Drought

Wild pollinator plants in Iowa were struggling amid the drought and had fewer blooms. Less nectar can mean fewer pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, beetles and Monarch butterflies. A single year of drought shouldn’t affect insect populations as most pollinators produce large amounts of larvae, but another year of drought might decrease populations. KCRG Online (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), Sept 13, 2023

Wisconsin apple orchards suffered due to drought this summer which has caused apples to drop from the trees early. Environmental stressors, like strong winds, temperature fluctuations and drought often cause apples to drop early. Drought reduced the income from the orchard. Spectrum News 1 (Milwaukee, Wis.), Sept 13, 2023

An orchard owner in Gays Mills in Crawford County began watering in May, due to the dry conditions, and irrigated for nearly the entire summer. They might typically water maybe four times a year, but not for months. Drought was hard on the field crops, but fruit growers say that the dry weather was good for many trees and vines. A pumpkin grower in Door County noted that the pumpkins were more affected by drought than his apples. The pumpkin vines did not progress much during the first half of the summer. A grape grower in Vernon County reported that the dry weather led to an unprecedented bumper crop. Some grape varieties were ready to be harvested several weeks early. The new vines planted this spring were hand-watered to keep them alive, which was a large labor demand. The dry weather kept pests and diseases to a minimum and yielded grapes of excellent quality. Wisconsin Public Radio (Madison), Sept 13, 2023

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed that an Arizona snail, the Quitobaquito tryonia, be listed as an endangered species after drought and groundwater pumping from the construction of the border wall decreased numbers of the snail. Cronkite News (Phoenix, Ariz.), Sept 13, 2023

The dry spring and summer in Minnesota reduced mosquito numbers, but cases of West Nile Virus were still high as the kind of mosquitoes that transmit the virus thrive amid drought. KSTP-TV ABC 5 Minneapolis/St. Paul (Minneapolis, Minn.), Sept 13, 2023

Exceptional drought conditions continued in Central Texas with another week of record high temperatures, which were 10-15 degrees above normal in most areas. There were heavy rains throughout the district, which brought anywhere from a third of an inch to 3 inches, as well as cooler temperatures. Tanks that were not already dry continued to dry up. Pastures were extremely dry, and tree conditions declined. Producers feared hay wouldn’t make another crop this year. The cotton harvest neared completion, yielding around a third to a half bale per acre. Producers started thinking about planting oats for grazing but will have to wait for additional rainfall. Winter wheat planting was delayed until later in the fall to avoid as much of the first flush of Hessian flies as possible. Cattle prices remained good, along with sheep and goat prices. Livestock were being heavily supplemented. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 12, 2023 Drought conditions persisted in Central Texas with extremely hot and dry weather. Stock tank levels were steadily declining, major reservoirs drew down to critically low levels, and water restrictions became more widespread. Fire conditions persisted. A few localized, scattered showers dropped some rain but only helped lower daytime temperatures a few degrees. Heat continued to deteriorate forage, trees continued to burn, and woody brush turned yellow. The soil in pastures was cracking, and hay was being shipped in. Producers were unable to plow due to the low soil moisture. The cotton crop deteriorated near the point that additional rainfall will not help yields. Growers began seeking sources of winter cereals to plant when moisture conditions improve to establish grazing land this winter. Retailers expressed their expectations of seed shortages of both fall and winter rye and oats. Livestock producers switched supplemental feeding with little to no grazing left. Producers continued to sell and liquidate herds. The body condition scoring of cattle was thinning. The sale of steers dropped, cows were selling well, and the sale of heifers rose. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 29, 2023 Central Texas was in severe drought with persistent hot and dry weather conditions. Soil moisture levels were very short. There was zero significant rainfall. Temperatures remained over 100 degrees during the day. Native and irrigated pecan orchards were affected by heat stress, causing yield losses. Cotton plants also suffered, and bolls were opening while still small. Corn and hay harvests continued but slowed down. With the exception of a few irrigated fields, pastures and meadows were in very poor condition. Stock tanks and lake levels were low and grass fires increased. Due to the poor pasture conditions and lack of forage to graze, livestock diets were being supplemented. Livestock were in fair to good condition. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 15, 2023 Brutally hot and dry conditions dominated Central Texas. Soil moisture levels were very short to short. Counties were setting records for the most consecutive days over 100 degrees with no rain in the forecast. Pastures and rangelands were in very poor to fair condition with many looking dried out and turning yellow. The soil was visibly cracking in pastures. Tank water was evaporating quickly. Hay feeding and supplementation began for beef herds. Livestock were in good condition, and some cattle were being shipped off pastures. Hay producers needed another rain to make a cutting of hay. Sorghum harvest was well underway. Corn harvest was progressing rapidly with above-average yields reported. Yields for the earliest corn planted in March were excellent with some reports of more than 220 bushels per acre while those planted in April were 40-60 bushels per acre. Overall, the corn yields were above average. Cotton conditions declined somewhat with the intense heat and drought. Some spider mites were showing up but were not at treatable levels yet. Trees were shedding leaves. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 1, 2023

