Drought

Far West Texas reported above-average temperatures ranging from the upper-90s to low-100s and rainfall averaging 0.5 of an inch in some areas. Winds continued to dry out topsoil moisture, and corn and sorghum plants were beginning to show signs of stress. Watermelons and cantaloupe continued to make good progress, but weed control was an issue for all areas. Soil moisture ranged from short to adequate while rangeland conditions remained steady. Livestock ranchers were culling herds due to drought and were supplementing food and water for remaining cattle. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), June 18, 2024 Far West Texas reported extreme heat and isolated severe thunderstorms with daytime highs ranging in the mid- to upper-90s in the higher elevations, with highs well above 100 degrees in lower areas. Rainfall averaged between trace amounts and 1 inch. Moisture improved range, soil and planting conditions. There were reports of hail up to 2 inches in diameter and a tornado in the southern part of the district. Cotton planting progressed quickly with virtually no topsoil moisture, and growers were working through fields non-stop. Winter wheat was grazed out or baled for hay. Corn and melons with ample irrigation were coming along well. Onions were being harvested, and hay and alfalfa were growing well. Mesquite trees were blooming. Livestock were in fair condition, but food and water were still being supplemented in most areas and flies were becoming an issue. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), June 4, 2024 Temperatures in Far West Texas averaged over 100 degrees during the day and in the low 70s at night with some areas seeing rain. Rainfall ranged from 0.6-1 inch. There were some reports of hail, damaging some homes and vehicles, but no major damage was reported to livestock. The high winds and intense heat removed moisture from the top 2 inches of ground soil, causing dust storms that limited visibility. Cotton planting began, with Pima and upland cotton fields looking good. Winter wheat was baled for hay or grazed out by livestock, and rye was growing well. Corn and melon crops were doing well, and alfalfa was being cut and baled with some producers starting the second cut. Pecan orchards were being irrigated or prepared for irrigation, and foliar-fed zinc were being applied to trees. Pastures in some areas were beginning to green up for the first time since last year, while producers continued to give livestock feed and water in areas experiencing drought. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 21, 2024 Temperatures in Far West Texas ranged from highs in the lower 90s to lows in the mid 60s and rainfall ranged between 0.2 and 4 inches with a few areas receiving no rainfall. Some strong wind and hail were reported with some hail and flood damage reported. Weed control was becoming a bigger issue in all farm ground and a large influx of large red velvet mites have been reported. Around 75% of the cotton planted has emerged and continued to grow with some fields going in late with upland cotton. All Pima cotton should be planted by now. The pecan orchards were very good as most farmers were irrigating for the second time. The flat ground, no-till and wheat stubble has taken and spread out the moisture better. The topsoil and subsoil moisture should help improve the very poor range and pasture conditions. Straw has been baled and wheat is in the drying stage. The El Paso Valley looked very good, thanks to project irrigation water, or river water. Alfalfa production was higher than usual with oats and wheat being cut and baled by the end of this month. Range conditions saw grass returning to normal health and pastures were beginning to green up a bit more. Livestock conditions will see return of cattle to grazed areas for a second round. The working of lambs and kids was completed and livestock and wildlife continued to be fed. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 7, 2024

West Central Texas was warm and humid with rainfall accumulations ranging from 0.5-3 inches. Soil conditions were good with warm-season forages growing and being cut and baled. Increasing pest problems were reported in some areas, with grasshoppers becoming a widespread issue. Cotton planting was completed with earlier planted fields doing well but later planted cotton struggling to emerge in the dry soil and high heat. Grain sorghum was progressing with most plants in the flowering stage. Some corn was impacted by hail but looked to be in fair to good condition overall. Hay season looked promising, and pecan outlooks were optimistic. Pasture conditions ranged from fair to good, but the high temperatures were causing concern for fire. Rangeland conditions were good, and grasses recovered well, but weeds were becoming a concern. Lakes and stock tanks were still rising with some stock tanks reported to be full. Livestock conditions ranged from good to excellent, but sheep and goat producers were dealing with internal parasites. Cattle were in good shape and prices remained strong. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), June 18, 2024 West Central Texas had from no rain to 5 inches across the district with temperatures ranging from the upper 70s to low 90s. Reports of hail and wind damage included hail impacting wheat progress, with some farms reporting wind damage from storms. Despite storm damage, wheat crops ranged from good to excellent condition. In some parts of the region, wheat and oat pastures continued to mature but most would be grazed or baled for hay. In other areas, the wheat was drying down and harvest will start soon for dryland acres with low yields expected. Grain and forage sorghum planting was ongoing. Corn looked fair but needs more rain to supplement the irrigation. Pasture and rangeland conditions ranged from poor to good, with some areas improved due to recent rains. Forage, mainly cool season maturing forages, was appearing with producers managing weeds after the recent rains. Cattle continued to look good with body condition looking good on all classes. Sheep and goat producers need an aggressive parasite management program with the recent rains. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 7, 2024

