Drought in Inland Refugio County, Texas

D2 improved to D1.

In May, the Coastal Bend region experienced a mix of scattered rainfall and persistent drying conditions due to unseasonably warm temperatures, strong winds, and limited soil moisture. Rainfall totals varied across the area, ranging from trace amounts to over 3 inches, with some areas still reporting a need for additional moisture. The following is a summary of crop conditions from Texas A&M AgriLife this month: These aforementioned conditions led to increased irrigation of corn fields, particularly as corn approached or entered reproductive stages, and grain sorghum began to show signs of stress due to dryness during head emergence. Cotton generally performed well with warm, sunny days and residual soil moisture, though continued rain will be necessary to support yields. Recent rains spurred weed growth, prompting herbicide applications across row crops and pastures, and insect control measures were implemented, particularly for pecan nut casebearers. Rangeland and pasture conditions improved overall, supporting good forage availability and livestock weight gain, though some drier areas remained less productive. Haying operations began in earnest, with early cuttings completed but regrowth slowed in areas with limited rainfall. Warm-season forage growth began to pick up, and supplemental feeding was expected to decline as grazing conditions improved.