Extreme heat and dry conditions persisted in the Rolling Plains last week. Cotton across the entire district was reported as poor or completely burned up. Many cattle producers continued thinning their herds, selling as many as possible to reduce the amount of hay and supplements being fed. Some farmers started to dry-sow wheat and apply fertilizer in anticipation of forecasted rains. All counties were hopeful for the projected moisture and cooler temperatures. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 12, 2023 Rolling Plains farmers and ranchers didn’t experience any relief for their land or livestock. Widespread drought continued with the prolonged extreme heat and lack of measurable moisture. The increased concern for fire conditions persisted. Water levels in livestock water tanks were edging dangerously low for producers, if not gone altogether. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 29, 2023 Extreme fire danger was a concern across the Rolling Plains and will continue to be until substantial rain falls. Several counties reported wildfires; fortunately they were mostly contained or completely put out. The prolonged heat has taken its toll on pastures and cultivated crops. Cotton acres were especially hurting. Most of the district was reporting severe infestations of grasshoppers, and some areas were starting to see more blister bugs as well. Cattle were being fed hay and supplements because of the lack of grazing. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 15, 2023 Widespread drought conditions continued in Texas' Rolling Plains. All counties were experiencing the adverse effects of extreme heat and lack of moisture. Pasture grasses and crops without irrigation were showing signs of severe stress. Grasshoppers were posing a problem and consuming any green vegetation left. Wildfire dangers were worrying many producers as foliage dried down. Livestock were being fed with supplemental hay due to the lack of available grazing, and many producers were also facing low drinking water levels in stock ponds. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 1, 2023

A few areas of the Coastal Bend reported isolated storms bringing less than a half inch of rain. Some damaging winds were reported in Wharton County. High temperatures and lack of additional rain dried out most fields, allowing producers to continue stalk destruction and preparing the soil for the growing season. Most cotton harvest was completed. Some rice fields were being irrigated for the ratoon crop. Wharton County reported rice acreage was down 40% from last year due to unavailable surface water for irrigation. More than 20,000 acres of rice were reported as prevented planting in 2023 due to unavailable irrigation water. Livestock producers continued culling herds and selling calves due to poor pastures and limited water availability. Some cattle producers tried to feed their way through the drought with hay and protein supplements. Pasture conditions were poor, and hay supplies were critically low. Hay was costly, if it could be found. Livestock markets continued holding firm, even with higher numbers of cattle selling. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 12, 2023 Widespread rainfall from a tropical system benefited much of the Coastal Bend. However, it did little to offset drought. Matagorda County was declared a natural disaster area due to recent drought. The threat of wildfires was very high. Most row crop harvests were completed, apart from some cotton and rice. Most producers were working on stalk destruction of cotton and disking corn stalks. Triple-digit temperatures continued to deteriorate rangelands and pastures. Livestock markets remained strong, and large runs on cattle kept auctions busy. Many producers were trying to hang on to their cattle and were feeding hay and supplements. Hay was being transported, much of it coming as crop stubble out of the Rio Grande Valley and the rice-growing areas. Producers were keeping an eye on stock water sources. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 29, 2023 Excessive heat and lack of moisture continued to exacerbate the drought. All areas needed rainfall. The dry weather was good for producers during cotton harvest. Yields thus far were mixed with some reporting below average yields but most reporting better than expected outcomes. Rice harvest was about half complete, and corn harvest was nearly done. Rangeland and pasture conditions continued to deteriorate. Grasses were becoming dry and crunchy. Livestock continued to look better than expected in most cases. Cattle market prices were still at historic highs. Livestock inventory numbers were shrinking as some ranchers were feeding hay. Hay production had halted. Many beef producers were purchasing crop residue hay from other areas. Ponds in many areas were dry, and there was a lot of attention being directed toward making sure water troughs were functioning. Commercial and homeowner pecan trees were shedding nuts despite irrigation. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 15, 2023 Hot and dry conditions prevailed in the Coastal Bend. Heavy corn and sorghum yields were being reported. Cotton needed rain, and conditions were declining. Rice harvest was well underway. Hay harvesting was still in full swing; however, without more rain there may be only one cutting this season. Pastures and rangelands were drying up fast. Burn bans were in effect for many areas due to extremely dry conditions. Supplemental feeding of cattle was taking place in some areas. Livestock were doing well, and prices remained strong at auctions. Many ranchers were selling calves early to reduce stress on cows and pastures. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 1, 2023

