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Written by Adam Russell, adam.
A June heat wave caused agricultural conditions to decline around much of the state after steady improvements over the previous month, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.
May rains dramatically improved soil moisture conditions in many drought-stricken areas of Texas. Still, in June, triple-digit temperatures and little to no rain trended many areas toward drought. Various crops around the state showed stress from high temperatures and lack of soil moisture, and livestock gains likely experienced heat-related declines.
Heat wave takes a toll on Texas crops.
The heat wave was especially harsh in the state’s southern half, where some areas experienced record temperatures.
All plants and vegetation experience heat stress during extreme daytime and nighttime temperatures like Texas experienced over recent weeks. Heat and inadequate soil moisture can stress plants, damage their cell membranes, and disrupt metabolic efficiency during photosynthesis and respiration, said Lee Tarpley, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension plant physiologist, Beaumont.
But the combination of high daytime and nighttime temperatures can also economically damage commodity crops, especially during sensitive growth periods like pollination and flowering.
Tarpley said the heat wave was rough on late-planted rice along the Coastal Bend. Yield potentials were high following good spring rains, but the heat arrived at a sensitive development stage for some fields – pollination. High temperatures can also negatively impact the viability of pollen, which can influence how the ultimate crop sets and fills out.
Similar setbacks occurred in cotton fields setting bolls during the heat wave. Stressed cotton plants were aborting bolls to hang on as heat indexes near 120 degrees put plants in survival mode, said Josh McGinty, AgriLife Extension agronomist, Corpus Christi.
He said that Cotton crops had difficulty withstanding the heat over the previous three weeks without adequate moisture. Boll losses were terrible in dryland fields where soil moisture levels have declined. But even irrigation needs to be more as nighttime lows rarely drop below 80 degrees.
McGinty said high nighttime temperatures did not allow cotton plants to shed the heat, causing plants to increase respiration. Increased respiration takes resources away from developing bolls.
“Small bolls are the first that the plant will sacrifice when it depletes energy reserves, but if the trend continues, it sheds larger bolls,” he said. “That shedding is evident with small bolls littering the ground in cotton fields.”
Only some of the news about the arid conditions was bad. Larry Stein, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulturist, Uvalde, said cantaloupe and watermelon fields in the Winter Garden and Central Texas produced high-quality, super-sweet fruit. Irrigated vines were thriving, and brix counts rose under dry, hot conditions. Brix is the measurement of sugar in fruit.
But overall, Stein said conditions are declining, even for irrigated crops. Heat is not the problem, though. It’s the lack of moisture.
“Vegetation is starting to burn up,” he said. “If you can maintain sufficient moisture for plants, then they can cool with transpiration from the leaves, but the problem I see with the heat is stress and the other problems like spider mites and aphids, and everything takes its toll.”
Heat impacting livestock production.
The heat wave took a toll on more than just crops. Jason Cleere, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, Bryan-College Station, said cattle performance in high temperatures typically declines. Higher nighttime temperatures make it challenging to get their core body temperature down. Their grazing may also reduce as they try to avoid activity in the sun.
Cleere said Texas heat shows the importance of choosing cattle adapted to more tropical conditions, like breeds with Brahman influence.
Forage production for hay, silage, and grazing was excellent over the last month, Cleere said. Producers were having problems with delays due to rain and excess moisture before the heat wave, but the arid conditions were sapping soil moisture levels quickly.
Cleere said cattle must have adequate shade and fresh water during hot conditions. A cow can drink 20-40 gallons of water per day, depending on the moisture in the grass they are consuming. Cattle should have enough shade to spread out and cool down.
“A small shade structure where they can all barely fit under might be worse than no shade if you pile them up,” he said.
June is among the hottest and coolest in the state.
John Nielsen-Gammon, Ph.D., Texas state climatologist and Regents Professor in the Texas A&M Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Bryan-College Station, said the heat wave produced eight “all-time” temperature and heat index records from Tahoka to Cotulla. June was one of the ten hottest on record for South Texas.
