Extreme weather from Hurricane Rita battered Southeast Texas
with strong winds and rain, but producers in other areas
were left high and dry, according to a
Texas
Cooperative Extension
expert.Ron Holcomb,
Extension agent in Liberty County, said 15 percent of the
ratoon rice crop in East Texas was destroyed by the
hurricane. The soybean crop suffered damage also, with 10
percent to 12 percent lost.
"Rice that was ready (to be) harvested was shattered," he
said, "Rice prices are low … even that (small loss) will
further hurt profit margins."
One of the area's major producers, Ray Stoesser, was
significantly affected by loss of ratoon rice, Holcomb said.
"Even at a high level of main crop production, he was still
in the red."
Soybean producers may also experience financial burden.
"The 10-percent (loss) of soybeans will certainly hurt
profit margins, but the beans remaining after the storm
looked good," Holcomb said.
The remaining soybeans will benefit from significant
rainfall, he added.
"We were dry as a bone before the hurricane," Holcomb said.
"Four inches of rain was very helpful, and without the high
wind, it would have been even more helpful."
Even with high winds, no structural damage had been reported
in Liberty County.
More significant damage and devastation occurred further
east, Holcomb said. "Many places in East Texas have no
electricity, and trees and power lines had fallen down,"
Holcomb said. "Diesel fuel is hard to find, and even when
available, there is a lack of electricity to pump it."
Nearby areas also persevered hurricane-force winds and rain.
Dr. Lelve Gayle, executive director of the Texas Veterinary
Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in College Station, said the
Center Poultry Diseases lab in Shelby County survived Rita
and is still operating.
"Most of the poultry industry did not receive severe damage,
but there were spotted areas of disruption," he said. "We
came out in pretty good shape."
Gayle said while production continues, some producers do not
have generators or fuel to operate equipment.
Tyson Foods Inc., and Pilgrim's Pride processing plants
received minimal damage. Poultry production extends from
East Texas to at least 35 miles east of Waco, he said.
Meanwhile in many parts of North and West Texas, livestock
and crop producers faced record-high temperatures and
continuing drought.
Dr. Billy Warrick, Extension agronomist in San Angelo, said
soil moisture ranks high on every local cotton producer's
wish list.
"We would like to have soil moisture to finish out the
completion of the boll and other processes necessary to
bring cotton to its full maturity," he said. "(Cotton) is
not running at 100 percent efficiency here, and we need it
to."
Warrick has not received reports of irrigation, but
producers are considering it an option, he said. "When your
cotton is dry at the end of the day, you sure are tempted to
give it a drink."
Wheat producers are also in a bind since small grains cannot
germinate in searing hot soil, Warrick said.
"We have to delay the production of forage until we get
enough rain, which is a tough deal when you have stocker
cattle to feed," he said. "The rangeland is not green
anymore, but crunchy and brown. There are plenty of
challenges to face in solving this problem."
Cattle producers without a sufficient supply of hay will
either have to buy it or send cattle somewhere else, Warrick
said.
In drought-choked Southwest Texas, many producers have
already sent their cattle to the state of Colorado or
Northwest Texas.
Jose Pena, Extension economist in Uvalde, said producers are
taking these measures to sustain stocking rate.
"Ranchers realize there is not enough forage available, so
they are selling livestock or sending them to places that
have received enough rain," he said, "Northwest Texas and
Colorado have deferred pastures with lots of forage."
Temperatures are expected to remain high for at least a few
days and then decrease slightly, according to the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather
Service.
"We are expecting more hot weather, but even if it starts
raining right now, it would take a long time for grass to
grow tall enough so cattle can graze it," Pena said. "We
would need at least 40 or 45 days of moist soil conditions."
Dry conditions have lasted all summer in Southwest Texas.
Historically, the two months receiving the most significant
rainfall are May and September.
"But in May, we (received) almost nothing and not a drop in
September either," Pena said.
Coupled with the increasing cost of fuel, dry conditions
have caused energy consumption to increase because producers
must irrigate.
"Energy costs have increased immensely," Pena said, "And if
we could get some rain, it would really reduce (those)
costs."
The weather service predicts many parts of North and South
Texas will continue to endure fairly high temperatures, as
well as East Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita.
The following livestock, crop and weather conditions were
reported by Extension districts:
PANHANDLE: Soil moisture is short. Above-average
temperatures and no significant rainfall sustained dry
conditions. Corn was 99 percent dented.