Some East Texas counties received small amounts of rainfall. Angelina County reportedly received as much as 4 inches in some parts over the last two weeks. The majority were still under severe drought stress. Ponds and creeks were shallow. Pastures and rangeland conditions were poor to very poor. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were very short. Jasper County reported wildfires were still occurring regularly. Producers scrambled to find hay or to sell cattle at the market. Market prices remained strong despite the increased numbers being sold. Livestock were in fair condition with continued supplemental feeding. Armyworms were reported in Harrison County. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 12, 2023 Drought conditions persisted across East Texas. Wildfires became a problem in many areas. Producers who once thought they had a good stock of hay have started supplemental feeding their livestock. Producers were culling herds and selling calves early due to poor pasture conditions and water shortage. Cattle markets remained steady overall. Cherokee County reported that the local market stayed strong despite the higher-than-normal numbers sold. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 29, 2023 Drought conditions persisted and worsened in East Texas. Hot, dry weather dried down moisture levels in the soil, and slowed or stopped hay production. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were very short to short. Pond and creek water levels were drastically lower. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to poor. Gregg County reported grass fires. Cattle prices remained strong and sale volumes were high. Producers were culling herds hard due to strong markets and drought conditions. Livestock were in fair to good condition with some supplemental feeding taking place. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 15, 2023 Drought conditions worsened in East Texas. Subsoil conditions were short, while topsoil conditions ranged from very short to short. High temperatures and no rain have caused everything to dry up. Burn bans were posted in several areas. Polk County reported an increase in wildfire activity. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair. Pond and creek water levels continued to drop. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Grasshopper damage was reported. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 1, 2023

Extremely dry conditions continued across the South Plains. Most dryland cotton was not expected to make a crop this year due to the lack of rainfall and extreme heat. Pumpkin harvest started a couple of weeks ago. Producers have been busy harvesting corn and sorghum silage over the past few weeks. Estimates for irrigated cotton harvest ranged from 1 bale to 2 1/2 bales per acre. Pasture grazing was depleted due to the lack of rainfall, and a few producers were supplemental feeding cattle. Cattle were reported to be in good condition. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 12, 2023 Rainfall may have occurred over the week in the South Plains region but was very sporadic. Most cotton fields hit cutout, 3.5 nodes above white flower, excluding those few where irrigation was high, as they could continued irrigation during the drought. Scouting of fields for insects was still needed. Crops were attacked by multiple pests such as Lygus and bollworms in cotton, Banks grass mites, corn earworms, mites in later corn fields and aphids were the primary issue in sorghum fields. A few acres were cut for silage, with more scheduled in the coming weeks. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 29, 2023 Dry conditions continued across the district with a few spotty showers. Temperatures were above 100 for multiple days with little relief in sight. Nighttime temperatures were not below 80 degrees, which was not allowing crops to rest between 100-degree daytime temperatures. Producers who planted dryland cotton early expected to make a crop, but those who planted later had not received enough rain needed for a good crop. Irrigation systems were going strong across the district. Irrigated cotton fields were in good to excellent condition. Corn was doing well. Pumpkin growers were treating insects as the plants started to grow fruit. Cattle were in good condition. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 15, 2023 South Plains farmers were irrigating to keep their crops progressing. The rains in the early summer were a great start to the growing season and helped many farmers keep their irrigation systems off until the past two weeks. Cotton was in good condition across much of the district and receiving necessary heat units with a lot of fields starting to square. Corn was in fair to good condition with a few farmers reporting problems with worms. Sorghum was also starting to head out. All dryland crops needed rain quickly. Temperatures were hot with no relief in sight and not much of a cool down at night to allow crops to recoup for daytime temperatures. Cattle were in good condition with the improved native grass grazing from the early summer rains. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 1, 2023