Most of the state recorded multiple days over 100 degrees, including half the month of June along the Texas-Mexico border up to Midland, five days in triple-digits in Dallas/Fort Worth and Bryan-College Station, and three days in Houston.
Conversely, it was cooler than normal in northern parts of the state and one of the coolest Junes on record in Dalhart, near the top of the Texas Panhandle.
“It’s not the hottest summer so far,” he said. “But it’s been quite a bit more humid from all the rain in April and May, and that is where people feel the heat.”
Nielsen-Gammon said high humidity and temperatures contributed to heat indexes beyond 100 degrees. The dew point, the temperature at which dew forms, was around 70-75 degrees in Central Texas, translating into an “icky” heat.
But the heat wave has also included a dry spell for much of the state, Nielsen-Gammon said. The same high-pressure system that kept the weather hot prevented most of the state from thunderstorms. The heat has quickly sapped topsoil moisture from previous rains in some areas of the state.
Nielsen-Gammon said that this drying down puts many areas at risk of returning to drought following the earlier rains that had significantly reduced the amount of severely dry conditions. Dry conditions also contribute to higher temperatures because the air has no evaporative cooling.
“If we don’t get a decent amount of rain in the next few weeks, we will see more vegetation turning brown and crops suffering,” he said. “The Panhandle and East Texas have gotten enough rain, but the areas marginally out of drought are definitely at risk of slipping back.”
AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:
CENTRAL
The area had limited rainfall and another week of 100-plus-degree days with even higher heat indexes. Soil moisture levels were short. Dry and hot conditions were affecting all crops. Hot, dry wind depleted soil moisture quickly. Pastures were beginning to turn brown. Hay baling continued but slowed due to the lack of new growth. Rangeland and pasture ratings were poor to fair. The wheat harvest was winding down, and corn silage harvest was underway. Sorghum fields were colored. Cotton was mostly in bloom. They had planted some dryland sesame fields. Fiber hemp held on in the heat but needed rain to improve fiber yield. Fly and tick numbers started increasing. The livestock were in good condition.
ROLLING PLAINS
A few areas caught much-needed rains and relief from high temperatures. However, most areas reported sweltering and dry conditions. They had completed wheat harvest and cotton planting. Cotton looked poor so far in the regions that did not receive rain. They needed showers to maintain or improve livestock grazing conditions and fill water tanks.
COASTAL BEND
Topsoil moisture continued to decline with hot, dry conditions. Corn was in the dry-down stage. At least three weeks of 90-plus days and dry conditions have exhilarated the dry-down stage. Sorghum harvest was underway, and some corn. Rice was 75% headed out. Pecan trees began shedding nuts due to dry conditions. Most first cuttings of hay were complete. Rangeland and pasture conditions continued to decline. Improved pastures were drying up fast. Livestock markets were strong, and cattle were doing well, but they needed rain for grass growth.
EAST
Above-average temperatures and lack of rainfall caused soil moisture levels to dry quickly. Subsoil conditions were adequate, but topsoil conditions were short to acceptable. Pasture and rangeland conditions were good overall. Hay production continued, and they reported above-average yields. The area will need rain for continued grass growth for hay and grazing. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Some areas were experiencing growing grasshopper numbers. Wild pig activity and damage continued.
SOUTH PLAINS
Farmers continued to benefit from showers that delivered trace amounts of rain up to 1.2 inches across the district. They reported heavier rainfall totals in the western parts. Cotton was in good condition, and corn was progressing well. Most farmers had to do very little irrigation due to the rainfall. Cattle were in good condition and taking advantage of the improved grazing.
PANHANDLE
The week was scorching, with field conditions drying out fast and temperatures reaching at or above triple digits. Irrigation systems were running where water was available. Producers were busy trying to finish up planting and replanting summer crops. Wheat harvest was underway with average to slightly above average yields in irrigated fields. All crops needed rain. Corn was coming along but needed to catch up on maturity levels compared to middle years. Cotton struggled in some areas and wilted under sweltering conditions, but others reported the crop was in good condition. Most pastures and rangeland were in good condition after recent rains helped grasses. Livestock were also in good condition, with supplemental feeding happening on a tiny scale. Producers finished bailing hay and wheat that replenished hay supplies.
