Drought in Calhoun County Islands, Texas

Continued D2 drought. Introduction of D3 on 2/24.

Across South Texas and the Coastal Bend during February, persistent drought and very limited rainfall continued to strain agricultural conditions. Periods of freezing temperatures early in the month caused damage to several leafy vegetable crops and burned back pasture grasses, while most areas received little meaningful precipitation despite occasional scattered showers. Soil moisture remained very short across much of the region, with some irrigation canals and stock tanks running low or dry. These dry conditions delayed widespread planting of corn, sorghum, and other row crops, as many producers waited for sufficient soil moisture to support germination, though limited planting began where moisture allowed. Irrigated small grains such as oats and wheat generally held up better than dryland fields, and onion harvest began with strong yields despite earlier cold stress. Rangeland and pasture conditions remained poor to very poor, forcing livestock producers to rely heavily on hay and supplemental feed as supplies tightened and forage availability declined. As drought impacts persisted, some producers reduced herd sizes, though strong cattle markets continued to provide some financial support.