Drought in Texas

[npaden]

Well, it seems that no one is happy with the amount of rain or snow they are getting this year.

Some of the Northern Rockies are still dealing with record snowfall from this past winter, and a ton of the guys in the Midwest are dealing with 100 year type flooding this spring.

Here's what my pond looked like here in Texas this Saturday.
http://padens.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album07/pond_5_7_11.jpg

Here's what it should look like in the spring. This picture was taken on May 5th of 2007.
http://padens.com/v-web/gallery/albums/FisherCo/pond3_5_5_07.jpg

The dry conditions are making it easy to find old sheds though. Found 4 Saturday turkey hunting without even really trying. All of them are several years old though, hidden by tall grass in normal years, but the grass has all withered up and flattened out.

http://padens.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album07/atl_shed2.jpg

http://padens.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album07/atl_shed3.jpg

I would greatly prefer rain over finding these old sheds, but they were a nice bonus.

We don't normally get a lot of rain, but here's our total precipitation for the last 7 months.

0.01 0.00 0.04 0.35 0.20 0.00 0.09 = .69 inches!

Did see one hen turkey, and she showed me that the neighbors pond isn't dry yet since she headed that way and came back with muddy feet, but we sure need some rain!

I'm not sure if they are going to still make me plant my CRP acres this spring or not, knowing the government, they will probably make me plant regardless. I'm not planning on any spring food plots right now, no rain in the forecast this week either.

[CaveCreek]

paden:

by contract, you are required to complete the crp planting, but, you should be able to get a modification, to delay planting, with reasonable cause...

there are zone Range Mgmt Specialists thoughout the State, and then there is a State Range Mgmt Specialist.

Here's what I've been seeing over the yrs, certain Conservationist in different offices, sometimes have a tendency to make up their own rules, regarless of what actual policy is.

My recommendation is that you plant only, if you end up with some soil moisture first.

If not, make your own judgement call. But just remember that their are allowance... but 1) sometimes you have to ask for them 2) sometimes you have to read up on the rules, so that you can remind and correct the particular conservationist you are dealing with 3) and lastly, sometimes you have to speak to another persons boss, to things corrected.

I guess what I'm saying, is that if it''s not in the best interest of you, your land, and Taxpayer dollars... then you can probably get things the way they should be.

I've worked for USDA in the past, so I know the routines, and most importantly prefer to see OUR taxpayer dollars not wasted. Planting expensive seed during and extrme drought should be considered such, in my opinion. None of can predict the weather 100%, but we can use common sense, and make sound judgements accordingly.

[TrademarkTexan]

We got about 1 1/2 of rain in April just a little east of you, but it didn't help much. Been over 100 degrees the last 3 days...that and 30 mph winds for the last 60 days dries any moisture up real fast.

Did you ever get any kind of watering system set up for your tree plantings? I'd probably lose 4 years of work on nearly 120 trees without mine.

[npaden]

Part of my CRP contract is to establish a permanent water source so I'm getting a few bucks to help out on that. I haven't planted any trees until I get the irrigation system in, but that should happen this summer.

Depending on what NRCS and USDA can decide on my CRP planting, I may end up putting in the water in the next few weeks instead of planting and the wildlife sure could use the water right now.

[Jethro]

It is horribly bad here, rain totals about like what you posted. Yesterday was 106 with 30 mph winds. Here in town it looks like mid August, with everyones lawns dryin up unless you are watering the snot out of them. Its hard to keep enough water down, and it isn't even June yet. Beats all I have ever seen. I actually heard a couple farmers say they weren't even going to plant their dryland, it was a total waste. First time I have ever heard that.

I am headed out tonight to carry water to my trees and check on them. They have been doing okay so far with the black plastic and drip system going. It's gonna be a long summer hauling water if things don't start turning around, but I really don't see that either, and with fuel prices high it is a double whammy. Long range forecast is calling the next few months below average, glad it is only 15 miles out to my trees...