Dalhart Weather Review
by Aaron Graves
Dalhart remained dry this past week, despite a hurricane's best effort to send moisture our way. Remnants of Hurricane Odile, a Pacific hurricane that hit the Baja California peninsula, traveled northeast into New Mexico and Texas. Initially, we were forecast to get some good rain from the system, but high pressure located near El Paso kept most of the tropical moisture from traveling too far north.
Autumn officially began yesterday, Sept. 23. Temperatures have been in the lower 80’s for most of the week, making for pleasant morning and evening walks at the local parks.
The rain we enjoyed mid-September was welcome, but might be causing a few problems for Panhandle area farmers. "Corn harvesters were waiting for dry-down in some areas," reads the Texas Crop and Weather Report for Sept. 16, provided by Texas A&M, "while picking was underway in others. Wheat planting was delayed due to recent rains. Cooler temperatures have slowed cotton development." Soil moisture was rated "short to adequate", and pastures and rangelands varied from "poor to excellent, with most counties reporting fair." Cattle were reported in good condition.
On the local level, I asked Kerry Todd how this year's corn crop was doing. Todd is a Certified Crop Advisor and Account Manager for DuPont Pioneer. Previously, he worked with a crop consulting firm in southwest Kansas for 12 years before moving to Dalhart in 2003. Since then, he has worked with producers in Dallam and Hartley Counties, as well as in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, and Union and Colfax Counties in New Mexico. Part of his job includes drawing on 23 years of field experience to help local producers stay successful despite declining groundwater and drought.
Todd estimates 60 to 65% of Dallam and Hartley Counties is planted to corn. "We do have a good crop this year," Todd says, "and the summer rains have been a tremendous help. We will see more consistent yields out of the fields with less irrigation water, as the rain will cover some of the weak spots."
Since the drought first intensified in 2011, there has been a lot of variation in crop yields each year, Todd said. "This year should look more like 2008 to 2010 when we had closer to normal moisture."
As for the recent rains and cooler temperatures? "Rain at harvest can be a hassle," Todd answered, "but we will gladly take it anytime."
Kerry Todd is married to Debbie, and they have three daughters playing volleyball for the Lady Wolves - Samantha, Madison and Rhiana. I look forward to asking him more crop and weather questions in the future.
High and low temps the past week:
Sept 15: 72, 59
Sept 16: 82, 58
Sept 17: 81, 58
Sept 18: 82, 54
Sept 19: 81, 60
Sept 20: 86, 61
Sept 21: 81, 64
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