Continuing Texas Drought Produced Worst Single-Year Losses Ever For Crops, Livestock - Chronicle

[hatrack]

LUBBOCK — Texans are about to bid farewell to a dry, hot year that had the nation's No. 2 agriculture state reeling from the worst single-year losses for crops and livestock. "We're going to have to start to sell cows if we don't get some rain," said rancher John Welch, who manages up to 10,000 head of cattle on Spade Ranches across West Texas.

The forecast through April could improve conditions. A weak to moderate El Nino weather pattern shows increased chances for above normal rainfall statewide. As much as 20 percent of the state remains in exceptional drought and a similar percentage is enduring extreme drought, Texas Cooperative Extension drought specialist Travis Miller said. The first 11 months of 2006 rank as the 31st driest January-through-November stretch since 1895. Average rainfall for that period was 23 inches, down from the normal of 26.02 inches, the National Weather Service said.

Compounding the lack of rainfall is a statewide average temperature of 68.9 degrees, the second warmest January through November on record. "You put those together and it's not good," National Weather Service meteorologist Victor Murphy said.

The drought, now in about its 20th month, also sparked deadly wildfires and dropped lake levels to their lowest point for this time of year since 1978. Lake levels fell 1 percent from October to November and are down 7 percent from a year ago, according to the latest Texas Water Development Board report. The drought cost the state — the nation's leading producer of cotton and cattle — $2.5 billion in lost crops and $1.6 billion in livestock losses.

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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/4417874.html

[flamin lib]

1. Farmers and ranchers in E Texas asked for help with low cost

loans or federally guaranteed loans. Representative Joe Barton (R TX) said that only God could end a drought so constituents should just take it up with Him.

You see, after DeLay's redistricting, 80% of the district's population is in the 4 largest cities, so he doesn't neet the votes from the rural areas. This is the first year he even put up signs outside the metroplex.

[Ezlivin]

2. Drought? You wouldn't know it by driving around Dallas-Fort Worth

The Metroplex has no dead grass on any of its very fine private golf courses or on any football field. (Most area high schools play on synthetic turf in high-dollar stadiums.)

My neighbors consistently ignore water conservation "suggestions" proffered by the water company. Very few people stop watering their lawns or filling their pools. As long as the Metroplex can siphon water from reservoirs scattered around its periphery we will act as if no drought actually exists.

[hatrack]

3. Besides, nothing wrong here that a dozen giant new coal-fired power plants won't cure!

Not just pollution - pollution TEXAS STYLE!!!

Yee-Hah!!!!