Drought in western and northern Great Plains states could impact consumer costs and availability woes for wheat-, barley- and beanbased products, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.
David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist, Bryan-College Station, said consumers may have become accustomed to inconsistent product availability due to pandemic-related disruptions, but this round of potentially short supplies is driven by weather.
Anderson said the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed how drought in the western half of the country could add to the list of food and beverages that have experienced price increases over the past two years.
AgriLife Extension agents compiled the following report for the Central Texas district:
Temperatures were average for August. Drier conditions allowed for quick harvest of remaining corn. Sorghum stubble was baled. Most grains were harvested. Some cotton was still under irrigation, and most fields were nearing harvest. Producers continued cutting and baling hay. Forage grasses were quickly drying down and going dormant with a decline in soil moisture; but grazing forages and row crop stubble was still available. Producers were spraying for fall armyworm to protect forage grass yields, and treatments were likely to continue into late fall. Field preparation was underway for the planting of winter forages and winter wheat, however a decent rainfall will be required before planting begins. Growers expect to plant a bit more winter wheat this fall. Livestock were doing well on pasture, and overall body conditions were good.
—Texas AgriLife