temperatures climbed into the mid- to upper-90s with high humidity across the district as the week turned hot and dry after a wet spell. Hay production ran at a high pace, with producers cutting coastal Bermuda grass and other forages and moving quickly to bale during dry days. Corn silage harvest was underway or approaching, with early-planted corn completing maturity and beginning dry-down for grain harvest. Cotton was squaring across most of the district and setting bolls in several areas. Fleahoppers were still a threat to later-planted fields not yet blooming. Sorghum presented a mixed picture, with some late-heading fields still at risk from sorghum midge while producers with early planted fields battled stink bugs and a headworm complex including corn earworm, fall armyworm and sorghum webworm. Pasture mealybug was confirmed in multiple areas of the district and was widely reported as a growing concern. Pasture and rangeland conditions ranged from very poor to excellent, and livestock conditions were very poor to good across the district.

Southeast

Drier weather settled over the district following a wet stretch, and hay production picked up considerably as producers moved into fields that were dry enough for equipment. Rice set heads in some areas and was doing well overall across the district. The sorghum harvest was expected to begin within weeks as fields continued to mature and dry. Stinkbug pressure was high in soybeans, and corn disease pressure was increasing in some areas, with ear rot, southern rust and northern blight all noted. Early planted corn was approaching harvest. Pasture mealybug continued to be reported across the district, affecting Bahia grass, Bermuda grass and Tifton varieties. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to excellent, and livestock conditions were also fair to excellent.

Southwest

Soil moisture levels were adequate, though surface soils began to dry under increasing heat. Warmer and drier conditions moved in across most of the district following a wet spring, giving producers a window to cut and bale hay. Webworms were reported in pecans in some areas, arriving slightly earlier than usual. Corn and sorghum continued to mature, and irrigated crops were responding well to warm afternoons. Pasture mealybug remained a persistent concern, with confirmed infestations in Bluestem and coastal Bermuda grass pastures in some areas. New World screwworm detections in the district prompted producers to increase monitoring activities. Some producers marketed livestock in response to the combined uncertainties around New World screwworm risks and pasture mealybug forage losses. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to excellent and livestock conditions were poor to excellent across the district. Fawn activity was reported as high across the district, with whitetail does actively fawning and bucks showing early promise.

Coastal Bend

A drier stretch allowed hay harvest to accelerate across the district after prolonged wet weather delayed first cuttings for many operations. Yields were generally good where fields had dried sufficiently, though some areas remained too saturated for equipment. Rice headed in a significant portion of fields, with progress ranging from 50% to nearly all acres setting heads. Grain sorghum harvest was expected to begin within the next couple of weeks as fields dried and matured. Early planted corn was nearing harvest in some areas with crop conditions below average, while later-planted corn and sorghum were in considerably better shape with average to above-average yield potential. Cotton conditions varied widely, from fields showing strong yield potential to areas with drowned spots and poor stands from excessive moisture. Pasture mealybug was reported broadly across the district, with infestations in multiple grass types raising significant producer concern. New World screwworm remained at the forefront of cattle producers’ minds alongside typical fly pressure. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to excellent, and livestock conditions were fair to excellent.

South

Temperatures approached 100 degrees across much of the district, with daytime highs reaching the upper 100s in the hottest areas. Much of the district experienced its first dry week in nearly three months. Producers moved quickly to resume hay operations and field scouting. Grain sorghum harvest resumed in the lower Rio Grande Valley as fields became accessible and early planted corn was nearing harvest, with combines expected to start soon. Cotton bloomed and set bolls in some areas, with sesame, peanuts and citrus also benefiting from earlier rainfall. The cantaloupe harvest continued in the drier western portions of the district. Hay baling of coastal Bermuda grass was underway where ground conditions allowed. Range and pasture conditions remained good to excellent across most of the district, with cattle maintaining strong body condition. Confirmed New World screwworm cases in the southern portion of the district have producers intensifying animal inspections and fly control efforts. Cattle markets remained strong and steady for most classes, though sale volumes were reported below average in some areas.