One of the worst droughts in the state’s history deepened last week, with nearly 98 percent of the state in one stage of drought or another, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

More than 90 percent of the state was suffering from extreme to exceptional drought, according to the monitor’s July 5 report.

In many areas, irrigators were experiencing severe drawdown of aquifers, pumping only air in some cases. Producers in other regions were abandoning corn to have enough water to save cotton.

In most parts of the state, dryland crops have completely failed, but there were a few success stories, although they may only seem like victories by comparison to the rest of the state, said Dr. Dan Fromme, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agronomist for the Coastal Bend area.

Nearly all the corn, grain sorghum and cotton crops in the Coastal Bend area are dryland, according to Fromme.

Though most of the region is classified as being under extreme drought, farmers there had the advantage of getting 4 to 6 inches of rain in January.

“We went into planting season with either a full-soil profile (of moisture) or maybe a little less and that went a long way,” he said. “And the couple of inches of rain we received in May helped immensely.”

Grain sorghum and cotton comprise the vast majority of crops grown in the region, Fromme said. Grain sorghum has already been harvested, with yields averaging about 3,000 pounds per acre, compared to average yields of 3,500 to 4,000 pounds.

Cotton growers were either harvesting or preparing to harvest by July 12, he said. He expected yields to be about three-quarters of a bale per acre, which is about 65 to 70 percent of the long-term average.

“So, yes, compared to the rest of the state, we are a little bit better off,” he said.