Drought shows signs of letting up, climatologist says

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas —  The drought that has plagued the southern United States since 2011 is easing its grip on areas across the state, according to a Texas A&M climatology expert.

Texas State Climatologist and Texas A&M professor of atmospheric sciences John Nielsen-Gammon announced in a press release Wednesday that the drought that caused almost $8 billion in agriculture losses has shown signs of letting up in parts West and South Texas after a wet September and October, but that about 70 percent of the state is still considered to be abnormally dry. Nielsen-Gammon said that, after a dry winter and an early spring, rainfall across Texas has stayed close to normal levels.

"The sustained period of near-normal rainfall has improved the drought situation across the state, especially for agricultural concerns," he said. "About three-fourths of the state was in drought at the end of April, compared to about one-half of the state now."

Pockets of extreme drought remain in Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth and southern Hill Country areas, but, according to Blair Fannin, spokesperson for the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, Brazos Valley livestock and agriculture fared well during the most extreme drought in the state's history and is ready to get back on its feet.

"What you're seeing is a reset in production and farmers and ranchers repositioning themselves for the next five years," he said. "We've been blessed with some really good rainfalls and it raised the optimism for the farmers and ranchers in the Brazos."

Fannin said inventory levels for cattle in the state have not experienced the current low since the 1950s, but cattlemen have begun to rebuild their herds where there is forage and expect prices to improve with a decrease in corn prices as the drought's grip lessens.

Nielsen-Gammon expects a cool, wet winter that will help