By Jamie Martin
According to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert, agricultural producers across Texas encountered another difficult period such as extreme heat; dry weather and pest activity influenced both crop and livestock operations.
Harvest progress remained steady across several farming regions. Corn and grain sorghum harvests approached completion, while cotton harvesting moved forward in southern areas. Sesame and buffelgrass seed harvests also continued, and sunflower harvesting was completed. Irrigated peanut and cotton fields showed ongoing development despite challenging environmental conditions.
The spread of pasture mealybug emerged as one of the season's most significant concerns. The pest damaged pasture grasses and forage crops in multiple counties, reducing feed availability and creating additional management challenges for livestock producers. Monitoring and control efforts remained a priority for many operations.
“We’re producing about the same amount of pork as we did last year, yet prices have really lagged behind,” said David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist in the Texas A&M Department of Agricultural Economics. “We haven’t seen the increase, and it’s kind of a conundrum.”
Weather conditions continued to place stress on agricultural resources. Persistent high temperatures, strong winds, and limited rainfall contributed to drought development in several areas. Reduced moisture availability affected pasture growth, hay production, and tree crops. Some pecan orchards experienced nut loss due to prolonged dry conditions.
Livestock producers worked to maintain herd health despite worsening forage conditions. Supplemental feeding increased as natural grazing resources declined. In some areas, ranchers hauled water to support livestock because ponds and other water sources continued to shrink. Producers also adjusted herd sizes to respond to changing pasture conditions and market opportunities.
Pasture and rangeland quality varied considerably, ranging from very poor to excellent depending on rainfall, irrigation access and local management practices. Areas receiving little moisture experienced reduced forage growth and higher wildfire danger, while irrigated operations maintained stronger production levels.
Photo Credit: istock-oticki
Categories: National