NORTH
Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to excellent for most counties. Both subsoil and topsoil moisture were short to adequate. Several counties reported light showers. More rain would help crops through the extremely high temperatures. Wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and soybeans all looked good. Bermuda grass was cut and baled. Insect pressure was increasing. Nuisance flies were heavy in the livestock area, and house flies were thriving. Pockets of grasshoppers were in the pastures. Livestock conditions were good and continuing to improve.
FAR WEST
Temperatures were in the triple digits before dropping into the upper 90s, with a few isolated showers that delivered trace amounts of rain. Cooler temperatures toward the end of the week eased the stress in cotton that had suffered since it emerged. Irrigation did not meet demand, and subsoil moisture needed to be longer. Despite cooler temperatures, hot, dry winds continued to blow, which damaged crops and prevented herbicide applications. The earliest planted cotton was blooming. Some grain sorghum fields were beginning to head out, and melons should be ready for harvest soon. The first picking will likely be light this season.
Early planted corn looked decent as it pollinated before the extreme heat. However, later-planted corn showed poor kernel set, and most all fields were burning up due to lack of moisture and not enough irrigation to keep up with demand. Pastures and rangelands were drying up rapidly, and they needed more grazing. Ranchers shipped all lambs and left some goats out of the market. Ranchers continued to supplement livestock diets.
WEST CENTRAL
Conditions were scorching and humid, with high temperatures over 100 degrees. Isolated locations received trace amounts of rain up to nearly 1 inch, but soil moisture levels were declining in most areas. The heat was taking a toll on crops and pastures. Grasses were turning brown. Fields they didn’t plow were too hard to work. Hay harvests continued, and producers were cutting Sudan grass. Pasture and rangeland conditions were declining rapidly and showing signs of heat stress. Livestock body conditions were holding, and a few producers were putting out hay bales.
Stock tanks were running low on water. Cattle prices were steady to higher, and demand for stockers was high. Producers finished planting and replanting cotton. Cotton progress ranged from squaring to emerging. Irrigated cotton and early planted dryland fields were in good condition but will need rainfall soon. Some young cotton was struggling along with corn and sorghum. The wheat harvest was complete. Pest pressure was increasing. The pecan crop outlook could have been better depending on the variety.
SOUTHWEST
A heat wave continued to put high stress on agricultural production. Hot, humid conditions persisted, but they reported rain ranging from 0.5-6.5 inches over the weekend. Several locations reported 1-2 inches of rainfall. The rainfall will benefit later-planted corn and grain sorghum crops, cotton, and pastures. Grain sorghum was coloring. Pecans were progressing. Grasshopper numbers remained high due to dry weather conditions but reported no significant damage. Cotton was squaring but needed rain before plants began to drop squares. Hay was being cut and baled, but the areas’ rangeland and pasture conditions were declining. Livestock markets were consistently high. Cooler temperatures were in the forecast.
SOUTH
The conditions were hot. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels continued to decline. Irrigated cotton continued to develop and started to set bolls. They had completed peanut planting, and fruit and vegetable production was slowing. Early planted peanuts were pegging. Corn fields were in the denting stage or drying down. Grain sorghum, sunflower, and corn harvests were underway in some areas, and yields looked good. Dryland and irrigated cotton showed heat stress, and plants showed wilted leaves and shedding bolls and squares. They reported whiteflies in cotton, and they were irrigating citrus and sugarcane. Sesame fields looked good. Hay grazer and Bermuda grass fields were being cut and baled, and producers continued to provide supplemental feed. Livestock conditions remained good, but pastures were burning up. Hay supplies were improving from recent production. Livestock and wildlife were in good condition, but body conditions declined due to heat stress. Quail pairs had not produced hatchlings. Rangeland’s conditions were deteriorating. Beef cattle markets reported higher sale volumes as producers culled deeper. Producers were supplying water for livestock and wildlife.