Posted: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:26 AM - 10,938 Readers

By: Mike Tolson

While Southeast Texas has reverted to more typical summer weather, including more clouds and periodic showers, much of the state is suffering from drought conditions so bad they have inflicted billions of dollars in agricultural losses.

More than a third of the state's midsection, stretching from Central Texas down to the Mexico border, has been plagued by extremely hot and dry weather. Of Texas' 254 counties, 77 are dealing with “extreme” or “exceptional” drought conditions, the two worst categories. That translates into millions of acres of ruined crops and a lack of pastureland and water that has forced ranchers to cull or sell off herds prematurely at lower prices.

Rainfall is below average over most of the state, with only Dallas and El Paso among urban areas reporting more than normal. Agricultural damage has been pegged at $3.6 billion so far, with that total sure to go higher.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, describing conditions as “devastating,” has appealed to the federal government for drought assistance for producers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared 70 counties natural disaster areas.

Much of that area began to experience drier than normal weather starting in September 2007. San Antonio, for example, has gone through a period that is its driest 23 consecutive months in recorded history, said John Nielsen-Gammon, state climatologist. The 7.5 inches of rain it had received from January through June was less than half its normal amount.

“If you want really dramatic deficits, look at Corpus Christi, which has had less than a quarter of its normal rainfall,” Nielsen-Gammon said. “And there are areas around there that have had 10 percent or less.”

Chalk it up to bad luck, Nielsen-Gammon said. A persistent ridge of high pressure through the middle of the country this spring and summer brought cooler and wetter weather to eastern states, he said. As that ridge began to weaken, parts of Texas benefitted. South Central Texas did not.

“This is not rivaling the 1950s with respect to water supply issues,” he said. “But on a short-term basis, it's just as devastating to ranchers and farmers.”

Texas agriculture production tops $20 billion annually, said Bryan Black, Agriculture Department spokesman. This year's losses should knock at least 20 percent off that amount. And winter planting, which typically begins in August, could be imperiled by a lack of moisture content in the topsoil, Black said.

The drought of the 1950s lingered for years and affected much of the state and surrounding states, Nielsen-Gammon said, but he and other weather forecasters do not expect a repeat of that scenario. Conditions look favorable for a wetter fall and winter thanks to developing El Nino conditions.