Drought conditions continue to influence agricultural production across more than half the state, but large swaths of Texas are experiencing the best soil moisture in years, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.
Some parts of the state are going into spring with a good soil moisture profile. However, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, much of the state west of Interstate 35 continues to deal with moderate to extreme drought conditions.
Jourdan Bell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and associate professor in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Amarillo, said the Texas High Plains are drought-free for the first time in several years. The region received very beneficial rains in October and November.
Those rains improved soil profiles, filled stock ponds and benefited wheat planted for grazing and/or grain. Bell also expects the moisture to benefit rangelands when warmer weather arrives and native forages and browse break dormancy.
Despite the improved conditions, Bell said it is important to note subsoil moisture in many fields is lacking. In Texas A&M AgriLife research fields, soil moisture sensors confirmed negligible soil moisture increases below 20-24 inches.
“The performance of wheat later in the season and our summer crops will depend on winter moisture and timely spring rainfall to fully fill soil moisture profiles,” she said. “But we’re in much better condition than at this time in previous years.”
Weather patterns deliver consistent moisture
Ronnie Schnell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and associate professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station, said north and east of the Interstate 35 corridor had received consistent rains that have skirted much of West and South Texas. Schnell said Northeast Texas has benefitted from the La Niña weather pattern that is pushing storm systems north and to southeastern parts of the state like Beaumont.
For the most part, producers east of I-35 have experienced good working conditions as they prepare for summer crops. Cool-season forages should also be performing well with the moisture and milder temperatures.
However, areas along the Coastal Bend, including Corpus Christi, were experiencing drier conditions and moderate drought.
“The weather patterns have really helped the soil moisture profiles in those wetter areas,” he said. “But in locations around San Antonio, Hondo and west you see soils that are much more on the deficient side, so they will need to catch spring rainfall leading up to planting.”
Drought is the primary concern for most producers, but Schnell said the wetter weather pattern could be detrimental to producers’ ability to access fields for preparations and planting.
Missing rainfall from storm systems
While rainfall loosened the drought’s grip on the High Plains, and East Texas continues to receive timely rains, West and Southwest Texas have slipped deeper into protracted drought.
Reagan Noland, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension agronomist and associate professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, San Angelo, said some areas around the region received isolated heavy rains in September and November, punctuating an otherwise extremely dry fall.
Rainfall amounts in some locations around San Angelo ranged from 5-13 inches over Labor Day weekend, and many areas received 3-5 inches in a short time in November, but all of October and December were very dry.
The rain events improved soil moisture levels some, but not as much as the slow, steady delivery of the same amount over a few weeks might have provided, Noland said. Above-average temperatures throughout the fall also contributed to subsequent moisture losses to evaporation.
Dryland wheat in the region has been stymied by the lack of rain and warmer temperatures, he said. Some dry-planted fields lay dormant until measurable rainfall was received in January. Adequate chilling hours for vernalization and timely rainfall will both be needed to allow those fields to produce profitable crops.
Conditions will need to improve for planting dryland summer crops like cotton, and timely rains will be needed to see them to harvest. The lack of rainfall in aquifer recharge zones is also impacting irrigation capacity for farmers with wells.
“Conditions look pretty bleak right now, but I’m hopeful,” Noland said. “We’ve seen things turn around with timely rains. Our producers aren’t excited about where things are, but the jury is still out regarding 2025 crop production opportunities.”
Panhandle
The district experienced extremely cold temperatures, with nightly lows in the sub-zero range. Drought conditions persisted across the district, and negative temperatures put wheat into dormancy. Dryland wheat fields were not used for grazing due to poor quality, while irrigated fields lagged due to a lack of rain and limited water capacity. Livestock producers continued to supplement cattle with hay and cubes. Soil moisture ranged from very short to adequate, and pasture and rangeland conditions were reported from very poor to fair. Overall, crop conditions were poor to fair.
