Texas Drought

August 09 2007
Jpaschal 
CORPUS CHRISTI – Recent rains and flooding have been hard on livestock, but producers can help them weather the unusually wet summer. The following tips from Dr. Joe Paschal, Texas Cooperative Extension livestock specialist, were written for cattle, but could apply to sheep and goats in most cases:

August 09 2007
Excess Rainfall: Both Good and Bad for Texas Agriculture 
COLLEGE STATION – Agricultural producers are trying to make hay while the sun shines. The problem is it won't shine long enough.

February 16, 2007
Rio Grande Basin Initiative Project Receives Award 
COLLEGE STATION – The Rio Grande Basin Initiative recently received a national award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

October 03, 2006
Drought-Aid Application Packets Available at Extension Offices 
COLLEGE STATION – Texas Cooperative Extension is making application packets available for the recently announced Livestock Assistance Grant Program administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

August 29, 2006
Drought, Disease Resistance Research Discussed At Small Grains Meeting 
DALLAS – Drought, water use efficiency and disease resistance were a few of the issues discussed recently at the annual small grains workers meeting at the Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Dallas.

August 23, 2006
Drought Destroying Many South Central Texas Lawns and Gardens 
SAN ANTONIO – In addition to its impact on agriculture, the extended drought has caused serious problems with lawns and landscapes in South Central Texas and beyond, said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert in San Antonio.

August 21, 2006
Texas Cooperative Extension Program to Focus on Drought Strategies 
ANSON – Texas Cooperative Extension will hold a multi-county beef cattle meeting focusing on drought-related management at 9:45 a.m., Aug. 29 in the Extension Homemakers Building at 801 23rd Street in Anson.

August 11, 2006
Texas Drought Losses Estimated at $4.1 Billion 
COLLEGE STATION – Estimated drought losses for Texas have reached $4.1 billion, eclipsing the $2.1 billion mark set in 1998, Texas Cooperative Extension economists reported Friday.

August 11, 2006
Filling Ponds with Well Water Can Kill Fish 
OVERTON – Landowners seeking to replenish their drought-depleted farm ponds with well water could kill their fish if they're not careful, said an expert with Texas Cooperative Extension.

July 20, 2006
Low Cotton Prices Offer a Different Hedging Opportunity 
COLLEGE STATION – Severe drought that has decimated portions of Texas' cotton crop is causing many growers to evaluate insurance alternatives.

July 17, 2006
Burn Workshop Scheduled Aug. 17-19 in Sonora Area 
SONORA – A burn workshop is scheduled for Aug. 17-19 at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station near Sonora.

July 11, 2006
Texas Crop, Weather 
COLLEGE STATION – Some parts of Texas received much needed rain this week; other parts went begging, reported county agents with Texas Cooperative Extension.

March 16, 2006
Documentation, Burial Top List of Rancher Things-to-Do Post Fire 
AMARILLO – Documenting the number of cattle being buried may be the biggest issue facing ranchers and government agencies trying to get financial assistance for those hit hardest by the recent wildfires, a Texas Cooperative Extension official said.

March 07, 2006
Crop Rotation Adds Value to Irrigation 
HALFWAY – It has been awhile since agricultural researchers discovered and then proved the benefits of crop rotation. Since then, most farmers have embraced the practice of switching a piece of ground from one crop to another to improve yields, reduce erosion potential, and break insect and disease cycles.

March 01, 2006
Going, Going, Almost Gone: Wheat Crop Suffering Under Drought Conditions 
AMARILLO – Don't expect a bumper yield on this year's wheat crop, even if it rains. But some wheat will pull through the drought.

March 01, 2006
Rice Researchers Focus on Water Conservation 
BEAUMONT – With predictions of severe water shortages in Texas over the next 50 years, legislators, farmers, government agencies and consumers are working overtime to find solutions.

February 24, 2006
Bermudagrass Stands May Look Bad but Most Should Recover 
OVERTON – If there's one bit of advice he has for owners of drought-affected bermudagrass pastures thinking about re-sprigging, it's "wait and see," said a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

January 27, 2006
Chinch Bugs Plague Texas' St. Augustine Lawns 
DALLAS – Chinch bugs have long been the bane of homeowners with St. Augustine grass lawns.

