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.