Texas Planting and Harvest Forecast Grim as Wind, Drought Hammer Crops

Intense windstorms swept West Texas and the state’s Panhandle Tuesday, likely stifling any hope that was left for its winter wheat crop. This isn’t the first wind event farmers have faced in recently. In conjunction with increasingly severe drought and high temperatures slated this week, crops planted last fall have been hammered, along with hope for a successful planting season.

According to USDA, none of the Texas winter wheat was considered excellent and only 7% listed as fair. For many farmers in the area, memories of the 2011 drought come back to mind, with many saying this year’s situation is now worse. As La Niña sets in this spring, it’s likely most storms that could bring precipitation will travel further North, leaving Texas producers desperately searching for rain this season.

Read more on the Texas and drought and windstorms here.