Drought and Destocking

I have mentioned before that last fall and this year so far have been exceptionally dry…with temperatures higher than normal.  The average rainfall here is about 31 inches per year, but that is not the total most years.  Our precipitation varies widely…or maybe I should say wildly.  We found data dating back to 1992 for the area where our farm is located.  Those records show that in 1992 the area received 39 inches.  The next 6 years were mostly above average, but in 1999 only 21 inches fell.  Several  above average years followed, topping out at 54 inches in 2004.  Two years of drought followed, with rainfall of less than 25 inches.  This is how our upper tank looked in May of 2006. The water was low, but that didn't keep the many turtles from making their way up the bank to dig their nests.

In September of 2006 the lower pond had shrunk to just a puddle, and we had someone come in and clean it out.

It was just in time.  In 2010 about 45 inches fell and filled up the creeks and ponds.  Then the pendulum swung again.  I believe the driest year we have recorded is 2011, when the charts say we received 15-20 inches.  That is when our lower stock pond dried up completely and the upper tank was only a puddle.  So far, it appears we are headed for another such year.

The upper tank is getting very low.  You can see it is down significantly from its normal level, 

and our lower pond is almost dry; Kota walked across the shallow end this morning.  

Our own observations have been written down since 1994, shortly after my parents deeded the property to my brother and me.  There are the weather service records, and then there are what we have collected in the rain gauge here in the upper end of Stanford Valley.  And so here is the bad news.  Beginning in July of last year and through December 2021, we recorded 7.6 inches.  Beginning in January and through today, we have recorded 5.8 inches.  That is…if I wrote it all down.  (We get very excited any time it rains, so I think my totals are pretty accurate.)  So, from the first of July, 2021 through July 16, 2022, Goat Hill has received a grand total of 13.4 inches.  That’s not enough.  Not enough to keep the creek flowing; not enough to keep the stock ponds even half full; not enough to make a hay crop and hardly enough to produce any grass.  

This year, for the first time I can remember, we had no bluebonnets, prairie verbena or Indian paintbrush in our pastures.  There are no blackfoot daisies or Texas bluebells.  Many of the weeds haven’t bloomed or produced seeds…no broom weed, no speargrass, no beggar lice.  I have been filling our bird feeders and hummingbird feeders every couple of days.  I would put out sugar water for the bees, but we have seen very few.  I don’t know what they are eating.  

We didn’t bale hay from our coastal Bermuda field this year, but instead are using that pasture for grazing.  We have enough hay put aside to last us for two normal years, but it may only feed our stock for one if we have to begin supplemental feeding early.

Because of the lack of grass and our concern with the water situation, (At least we have a good well!) we have sold some of our cattle.  In June, we said goodbye to two of our older cows and three weaned calves.  This week we sold three more cows and their 3-4 month old calves.  We hope this will allow us to keep our remaining stock in good condition through the winter, even if we don’t get significant rain.  These heifers aren't suffering.  They graze in the early mornings and late afternoons.  During the day, they make cow puddles under the trees and chew their cuds.

Fluctuating temperatures and rainfall are part of life in the country.  Many who spend their days in offices and high-rise condos don’t experience the intimate relationship with nature that we do.  It has its ups and downs, but we wouldn’t trade it.  Rain will come again, and at some point we will walk through pastures running with water and won’t be able to cross the creek.  Then I can post more pictures like these from years past.

Yesterday, a little cool front moved through.  We didn't get any rain, but it did cool us off a bit.  Perhaps by the next time I post I can report something in the rain gauge, and next year we're hoping for bluebonnets.