Hot and dry conditions prevailed over the Texas Panhandle. Some areas received a small amount of rainfall, but more was needed to help. Dryland cotton was nearing completion; acres had turned brown, and bolls had started to open. Irrigated cotton looked good, but with not enough rain and then too much rain, the crop was not expected to be the best in terms of grades or quality. Pasture grasses have gone dormant due to excessive heat and lack of moisture. Producers fed hay as quickly as possible, some taking it straight from the fields as soon as it was bailed. Some producers were concerned this would cause a hay shortage this winter. Producers were waiting to plant small grains due to the lack of moisture. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 12, 2023 Extreme hot and dry temperatures in the Texas Panhandle created heat and drought stress for all crops. Most crops were in the last quarter of crop production and development; therefore, most yields were set. The corn crop was persisting with pivots running. Much of the early corn was very close to harvest. Some of the fields with weak water were chopped on the edges to reduce field size. Livestock were in fair condition with supplemental feeding on a large scale. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 29, 2023 The Panhandle was very hot and dry for the week with temperatures reaching 100-plus degrees. Some areas received some rainfall that ranged from 0.5-1 inch. Most counties reported short to adequate soil moisture with some reports of very short moisture. Lightning from the storms caused a few wildfires. Producers were applying manure and compost. Silage harvest started with some fields being chopped early. Corn was doing well under irrigation, but sorghum was behind schedule. Haying and baling was going on with some producers baling weedy fields. Pastures and rangelands dried out quickly. Livestock were in good condition as producers began to feed hay along with supplements on a small scale. The overall condition of crops, pasture and rangeland was poor to fair. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 15, 2023 The Texas Panhandle was very hot and dry with temperatures reaching 100-plus degrees daily. The soil moisture profile was good but could decline rapidly without rain. Most counties reported short to adequate subsoil and topsoil moisture. The wheat harvest was mostly complete, and yields were very low. Tillage and spraying continued behind the harvest. Corn and sorghum were stressed due to the hot, dry, windy weather. Pastures and rangelands were starting to go dormant. Livestock were in good condition with supplemental feeding occurring on a small scale. The overall condition of crops, pastures and rangelands were fair to good. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 1, 2023

