Extreme or exceptional drought in some regions and excess moisture under cloudy conditions in other areas are causing different stressors for Texas crops as the summer season nears completion, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts within the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.
According to the Texas Drought Monitor map, 93% of the state has fallen into at least early drought stages, with more than 35% experiencing severe drought or worse. This is an increase of 8% from last week and 25% more than this time last year.
Increased stress due to drought leads to many other concerns: less water for irrigation, reduced yields, greater insect infestation and crop disease, a need for increased irrigation amid dropping water tables, reduced pasture and forage, early supplemental feeding of livestock, decreased stock weights, and less water in ponds, creeks and playa lakes.
Going into wheat planting season, Brandon Gerrish, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension statewide small grains specialist and assistant professor, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station, said seed dealers are reporting only 60-70% of normal supplies this year.
He said the seed shortage was due to poor growing conditions in the 2026 crop. And now wheat planting conditions are still not good across the state. There have been isolated rains, but moisture dries up quickly with the high temperatures.
“Growers who are wanting to graze are the most eager to get seed into the ground right now,” Gerrish said. “Those planting for grain still have a few weeks before they will get going; hopefully temperatures will cool, and we’ll have some more rainfall between now and then.”
Texas AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following report for the Central Texas district: Hot, dry conditions continued with another week of 100-degree temperatures. Scattered showers gave parts of the district a slight reprieve, with one area receiving up to 2.75 inches while others averaged 0.5 of an inch or nothing. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were very short to surplus. Stock tanks, stream flows and pond levels dropped considerably, and a few producers started hauling water. Fire conditions remained critical. Corn was in poor to good condition; harvest was closing out but some corn was still in the field because storage was at capacity. Sorghum conditions were fair to good, and harvest was also wrapping up. Cotton was in poor to good condition; harvest continued with yields reported above average, and some farmers were defoliating. Soybeans were in poor to fair condition. Fall small grain fieldwork went on in anticipation of rain, and wheat planting was expected to be delayed until rain arrived. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to fair and declined as grasses slowed or stopped growing. Bermuda grass pastures responded well where moisture was received. Producers fed hay and other supplements to cattle, and livestock were monitored closely for heat stress. Hay harvest largely came to a halt, and hay stores were not expected to last with feeding beginning this early. Livestock conditions were very poor to excellent, and cattle remained in fair to good body condition. Cattle markets saw some downward pressure after a strong run. Sheep and goat markets held strong on steady demand and limited supply.