Texas Citrus Growers Monitor Drought Conditions Despite Recent Rains

Dry weather continues to pressure South Texas agriculture despite recent rainfall.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (RFD News) — South Texas is in its rainy season, but many producers say they still have not received the type of rainfall needed to ease drought conditions.

The area is known for swinging between drought and flooding, and producers are hoping for the right weather conditions.

Texas Farm Bureau State Director for District 13 Brian Jones said recent rains have been timely, but the region remains behind its normal rainfall.

“Starting in Easter, you know, we started getting some rains and they’ve been some fairly timely rains, but I believe we still are behind our normal rainfall.”

The Texas Farm Bureau continues to monitor drought conditions across South Texas, where the citrus industry remains especially dependent on adequate rainfall.

South Texas citrus producer Fred Karle said current conditions have forced growers to begin irrigating.

“Right now it’s hot and dry and we’re starting to irrigate and may not get around everything quite fast enough.”

Karle said last year’s dry conditions hurt the citrus industry and that he hopes rain comes at the right time this season.

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RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey covers news from Texas, in the US-Mexico border region. He has provided in-depth coverage of immigration, the 2021 Texas freeze, the arrival of the New World screwworm, and Mexico’s water debt owed under a 1944 treaty.

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