July 15, 1999 

Comments from County Extension Agents on drought conditions.

From:

R. Craig Runyan, Program Coordinator

Extension Plant Sciences Department

NMSU Cooperative Extension Service

box 30003 Dept. 3AE

Las Cruces, NM  88003-0003

Phone (505) 646-1131 Fax (505) 646-8085

email: crunyan@nmsu.edu

 

 

Chaves County

Report from July.

 

Soil moisture:  80% adequate

Cattle:  80% excellent to good

Sheep:  80% excellent to good

Range feed:  90% fair to good

 

Comments:  Irrigated crops in excellent condition despite early wind damage.  Much of county pasture better than in years.

 

 

Curry County

 

Soil Moisture:  100% adequate

Dry land Sorghum:  100% good

Dry land Wheat:  100% good

Cattle:  75% good

Range feed:  100% good

 

Comments: Significant rainfall in late May.

 

 

Eddy County

 

Comments:  Most of the county above average rainfall.  Isolated areas still without moisture.  Range condition greatly improved, however some perennial grass is completely dead from long term drought effect.  Livestock in descent condition.

 

 

Harding County

 

Soil Moisture:  85% adequate

Cattle:  85% good to fair

Sheep:  90% good to fair

Range feed:  50% good to excellent; 40% fair

 

Comments:  Scattered rains, significant amounts in some areas, have boosted range conditions. Cool weather continued through June.

 

 

Hidalgo County

Reports from end of May

 

Soil Moisture:  100% very short

Cattle:  80% poor to very poor

Range feed:  70% very poor

 

Comments:  Hidalgo County has not received the rains seen recently in many other areas of the state.  Heavy supplementation of livestock feed and shipping drought effected cattle is occurring.  90% of earthen stock tanks are dry.

 

 

Lea County

Reports from early July.

 

Soil Moisture:  30% adequate;  70% short

Cattle: 70 % good

Sheep:  100% fair to good

Range Feed: 80% good

 

Comments:  Conditions improved considerably during May, June, and July.  Pasture grasses have made weight gains on livestock better than expected.

 

 

Taos County

 

Soil Moisture:  100% good

Cattle:  100% good

Sheep:  100% good

Range feed:  100% fair

 

Comments:  Range grass improvement has reduced the need for supplemental feeding.

 

 

Union County

 

Soil Moisture:  100% adequate

Dry land Sorghum:  100% good

Dry land Wheat:  harvested

Cattle:  100% harvested

Sheep:  100% good

Range feed:  100% good

 

Comments:  May precipitation supplied good moisture for range conditions.