Southern Plains Range Dry

REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- The Southern Plains states of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas have seen varied pasture and rangeland conditions this year due to wildfire and drought in certain areas.

"We had plenty of moisture early to get the grass growing, so we have a good hay crop," said Pawnee, Oklahoma, rancher Matt Fuss. "But by midsummer, the rain shut off and it got really dry."

The Texas Panhandle dealt with a devastating wildfire in March, burning up 1.7 million acres and destroying ranches, while killing cattle. That area will take time to recover, and widespread drought has led to further problems in the Southern Plains.

DROUGHT PERSISTS IN PARTS OF REGION

The current U.S. Drought Monitor shows parts of this region in D1 moderate drought and D2 severe drought. Southwest and south-central Texas has areas of D3 extreme drought and D4 exceptional drought.

DTN Ag Meteorologist John Baranick said: "A wet November did a lot to reduce drought in the region and build a lot of soil moisture going into dormancy. Winter wheat and pasture ratings on the last Crop Progress report from USDA were very positive. But there are still drought spots scattered through the region and across southern Texas especially. The western arm of Texas from El Paso to the Pecos River has the worst drought in the country right now."

FALL MOISTURE HELPS SOME

Fuss said September and October in his part of Oklahoma were suffering from lack of water. Many were in panic mode and began selling cattle. He said that for the first time in his lifetime, they weaned the steer calves from the cow and took them straight to the sale barn.

"We didn't need those calves stirring up a bunch of dust, causing health issues for the rest of the cattle," he said. "We certainly prefer to have them long weaned before selling, but under the dust bowl conditions we were dealing with, it was the best decision for us and for the buyer."

The grass in his pastures were pretty well burnt up by October. Water sources were starting to dry up as well. They were concerned about water, and then in November, they received rain and a lot of it.

"We got 9 inches and then another 3 inches. We went from a dust bowl to a mud slop. It did restart our waters so we could stay on pasture, but it didn't really change our pasture conditions at that point," Fuss said. "But as a whole, pastures in our area look good. If people are managing them right, they are in good shape."

He did warn that the change in pasture and range conditions is varied even within a county in this region, which is certainly the case all across Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Baranick said the concern for the coming months is the drought conditions. Forecasts from multiple sources indicate that drier conditions are expected over the winter and through spring. The southwestern areas are more likely to be in this pattern than those in the northeast, which may be on the edge of the more variable pattern expected for the next several months.

"It's good news that soil moisture in a lot of the region is well above normal now, but that can easily be erased before forages start to awaken from dormancy in February and March," Baranick added.

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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