Drought in Texas, November 1 to 30, 2000

Average to above average precipitation continued across the South Plains, the extreme southern Panhandle, and the Rolling Plains in November resulting in improving soil moisture conditions during the month. However, the effects of this year's drought became better understood after year-end agricultural reports were completed. These reports, compiled by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service at Texas A&M University, indicated that total crop damage across the Texas South Plains area may have been about $515 million due to the drought in 2000. This figure is based on the total cash value of all crops in 2000, compared to the average of the same figure from 1998 and 1999.Cotton is the dominant crop in this region of the state, and not surprisingly, it accounted for roughly 70 percent ($365 million) of the losses this year. Significant losses were also suffered in the wheat ($75 million), grain sorghum ($40 million), and corn ($15 million) crops. Added irrigation costs that were directly related to the drought were estimated at an additional $20 million across the South Plains area this year.