January 26, 2006
Texas Drought Losses Reach $1.5 Billion  
COLLEGE STATION -- Texas drought losses have reached an estimated $1.5 billion, fueled by high hay costs and extended supplemental feeding for livestock, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

January 25, 2006
Texas Crop, Weather Report 
SAN ANGELO – Much-needed moisture fell late last week but did little to dampen the state's critical hay situation, Texas Cooperative Extension experts say.

January 18, 2006
Texas Crop, Weather Report 
COLLEGE STATION - Drought continues to prevail through much of Texas, forcing the state's ranchers to sift through herds and sell off cull cows, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

January 06, 2006
Bone Dry Weather Poses Opportunity for Pond Owners 
OVERTON – "You know it's dry when your fish have ticks," quips a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

August 29, 2005
Valley Irrigation Districts Prepare for the Next Drought 
HARLINGEN – Wayne Halbert knows it's a matter of when, not if, the Lower Rio Grande Valley suffers another drought.

August 26, 2005
Eight Steps Could Help Dairies Survive the Drought 
DALLAS – Drought conditions are still evident in parts of Texas, despite the recent rains, said Dr. Ellen Jordan, Texas Cooperative Extension dairy specialist. That means dairy producers should take action now to deal with forage shortages.

August 09, 2005
Reclaimed Wastewater: An Idea that Could Soak in 
EL PASO – As water becomes ever more scarce, quenching thirsty crops with wastewater may be OK if done right, researchers here say.

August 04, 2005
Water: Researchers Seek Ways to Make the Most of a Limited Resource 
EL PASO – Mild winters, low humidity, lots of room, cultural diversity, higher education opportunities and a lively economy – El Paso has a lot to offer.

July 26, 2005
Texas Crop and Weather 
COLLEGE STATION — The word "hot" is used routinely during Texas summers. But the words "burning hot" are being heard more as wildfires are being reported across the state, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

July 22, 2005
Emily Mostly Beneficial for South Texas Agriculture 
WESLACO – Hurricane Emily's sideswipe appears to have been beneficial for South Texas agriculture. With landfall 75 miles south of Brownsville, the storm brought little more than badly needed rainfall to the area.

July 19, 2005
Texas Crop and Weather Report 
COLLEGE STATION – While South Texas farmers are bracing for the possible damage that Hurricane Emily could inflict, many of the agricultural producers in other areas of the state will welcome the moisture, according to Texas Cooperative Extension agricultural experts.

July 08, 2005
West Nile Still a Possibility, Even with Dry Weather 
COLLEGE STATION – Even with the recent dry weather, Texans should still take precautions against mosquito-borne diseases, advised an expert with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.

July 07, 2005
Is the Drought Over? 
FORT STOCKTON – One or two good years have dropped the word "drought" from many Texans' vocabularies. But is the drought really over? A Texas Cooperative Extension water expert here says no.

July 04, 2005
Trees Need Water Too  
WESLACO - Thinking about planting or transplanting a tree? Forget it - the weather is far too hot. Better to do that between October and February.

June 28, 2005
Texas Crop, Weather Report  
COLLEGE STATION - Parts of Texas have entered critically dry stages and various crops are beginning to suffer, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

June 25, 2004
Evaporation Taking Its Toll On South Texas Reservoirs 
WESLACO -- After months of gradual increases from beneficial rainfall, lake levels at Falcon and Amistad Dams are beginning to drop, not from use by municipalities and farmers, but from evaporation.

June 15, 2004
Texas Cooperative Extension Sets Rainwater Capture Meeting 
SAN ANGELO -- Texas Cooperative Extension will hold a "Rainwater Capture Meeting" at 7 p.m., June 29 in the San Angelo Convention Center.

May 03, 2004
The Water You Save May Be Your Own 
COLLEGE STATION – Little kids ask for a last drink of water before going to bed. Food is boiled or simmered or stewed. Clothes and dishes are washed several times a day. Sprinkler systems come on automatically.