Far West Texas had another week of extremely hot conditions, with temperatures in the 100s. Scattered showers provided a few tenths of an inch in the northeastern and southwestern corners of the region. Cotton was maturing quickly, with some fields close to 100% open. A few areas had defoliants sprayed on them. Overall yields were expected to be well below average. Grain sorghum crops were expected to be a loss and not harvested. Fields were resting, with most kept in place to prevent wind erosion. Pastures were all brush, with no grass in sight. Hay was being fed to livestock regularly. Livestock were in poor to fair condition. Area beef cattle producers were in full swing of weaning/shipping season, but many were having trouble keeping livestock cool, hydrated and well-fed. Dove season started with large amounts of dove noted. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 12, 2023 Daytime temperatures in Far West Texas were in the low 90s, with overnight temperatures in the lower 70s. Isolated areas received 1.5-3 inches of rain. The heavy rain saturated the soil, causing producers to take a couple of days to get into the fields. Subsoil moisture had improved, varying from short to adequate. Although it was cooler this week, this season’s extreme heat had this cotton crop deteriorating. Bolls were beginning to open prematurely with immature seeds and lint inside. Other fields continued to shed bolls, some up to eight days old. All corn was harvested, and sorghum was nearly complete. Pecans were growing well, though the wind knocked many off the branches. Rainfall encouraged a small amount of reliance on rangelands and pastures. Livestock were in poor to fair condition. Ranchers continued to take their cattle to the sale barn. Livestock producers continued supplemental feeding for the animals they have kept. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 29, 2023 Temperatures were 104-110 degrees in the lower basin areas of Far West Texas. Widespread rainfall and cooler conditions were reported in the Davis Mountain area. Some areas received up to 2 inches of rainfall. The district was in desperate need of rain to improve rangeland and soil moisture conditions. Subsoil moisture remained short to adequate. Cotton conditions were declining rapidly due to extreme heat and drought. With most fields at peak water demand, growers could not provide enough water and plants were shedding quite a few squares and small bolls, and yield potential was decreasing rapidly. Heat stress and lack of rain set sorghum behind. Corn harvest was beginning, and yields were not as good as expected. Melon harvest continued but yields were starting to decline. Sunflowers and pumpkins were growing. Pastures were completely bare except for a few patches of broomweed. Livestock producers were supplementing with hay and feed, and cattle were losing some body condition. Livestock were eating mesquite beans. Some wildlife had moved into town to graze on homeowners’ lawns. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 15, 2023 Temperatures cooled somewhat in Far West Texas but were still in the upper 90s with nighttime temperatures in the low-to-mid 70s. Lower temperatures were beneficial to crops, but the lack of rain doomed all dryland acres. Conditions continued to worsen for more producers who were forced to make drastic decisions. Crop adjusters were looking at cotton to decide if growers should keep it or take it out. Irrigated cotton continued to grow very slowly. Corn was finished and drying down, and sorghum was getting close. Melon harvest continued and yields increased with each picking. Pastures were completely bare in some areas, supplemental feeding continued. Most livestock were sold off after two years of drought conditions. Doves were moving into the district. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 1, 2023

Small showers allowed West Central Texas temperatures to drop into the upper 90’s and 80’s. The forecast showed moderate chances of rain and cooler temperatures for the coming week. Some producers began field preparation for small grain planting, while others waited on rain so they could start plowing fields. Cotton crops and hay were in mostly poor to fair condition. Late-planted sorghum was struggling due to drought stress. Trees of all species were showing signs of drought/heat stress, with leaves browning and starting to fall. Some pecan producers were expecting pecan trees to struggle. Lake/stock tank water levels were dropping. Supplemental feeding of livestock increased due to the drought. Another cow herd sold out this week at a local auction barn. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 12, 2023 Hot and dry weather conditions persisted in West Central Texas. Although some parts of the district received rainfall over the weekend, the drought intensified and moved the district into exceptional drought. Farmers began field preparation to plant small grains. Pecan trees were showing drought stress and dropping nuts. Row crops were suffering from extreme heat and lack of moisture. Forage and hay crops were in poor condition with limited cutting and baling of hay. Ranchers continued supplemental feeding for the livestock they kept. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 29, 2023 Temperature highs were over 100 degrees daily in West Central Texas. Conditions remained very dry in most areas. Several fires were reported. Some areas received 0.5 to more than 1 inch of rainfall. Producers continued to prepare fields for wheat, but rain will be needed before planting. Some hay cutting and baling continued, but most production ended due to dry conditions. Rangeland and pasture conditions were poor and continued to worsen. Stock tanks were declining, and some were dry. Livestock were stressed by heat, and some cows were having difficulty calving in the intense heat. Most producers continued to feed livestock or sell them. Livestock body conditions were holding, and market prices were steady to higher with good demand reported. Row crops were struggling in the hot, dry conditions. Cotton fields were blooming, but plant growth was limited. Dryland and irrigated cotton fields were struggling, and yield projections were declining. Corn and sorghum harvests finished with mixed results on yields. Pecan orchards were suffering even where irrigation was available. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 15, 2023 Hot and dry conditions continued in West Central Texas with high temperatures around 100 degrees daily. No precipitation was reported, or in the forecast. Water levels in tanks and lakes were dropping. Severe drought conditions were giving way to extreme drought levels. Some producers were cutting and baling hay fields. Hay yields were lower this cutting, and more rain will be needed for another. Some other field cultivation was underway. Cotton fields were off to slow start but in mostly fair to good condition. Dryland cotton looked poor with some reports of fields lost to heat and drought. Livestock looked good, but some were losing body condition due to the intense heat. Most classes of cattle sold $3-$8 higher per hundredweight with good demand for heifers, pairs and bred cows. Most forages without irrigation were not growing. Insect problems continued, especially grasshoppers. Trees were dropping leaves. Corn harvest was expected to start soon. Most stock tanks were still in good shape, but pastures were in poor to fair condition and declining. Burn bans were put into effect for some counties. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 1, 2023