Southwest Texas received rainfall ranging from 0.5-1.25 inches, which helped to replenish soil moisture, but more rainfall was needed. The dry conditions were beginning to take their toll on rangelands, pastures and row crops. Forages, native plants and wildflowers were doing well. Hay harvest was underway, but production was below normal. Crop conditions ranged from poor to good. The hot and humid conditions were reducing feed efficiency in cattle, but body conditions were good. Webworms were beginning to establish themselves in pecan trees, which could potentially pose problems for producers in the future. Livestock benefited from better rangeland conditions, but producers were still supplementing herd diets. Cattle markets were good. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), June 18, 2024 Rainfall in Southwest Texas averaged 3-4 inches with temperatures in the 90s. There were reports of strong winds in most areas that caused minimal damage to trees and row crops. Row crop conditions looked good despite the hot temperatures and lack of moisture. Dryland corn was beginning to stunt, and warm-season grasses were beginning to seed. Bermuda grass hay fields were being cut and baled and pastures were beginning to decline due to the windy and hot temperatures. Backyard gardens were perking up from the small amount of rain and sunshine. Livestock looked good, and whitetail does were having babies and becoming more active. Cattle body conditions looked good. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), June 4, 2024 Extreme storm conditions brought over 2.5 inches of rainfall and hail to some areas. High winds also caused some damage to agricultural operations, including downed trees and limbs. There also was some damage reported to building roofs. There was wind damage reported in corn, sorghum and cotton, particularly on the outer edges of the fields. Range and pasture conditions improved, though deep subsoil moisture remained a concern as many native pecan trees did not leaf out this year. Warmer, drier weather was predicted, and the evapotranspiration rates were expected to rise soon with higher temperatures. Wheat and oat harvests began with higher-than-normal yields reported. Cattle were grazing on pastures. Pastures continued to look good, and hay production was ongoing in some areas. Livestock diets were being supplemented and were in mostly fair condition. Whitetail deer does were starting to drop fawns, and bucks were active. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 21, 2024 Precipitation amounts across Southwest Texas ranged from none to almost 2 inches in isolated pockets. Soil moisture was lacking throughout the region and no runoff water was reported. It was cooler in some areas with overcast, high humidity and a hot week expected. The rain helped allow pasture, forage and range conditions to remain good. Both irrigated and dryland crops were improving, and corn and sorghum continued to grow, having recovered from recent hail damage. Desert termites continued to devastate parts of some areas and a heavy caterpillar presence was noticed in pecans and other trees. The early season hay baling has been noticed. Soils were retaining moisture and stock tanks have filled up to a noticeable amount. Livestock body condition scores averaged from 4-6 and producers were still cutting numbers as the region was not showing real signs of recovery. However, livestock conditions remained good. Deer and other wildlife activity increased, and young bucks were seen more frequently. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 7, 2024

