Amarillo, Texas - It's a year many Texas farmers hope to forget as losses soar to a record high, making it the most costly drought on record.
Agriculture in Texas has taken a 5 billion dollar hit, almost half of that has been lost in the Panhandle.
Livestock, hay, cotton, corn, wheat, and sorghum have seen the worst. Many farmers have abandoned portions of their crops to try and save others.
Steve Amosson with Texas AgriLife Extension says, "They just cannot keep up with the entire crop. Do you give up on part of that circle so you can make sure you get adequate water on the rest of the circle or do you do inadequate water on the entire thing? In case of something like corn, the way that production function is, you are better off to abandon part of the circle."
He says it comes at a time when commodity prices are high, but there isn't much to sell. Insurance premiums are expected to increase as well, since many farmers are reporting minimal yields.
While nothing can be done to salvage the losses, there is a bigger concern for the upcoming winter wheat season.
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MOORE, Okla. - A monstrous tornado as much as a mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph.
MOORE, Okla. - A monstrous tornado as much as a mile wide roared through the Oklahoma City suburbs Monday, flattening entire neighborhoods with winds up to 200 mph, setting buildings on fire and landing a direct blow on an elementary school.
OKLAHOMA CITY - A mile-wide tornado churned through the Oklahoma City suburbs, destroying homes for the second day in a row.
OKLAHOMA CITY - A mile-wide tornado churned through the Oklahoma City suburbs, destroying homes for the second day in a row Monday, as part of a severe weather outbreak that was expected to spread in other parts of the Plains and Midwest.
In Amarillo, TxDOT construction crews will be out again starting Monday, fixing up a few roadways around town, which means there are a few lane closures drivers will want to know about.
In Amarillo, TxDOT construction crews will be out again starting Monday, fixing up a few roadways around town, which means there are a few lane closures drivers will want to know about.
New Mexico - Nearly all of New Mexico continues to grapple with some level of drought, and federal forecasting models show those conditions are likely to persist through January.
New Mexico - Nearly all of New Mexico continues to grapple with some level of drought, and federal forecasting models show those conditions are likely to persist through January.
Tuesday, January 31 2012 2:54 PM EST2012-01-31 19:54:28 GMT
SPICEWOOD, Texas — Tanker trucks loaded with water have become the lifeline for a Texas lakefront village that came precariously close to becoming the state's first community to run out of drinking water during a historic drought.
Friday, December 16 2011 5:25 PM EST2011-12-16 22:25:28 GMT
LUBBOCK, Texas - An economist says Texas' drought has caused ranchers to reduce cow numbers by an estimated 600,000 this year, making it the biggest decline in state history.
Tuesday, November 29 2011 3:22 PM EST2011-11-29 20:22:33 GMT
FORT WORTH, Texas - Climate experts and government officials are meeting in Fort Worth to discuss the severe 2011 drought afflicting Texas and the Southern Plains and what the outlook is for the future.
Tuesday, September 20 2011 5:25 PM EDT2011-09-20 21:25:33 GMT
LUBBOCK, Texas - A survey by Texas' largest cattle group shows that 8% of ranchers won't be raising bovines next year in the nation's leading production state.
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