Multiple counties in Southeast Texas had scattered showers but were experiencing exceptional drought conditions. Rice was beginning to be cut after the small break due to the wet conditions during planting. Producers were hoping for one more hay cutting, but chances were looking slim. Cattle were brought to local auction barns as producers continued culling their herds due to the lack of grass/hay. Calf prices lowered slightly, but the market was still very favorable. Several tree species were hitting early dormancy due to the lack of rain; some showed drought stress. Grasshoppers continued increasing in numbers. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 12, 2023 Southeast Texas experienced scattered rainfall, but not enough to improve the conditions of rangelands and pastures. Hay production was very low in bales per acre. Many farmers were harvesting rice straw. Pecan trees began shedding nuts, and irrigated cotton was holding firm while dryland cotton was struggling. Madison County allowed producers to contact U.S. Department of Agriculture-Farm Service Agency offices to apply for assistance. Dry conditions continued to drive cattle to the local market. Producers continued supplemental feeding and hauling water to the animals they kept. Available surface water was at 75% as bayous and creeks that have never been dry were extremely low, with cracks in some areas. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 29, 2023 Temperatures were above 100 degrees daily in Southeast Texas, and the lack of rain continued to be a concern. Soil moisture levels were very short to adequate. Burn bans continued, and fire risks were high. Some grassfires were reported. Ponds were drying up quickly, and some producers started feeding hay. Hay production was at a standstill due to drought. Most producers were predicting a hay shortage for this fall/winter, and prices were increasing. Most producers were already feeding hay and cubes because of the lack of forage. High volumes of cattle were going to market, and prices were holding firm. Corn harvest continued with yields holding strong with some reports ranging from 140-180 bushels per acre. Irrigated cotton was healthy, but non-irrigated was showing signs of stress. Cotton harvest was expected to be a month later than usual in some areas. Rice harvest continued, but some producers worried ratoon crops may dry out before water is reapplied. Trees were dying due to drought conditions. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 15, 2023 Conditions in Southeast Texas were extremely dry and hot with temperatures over 100 degrees daily. Heat indexes continued to be around 110 degrees. One area reported some rainfall. Soil moisture levels were very short to adequate with most areas reporting very short to short conditions. No rain was in the forecast. Burn bans were being put into effect. Walnut caterpillars were prevalent. Corn and sorghum harvests continued, and cotton looked in fair to good condition. Rice harvest was underway and expected to ramp up. Some rice harvesting may be delayed based on planting dates. Pastures and rangelands needed rain, and forage availability was decreasing. Cattle prices were steady. Hay production continued but had slowed down. Bales were beginning to be moved and fed to livestock. Ponds and stock tank water levels were declining. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 1, 2023