Weather conditions in South Texas ranged from hot and dry to mild and humid with very little rainfall. Sorghum fields looked good with most areas reporting seeding and crops turning color. Sesame and watermelon crops looked good and were almost ready for harvest. Many producers were expected to begin sunflower harvest soon. Cotton conditions ranged from fair to good with most areas seeing bolls and early planted cotton in the flowering stages. Whiteflies and chili thrips were in cotton, and aphids were reported on some late-panted grain sorghum fields. Corn fields were in good condition with harvest underway in most areas. Pasture conditions varied from poor to fair with ranchers in some areas already selling calves at lighter weights and supplementing cattle with hay and protein. Livestock and wildlife conditions were good, and cattle prices remained strong in most areas. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), June 18, 2024 The district received rainfall ranging from zero to 4 inches with hot, humid conditions. The grain sorghum harvest started in many areas. Sudan and Bermuda grass fields were baled. Corn was a few weeks away from harvest. Sesame pods were being set, and fields looked clean of insects. Very few crop fields were being irrigated as most irrigation districts were out of water allotments. Turfgrass was being harvested. Hay was being bailed in many places, with producers in some areas gearing up for their second cutting. Fruit and vegetable producers were harvesting and moving their crop as quickly as possible. Cotton fields were flowering. Pastures were green and lush, and irrigated hay fields were in good condition in some areas with a few areas suffering from the extreme heat and dry conditions. Livestock conditions ranged from poor to good. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in some areas with many landowners planning to thin their herds to prepare for a dry summer. Cattle prices were strong. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), June 4, 2024 South Texas reported very warm to hot conditions and rainfall ranging from a trace to 2 inches. There were reports of hail and straight-line winds that damaged irrigation pivots and outbuildings. Corn and grain sorghum fields were expected to be harvested earlier this year. Cotton planting continued, and planted fields were beginning to show growth. Watermelon harvest continued with drip irrigation taking place. Sesame fields were faring well. Oats were harvested, and wheat harvest was good in most areas while some activity halted due to rain. Hay producers were cutting Bermuda grass fields and should bale soon. Hay yields ranged from fair to good in most areas. Range and pasture conditions were poor to good. Livestock and wildlife conditions were poor to good with supplemental feeding occurring in most areas. Cattle were in good condition but needed supplemental feed. Some sale barns reported lower volumes with a slight decrease in feeder cattle prices while others reported strong prices. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 21, 2024 South Texas has seen mild temperatures with humid and windy conditions with rainfall averaging from dry to 2 1/2 inches in some areas. Soil conditions ranged from poor to adequate. Corn and sorghum crops in some areas continued to progress but were showing signs of moisture stress in late morning in some plants. Row crops in some areas were looking good in irrigated areas. In Hidalgo County, flea hopper pressure was reported in untreated cotton and yellow sugarcane aphid pressure was reported in grain sorghum. Citrus was being irrigated, but some orchards were in irrigation districts that were out of water. Irrigation was getting critical for most producers because of extremely low water levels in Falcon Lake. Irrigation districts and some municipalities in Cameron County were continuing to implement water usage restrictions as supplies continued to decline. Strawberries were being harvested with other spring and summer vegetables in some areas. Wheat and oat harvest has begun in most areas and cotton planting will be completed. Peanut planting started in Frio County. Producers were busy harvesting hay in some areas but other fields needed rain to finish growing. Grazer fields were still growing but were showing signs of moisture stress. Coastal Bermuda grass fields were producing good hay bales, and watermelon fields were developing in normal conditions in Maverick County. Pasture and rangeland conditions ranged from poor to fair. Beef cattle producers in most areas continued to take advantage of strong market prices as they continued to cull herds prior to summer. A slight seasonal decrease in feeder cattle was reported this week. Quail were pairing up and notable sightings were being reported. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), May 7, 2024

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation on June 18 as two blazes continued to encroach on Ruidoso, prompting the evacuation of roughly 5,000 people. The South Fork Fire on the northern side of Ruidoso began on Mescalero Apache tribal land on the morning of June 17 and had burned nearly 14,000 acres within a day. The Salt Fire to the south was also burning on tribal land and had blackened 2,800 acres. Much of the area has been in extreme drought for nearly a year. CNN (Atlanta, Ga.), June 18, 2024

After ample rainfall across parts of Florida, counties were rescinding burn bans. The Glades County Commissioners issued a burn ban this week after determining emergency conditions including extreme drought and related weather concerns existed. Glades County is one of ten other counties with a burn ban in effect, including Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Polk, Sarasota and Seminole counties. WGCU 90.1 FM Fort Myers (Fla.), May 30, 2024 A countywide burn ban took effect in Manatee County due to ongoing drought and the heightened fire risk. All outdoor burning was prohibited, as was the use and discharge of fireworks and sparklers. WTSP 10 Tampa Bay (Fla.), June 3, 2024 A burn ban took effect in Okeechobee County due to dry conditions. Trash fires, campfires, bonfires and the use of burn barrels is prohibited. WPBF-TV ABC 25 West Palm Beach (Fla.), June 6, 2024 A local state of emergency and a countywide burn ban took effect on June 10 for St. Lucie County. WQCS-FM (Fort Pierce, Fla.), June 10, 2024 The Manatee Board of County Commissioners met for an emergency session and extended the burn ban on all outdoor burning and the use of fireworks and sparklers. The burn ban will remain in effect for another seven days. WWSB-TV ABC 7 My Sun Coast Sarasota (Fla.), June 10, 2024

Medina Lake has dropped to 2.4% of capacity, its lowest in the last 60 years. The depleted lake has a dire effect on local businesses. One café worked to increase its social media presence and began online sales to stay open. Homeowners have also seen a drop in property values with the lake so low. WOAI News 4 San Antonio (Texas), June 13, 2024

Arizona's searing hot summers and ongoing drought leave wildlife in Tucson without enough drinking water. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is addressing the need by maintaining 3,000 wildlife waters across the state. KGUN 9 Online (Tucson, Ariz.), June 12, 2024

