Drought in La Salle, Texas

Continued D3 and D2.

In May, South Texas agriculture experienced a mix of favorable growing conditions and persistent weather-related challenges. While scattered thunderstorms and isolated rain events brought much-needed moisture to some areas (boosting stock tank levels, forage growth, and crop development) hot temperatures, high winds, and short to very short topsoil and subsoil moisture continued to stress crops in other parts of the region. Damage from hail and strong winds, including gusts up to 115 mph, impacted approximately 2,500 acres of row crops. The following is a summary from Texas A&M AgriLife regarding the state of crops in this region from this month: Corn, cotton, sorghum, sesame, and citrus crops generally progressed well, though many showed signs of heat stress and required additional rainfall, especially in later growth stages. Pest pressures increased, including cotton fleahoppers, rice stink bugs, and armyworms, prompting treatment efforts. Pasture and rangeland conditions improved overall, especially in areas that avoided prolonged flooding from earlier storms, leading to decreased supplemental feeding and improved livestock condition. Hay production ramped up, with some first cuttings completed or underway. Despite localized improvements, continued heat, wind, and inconsistent rainfall patterns maintained drought-related concerns for agricultural producers across the district.