Hot and dry conditions persisted in Southwest Texas, with daytime temperatures exceeding 100 degrees for most of the week. Some areas reported scattered showers for the weekend, from minimal measurable accumulations to about one-fifth of an inch of rain. The pecan yield was expected to be low during harvest, even among irrigated orchards. The few signs of green grass were shrinking; the only green grass left was in shaded areas of trees and structures. There was an estimated 3% loss of trees and shrubs in pastures, and many live oak trees turned brown. Water well companies were working tirelessly, lowering pumps in wells if possible. Pastures were browning quickly. Rangelands and pasture conditions had deteriorated to necessitate supplemental feeding. Cattle operations continued thinning herds to cut feed costs. Livestock and wildlife were still in good condition with supplemental feeding. Livestock markets looked surprisingly strong and were in mostly fair condition. Dove hunters were pleasantly surprised with the number of doves seen this week. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Sept 12, 2023 Extreme heat conditions persisted in Southwest Texas for the week. Some areas reported spotty showers of rainfall, which was a relief from the record-breaking temperatures. Remnants of Tropical Storm Harold scattered between 1.25-2.5 inches throughout Kinney County. Cooler and more seasonal temperatures were experienced for a couple of days. Pastures were responding well to the recent rainfall. Sutton County reported spotty showers and less than half of an inch received. Production of most range plants stopped due to drought conditions, and rainfed ponds were mostly dried out. The expected pecan yield was low overall due to insufficient water supplementing irrigation. Caldwell County received no rain this week. Caldwell County and 24 other counties in Texas were declared to be under a state of emergency for severe drought. Cattle markets remained strong. Livestock were in fair condition. Supplemental feeding was necessary for most livestock producers. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 29, 2023 Record-breaking high temperatures and dry conditions continued in Southwest Texas. Over 100 acres were burned by a wildfire near Bastrop. Drought conditions and extreme heat have caused several major fires in Caldwell County as well. Hay production had mostly stopped, and supplemental feeding became more widespread. Sorghum harvest was complete, and corn harvest continued with average to above average yields reported. Irrigated cotton fields were doing well. Pastures continued to decline, and trees were shutting down and shedding leaves in the harsher conditions. Pastures were extremely dry, and producers were culling herds deeper and deeper. Livestock were in fair condition. Cattle, sheep and goat markets remained strong even with the lack or forage. Weaning should help ease some grazing pressure. Producers were supplementing both livestock and wildlife heavily. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 15, 2023 Daily temperatures were 100-plus degrees in Southwest Texas. The intense heat and lack of rain continued to negatively impact agriculture and rangelands. Grain sorghum and corn harvests began on the earlier planted fields, and most fields were mature. Corn harvest was nearing completion in some areas. Good-to-average sorghum yields were reported in some areas. Hay was available but expensive. Cotton was in rough shape. Warm-season pastures were going dormant. Rangeland and pastures continued to decline with extreme heat and dry conditions. Livestock and wildlife were starting to show stress. AgriLife Today (College Station, Texas), Aug 1, 2023

Georgetown remained largely in stage 2 water restrictions, while the western portion of Georgetown’s service area has been in Stage 3 restrictions since mid-July. Stillhouse Hollow Lake has fallen to its lowest capacity in 33 years. Lake Georgetown, the city’s other major reservoir, was nearing levels last seen during the 2011 drought. Georgetown receives surface water from lakes Georgetown, Stillhouse Hollow and Travis and groundwater from the Edwards Aquifer. The city also has an agreement to receive 3 million gallons of water per day from both Leander and Round Rock. The water for Georgetown’s western service area comes from Leander, which has not been able to provide the full amount of water, due to drought issues. Community Impact - Austin (Texas), Sept 14, 2023 The city of Georgetown implemented Stage 3 of its drought contingency plan due to high water use that is "nearing system treatment capacity." Residents were asked to stop watering their yards through Monday, at least, to allow the water system to recover. Stage 3 was anticipated to be in effect from July 14-17. KVUE News Online (Austin, Texas), July 14, 2023

Drought has affected the quantity and quality of produce able to be grown in Mississippi, and the meager selection of items available at farmers markets shows the impact. Yields were lower, and prices were higher. Winter feed is being eaten by cattle in September. WAPT Channel 16 Online (Jackson, Miss.), Sept 13, 2023

Crops in southwest Wisconsin were stunted or dying as the area endured drought. In the Driftless Region, crops were being harvested early. Corn silage was being chopped, although that does not usually occur until the latter part of September or early October. Yields will be lower this year. WXOW-TV ABC 19 LaCrosse (La Crosse, Wis.), Sept 12, 2023

A declaration of local disaster due to the extreme drought and wildfires was issued by a Guadalupe County judge last week. This week, the county upheld the declaration and extended it through next month. Consequences for violating the burn ban have doubled so that violators may be fined up to $1,000 or be jailed for up to 180 days. Seguin Today.com (Texas), Sept 13, 2023

A Warren County cattle producer began providing feed at the end of July because there was nothing growing for the livestock to eat, apart from weeds. He got just one good cutting of hay and purchased additional hay bales from local farmers. The 300 cattle were rotated among pastures, and 30 to 40 head may be sold before the end of the year. Conditions were so dry that a spark could ignite a fire that would consume the farm. They were praying for rain. Northern Virginia Daily (Strasburg, Va.), Sept 12, 2023