May 03, 2004
Rangeland Water Conference Set May 26 In Sonora Civic Center 
SONORA – A need for current rangeland water news has prompted Texas Cooperative Extension in Sutton, Crockett and Schleicher counties to sponsor the Rangeland Water Conference. The event will be May 26 in the Sonora Civic Center.

January 22, 2004
Overton Center Weather Station Soon To Be Upgraded 
OVERTON - East Texas agricultural producers and irrigators will soon have access to better weather data thanks to a new, upgraded automated weather station planned for the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center at Overton.

October 24, 2003
Valley Irrigation Conference Set For Oct. 28 
WESLACO -- Odd as it may sound, heavy downpours the last few weeks have left the Lower Rio Grande Valley in a severe drought. While drenching rains have soaked, and in some cases flooded, many areas of the Valley, drought conditions persist because water reserves upriver remain almost as depleted as they have been for years.

June 06, 2003
Water Experts Meet To Discuss Future Of Rio Grande Basin 
WESLACO -- Water experts and officials from throughout Texas and New Mexico gathered recently at a conference here to discuss progress and goals of the Rio Grande Basin Initiative, a federally funded effort focused on efficient irrigation and water conservation in the region.

April 02, 2003
"Drought Watch" Begins In El Paso 
COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M University, in collaboration with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, has begun Drought Watch, a bi-weekly summation of Rio Grande River water supply conditions.

February 21, 2003
Landscaping Under Drought Is Focus Of Feb. 27 Conference 
WESLACO -- The lingering South Texas drought continues to take a merciless toll on lawns, gardens and other landscaped areas.

January 08, 2003
Watersmart Landscaping Workshop Set 
CLEAR LAKE – Imagine a beautiful landscaped yard that requires less water, fertilizer and pesticides, less maintenance and is better for the environment. Learn how to make this a reality by attending the fourth annual WaterSmart Landscaping Workshop.

January 06, 2003
Sip Program Brings Smart Watering To San Antonio 
SAN ANTONIO - Texas Cooperative Extension in San Antonio, in partnership with San Antonio Water System and the Bexar County Master Gardeners, is on a mission. Extension wants San Antonians to conserve water by watering their lawns based on the water the turf needs.

June 12, 2002
Rain Won't Help South Texas Cotton Crop 
WESLACO -- Sporadic rains the past few weeks have done little to improve the outlook for the Lower Rio Grande Valley's 2002 cotton crop.

June 12, 2002
Drought Returns To Texas Agriculture, Resulting In $316 Million In Losses 
COLLEGE STATION – Drought this growing season has ravaged Texas' wheat crop and destroyed substantial South Texas crop production acreage, resulting in losses estimated at $316 million, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

May 06, 2002
Valley Cotton, Grain Crops In Serious Condition 
WESLACO – In his 30 years as an expert on the Rio Grande Valley's cotton and grain crops, John Norman has never seen worse spring crops than what he's seeing today.

May 02, 2002
New Modeling System Will Help Monitor Soil Moisture, Help Predict Drought  
COLLEGE STATION -- A Texas Agricultural Experiment Station researcher is near completion of a computer modeling system that could help farmers, ranchers and forest land managers minimize the effect of drought and guard against forest and range fires.

2001 Drought Stories

June 8, 2001
Drought Strategies Top Agenda For 35th Texas Soil And Water Conservation Society Meeting June 13-14
ABILENE -- Coping with drought has become a fact of life for almost any Texas farmer or rancher.

2000 Drought Stories

Texas' Reservoirs Still in Need of Storage Reserves
- November 07 2000 -

Texas Drought Losses Exceed $1 Billion For 2000
- October 18 2000 -

Drought Losses Costing Texas Agriculture $595 Million
- August 23 2000 -

Drought Conditions Continue Across Texas
- August 03 2000 -

Portions of Texas Still Experiencing Drought Conditions
- July 07 2000 -

Texas Crop And Weather Report
- May 23 2000 -

What's Ahead For Drought Resistant Wheat
- May 23 2000 -

Dry Conditions Prevail in West Texas; East Texas Moisture Adequate
- May 16 2000 -