Corn silage harvest continued. Grain harvest was expected to
begin quickly if hot temperatures persisted. Cotton was
rated fair to good; hot weather helped mature crop for
harvest. Aid chemicals were applied while bolls continued to
open. Armyworms and bollworms were reported. Peanuts were
rated fair to good; some leaf spot was reported. Wheat was
almost 50 percent planted, but dry conditions delayed
planting in some areas.
Rangeland was fair to good. Cattle were reported in good
condition, but flies continued to pester livestock.
SOUTH PLAINS: Soil moisture is adequate. Unseasonably
warm weather assisted maturation of crops. Cotton was in
good condition, and bolls opened rapidly. Harvest aids were
sprayed to speed up harvest. Corn was being harvested. Wheat
planting neared completion. Pumpkin harvest continued.
Peanut harvest picking up. Very good yields and good grades
were reported. Pastures and rangelands were in fair to good
condition.
Some cattle receiving supplemental feed.
ROLLING PLAINS: Soil moisture is short. Temperatures
cooled off. The first bale of cotton was ginned in Childress
County. Early variety cotton matured; bolls opened on hot
days. Some small grains were planted. Warm season grasses
began to change colors. Livestock were in good condition.
Quail numbers are good. Producers put in wheat and
fertilized. Peanut harvest was in full swing. Many stock
tanks ran dry. Some ranchers hauled in water for livestock.
NORTH: Soil moisture is very short to adequate.
Severe drought conditions continued. Cotton was in very poor
to fair condition; 50 percent of bolls were open. Oats were
20 percent planted. Rice was 65 percent harvested. Sorghum
harvest was nearly complete. Soybeans were dropping leaves
and being harvested. Wheat was 5 percent emerged. Peanuts
were rated poor to fair. Pastures and rangelands were in
very poor to poor condition; producers were worried about
hay shortages. Livestock were stressed due to record high
temperatures. Ponds were dried up, and some ranchers had to
haul in water. Corn harvest was almost complete. Yields were
slightly below average.
EAST TEXAS: Soil moisture is very short. Severe
drought conditions prevailed. Forage was short to
non-existent. Stock ponds and creeks were dry. Cattle were
fed supplements.
FAR WEST: Soil moisture was very short to adequate.
Above-normal temperatures were reported. Pastures,
rangelands and livestock were rated poor to good. Cotton was
in fair to excellent condition; 60 percent of bolls opened.
Wheat planting was delayed for cooler temperatures and
moisture. Rangelands and pastures held steady. Producers
began fall work; many ranchers kept heifers to build herds.
Livestock remained in good condition.
WEST CENTRAL: Soil moisture is short. Above-average,
record-setting temperatures were reported. Cotton progressed
well; most was beginning to open. Some will be defoliated
next week. Small grain fields were prepared for fall
planting; most was delayed due to previous armyworms
outbreaks.
Some sorghum was mature and being harvested. Hay cutting and
baling continued. Some hay fields were sprayed for
armyworms. Ranges and pastures were extremely dry. Livestock
were in good condition but showing signs of heat stress.
CENTRAL: Soil moisture is very short. Unusually hot
and dry weather was reported. Dairy cows suffered due to
high nighttime temperatures. Rain was needed. Some pecan
aphids, weevils and shuckworms were reported. Producers
prepared to plant wheat and rye grass; most were waiting for
rain.
SOUTHEAST: Soil moisture is very short. Hot, dry
conditions persisted and little or no rain was reported. Hay
production ceased completely.
SOUTHWEST: Soil moisture is very short. Unseasonably
hot, dry weather continued to slow down fall agriculture.
Forage availability was below average. Some ranchers
provided supplementation, while others reduced stocking
density or moved livestock to improved pastures in West
Texas and Colorado. Cotton harvest neared completion, but
remained behind schedule.
Harvesting crews and gins were not prepared to process the
record-high yields. The hot and dry environment favored
irrigated cotton production.
Peanuts, cabbage, green beans and other fall vegetables made
good progress under heavy irrigation. High input
requirement, especially for supplemental irrigation, and
high energy costs increased production costs.
COASTAL BEND: Soil moisture is short. Extremely high,
record-setting temperatures were reported. Producers and
landowners prepared for Hurricane Rita. Pastures were
prepared for winter.
SOUTH: Soil moisture is fair. Weather was mild;
little rainfall was reported. Vegetable planting continued.
Corn and soybeans progressed well.
Sugarcane harvest is expected to begin Oct. 1. Early
projections show decreased yields. Citrus harvest was
imminent. Fruit size and quality are predicted to be better
than average. Cotton harvest was complete. Pastures and
rangelands showed improved growth with rain. Haying
operations were in full swing.