By Adam Russell
Growing conditions for summer crops are a mixed bag of results based on rainfall over the past 90 days, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.
While soil moisture conditions have improved for much of the state, too much of a good thing, like rain, can also bring problems.
AgriLife Extension agronomists who work in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences provided a round-robin look at the soil moisture conditions around the Lone Star State. Much like summer 2024, Texas is divided into moisture haves and have-nots.
The growing season started very dry. On March 24, 99% of the state was experiencing some level of drought, and 84.5% rated at moderate to exceptional drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. On June 23, only 49% of the state faced drought conditions, with 36% reporting moderate to exceptional conditions.
Heavy rains boost soil moisture, bring challenges
Ronnie Schnell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension state cropping system specialist and professor, Bryan-College Station, said most areas from Central Texas to the Gulf Coast and the Rio Grande Valley started off very dry, but several storm systems greatly improved the soil moisture profiles and saturated some areas.
Source : tamu.edu