Rains Benefitting Texas Agriculture, Drought Not Over
- May 05 2000 -

Biotech Research, Drought Needs Spelled Out
- April 18 2000 -

Recent Rain No End to Drought
- April 07 2000 -

Drought Losses Exceed $300 Million
- March 10, 2000 -

Storm Brings Needed Rain to Parts of Texas
- February 23 2000 -

Program Helping Reduce Financial Risk Associated with Drought
- February 22 2000 -

Reduced Stocking Rates Key to Pasture Survival And Drought Recovery
- February 17 2000 -

State Climatologist: 60 Percent Chance of Drought Continuing through Spring
- February 14 2000 -

Ongoing Drought Costing Texas Ranchers Additional $154 Million
- February 03 2000 -

New Drought Early Warning System to Aid Ranchers
- January 26, 2000 -

Texas Agriculture Suffering Third Drought in Four Years
- January 14, 2000 -

1999 Drought Stories

Texas Crop and Weather Report
- December 14, 1999 -

Texas Crop and Weather Report
- December 7, 1999 -

Texas Crop and Weather Report
- November 30, 1999 -

Texas Crop and Weather Report
- November 16, 1999 -

Texas Crop Report
- October 26, 1999 -

1998 Drought Stories

Drought Chops Forests by $342 Million Officials Say
- September 15, 1998 -

Drought Worse Than 96; Cotton Crop One of Worst Ever
- August 19, 1998 -

Aflatoxin Outbreak Plagues Drought-Stressed Texas Corn
- August 6, 1998 -

Caution Urged For Feeding Deer Corn This Season
- August 6, 1998 -

Drought May Impact Livestock Industry For Years to Come
- August 5, 1998 -

Alternatives, Cautions For Using Failed Corn
- July 31, 1998 -

Drought Impact on Panhandle Economy Approaching $500 Million
- July 30, 1998 -

Glickman Tours Drought-stricken Texas
- July 29, 1998 -

Wildlife Leaving Home on Range For Home in Backyards
- July 15, 1998 -

Drought Impacting Quail Numbers, Health Across Texas
- July 15, 1998 -

Agriculture Drought Losses Approaching '96 Levels
- July 14, 1998 -

ET Beef Producers Urged to Cull Herds During Drought
- July 7, 1998 -

Cotton Drought Losses Pegged at $1.8 Billion For Texas
- June 30, 1998 -

Drought Impacting Texas Rangelands
- June 26, 1998 -

Livestock Owners Should Test Forage, Hay During Drought
- June 17, 1998 -

Drought Impact on Agriculture Released by Texas A&M
- June 16, 1998 -

Agribusinesses Feeling Effects of Water Shortage
- June 11, 1998 -

Drought Strategies Offered on Pastures, Ponds, Fruits
- June 5, 1998 -

1996 Drought Stories

Texas Market Food Watch: Drought Affects Shrimp Harvest
- August 22, 1996 -

Lawn Care Advice During Drought Offered on World Wide Web
- July 26, 1996 -

Dry Weather Increases Grasshopper Populations
- July 19, 1996 -

Information on Plant and Crop Water Needs Available
- July 19, 1996 -

Watersheds, Rivers and Aquifers Meeting Set For July 30-Aug.2--
- July 12, 1996 -

Drought Conditions Generate Beetle Outbreak in East Texas
- July 2, 1996 -

Watermelon, Most Other Vegetables Still in Good Shape in East Texas
- June 7, 1996 -

How to Recognize the End of the Drought in Texas
- June 7, 1996 -

Drought-Tolerant Texas Turfgrass "Goes For the Border" with Out-of-State Licences
- June 3, 1996 -

Financial Strategies For Farm Families
- June 1996 -

Stiles Farm Field Day Cancelled
- May 28, 1996

Drought Impact on Agriculture in the Billions of Dollars
- May 22, 1996

What Does an Inch of Rain Mean?
- May 22, 1996 -

Rural Land Values Affected by Drought
- May 22, 1996

Texas Weather Grid Proposed to Gather Lacking Data
- May 22, 1996 -

Drought Economic Impact Figures to be Released
- May 21, 1996 -