The city of Laredo is adding surcharges to homes and businesses that use more than a certain amount of water as the city is in Stage 3 water restrictions due to heat, drought and a lack of water payments from Mexico. Water users will be billed a $10 surcharge for each 1,000 gallons above a certain amount. The Laredo mayor and some city council members voiced their criticism of other communities along the Rio Grande River that were not choosing to ration water. Border Report (McAllen, Texas), June 13, 2024

In the Winter Garden area of West Texas, some corn fields received enough rain to emerge and grow somewhat, but they never got more than a half inch of rain. Farmers were making hay out of that corn. Lakes were low. Wells and livestock tanks were going dry, and creeks and rivers were not flowing. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), June 11, 2024

The sale and use of most fireworks are banned through Independence Day and into the second week of July for all wildlands and unincorporated parts of Santa Fe County. Factors warranting the ban were abnormally high temperatures, low humidity, high winds and the abundance of dry fuel material. The ban included missile-type rockets, helicopters, aerial spinners, stick-type rockets and ground audible devices. Santa Fe New Mexico, June 12, 2024

A Cameron County citrus grower opted to bulldoze about 40 acres of citrus trees for lack of water amid drought and very low reservoir levels on the Rio Grande River. The farmer chose to use his reduced water supply on more productive crops rather than less productive ones. Another grower in the Valley was hoping to avoid tearing out trees and switching crops. KRGV-TV Channel 5 Weslaco (Texas), June 7, 2024

Starr County commissioners approved a drought-related disaster declaration on June 10 that will remain in effect through July 10 unless rescinded. The heat and below normal rainfall create a fire threat that could lead to injuries, deaths and property damage. KRGV-TV Channel 5 Weslaco (Texas), June 11, 2024

Laredo residents were able to fill their swimming pools only one day per week effective July 12, when the Water Conservation Drought Contingency Plan-Stage 3 took effect. Newsweek (New York), June 10, 2024

The City of Waco asks water users to limit outdoor watering to three days per week beginning in July to conserve water. KCEN HD (Temple, Texas), June 10, 2024

Skyrockets with sticks and missiles with fins will be banned for sale and use in El Paso County due to persistent drought. KVIA-TV ABC 7 El Paso (Texas), June 10, 2024

The spring drought and the heat have left Clear Lake, the primary reservoir for the city of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach and South Palm Beach, at a very low level. The shoreline has moved by more than 50 feet in some areas. The Department of Public Utilities is pumping 10 million gallons of water daily from its wells while nearly half of residential water use is used for watering lawns. WPTV-TV NBC 5 West Palm Beach (Fla.), June 10, 2024 West Palm Beach officials were urging residents to conserve water. The city’s water comes from the Grassy Waters Preserve and Clear Lake, which has been affected by record heat and a lack of rainfall. The city has supplemented its water supply with an aquifer that contributes about 10 million gallons of water daily. WPBF-TV ABC 25 West Palm Beach (Fla.), June 6, 2024

The City of Ellsworth declared a water warning due to ongoing drought conditions and a significant decline in the town’s water supply. Lawn watering is restricted to certain hours on certain days. KWCH 12 (Wichita, Kan.), June 7, 2024

The County of Maui Department of Water Supply has launched their “Don’t Waste a Drop” conservation campaign. Parts of the county were in moderate to severe drought as the dry summer months arrive. “Water resources are already strained in Upcountry and West Maui, and during the dry, hot summer months, water demand is typically higher, so we need all residents and visitors alike, in every part of the island, to be extra mindful of their water use,” explained the county director of water supply. Maui Now (Kahului, Hawaii), June 6, 2024

The Edwards Aquifer Authority entered Stage 4 water restrictions from Stage 3 due to the 10-day rolling average falling below 100 cubic feet per second. Pumping must be reduced by 40%. The flow rate at Comal Springs in New Braunfels triggered the restrictions. The J-17 index well in Bexar County was also near Stage 4 at 630.1 feet on June 7. The Stage 4 trigger is a 10-day average of 630 feet. SAWS has been in Stage 2 restrictions since April 2022, when the J-17 well dropped below 650 feet. San Antonio Express-News (Texas), June 7, 2024 The Edwards Aquifer Authority announced a change in water restrictions from Stage 2 to Stage 3 as the level of the J-17 index well in Bexar County fell. The 10-day rolling average level of the well was 639.9 feet above mean sea level, triggering Stage 3 when the average dropped below 640 feet. Permit holders can pump just 65% of their usual water allotments. In late January, EAA went from Stage 3 to Stage 2. San Antonio Express-News (Texas), April 4, 2024