Folks, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that it’s hot and dry. But how hot and dry is it and how is the recent weather affecting the crops in McLennan County?

The last bad drought year that is fresh in our memory is 2006. That year it rained 11.79 inches from January to May.

The 10-year average for this time period is 14.31 inches. Last year we received 18.31 inches from January to May. We have gotten 9.68 inches in the same stretch of time this year.

So what does all that mean? First, it rains a lot more at the Waco Airport, where these rainfall accumulations are recorded, than it does at my place. Second, depending on where you live in McLennan County, you are either drier than normal or extremely drier than normal.

Dennis Pietsch, a Texas Agri Life Extension Service researcher, shed some light on the crop situation when he spoke at the recent Row Crop Tour at Cottonwood Hall.

“Crops around Marlin, Hillsboro and Leroy were some of the better crops in the state,” he said. “Those cotton, corn and milo fields were much closer to normal production.”

But much of our county is exceptionally dry and in bad need of a rain.

Milo fields look much better than should be expected, with the little rain they have received.

Hay production in the Blacklands is well below average. Hay prices will demand a premium be paid. That inflated price will be asked on all hay, not only for good hay but for “filler” hay, too.

Feed prices remain high and producers should be buying hay now if they have not done so.

There have been big runs at the livestock auctions as beef producers are looking at low stockpiles of hay, short grass pastures, feed prices and the price of cattle.

We also are about to need hay to get through the summer. We normally would be buying hay to prepare for the winter months, rather than to survive the summer.

Stock tanks are reaching critical levels in many areas that have not received any large runoff events. I have heard of a few guys who are pulling cows out of mud when they try to drink out of a mud hole that used to be their stock tank.

Livestock producers should be concerned about nitrate and prussic acid poisoning in corn and sorghum-sudan crops during high-stress periods like now.

Some producers on the western side of McLennan County have been cutting their corn for silage, but some corn is past the desirable stage for silage harvest.

Corn should be harvested for silage after the ear is well dented, but before the leaves turn brown and dry. The quantity and quality of corn silage are at their peak in this stage of development.

The ear has accumulated most of its potential feeding value, but there has been little loss from the leaves and stalks. After the dent stage, feeding value of corn stalks and leaves decreases while field losses increase.

The first six months of 2011 have asked all of those in agriculture to make some very tough management decisions.

Let’s hope the next six months are a little easier on agriculture.

Watering tips

During a drought, trees must be given top watering priority over your lawn. But caring for trees requires different watering methods than your lawn.

Irrigation systems designed to water turf do not sufficiently water your trees. Water slowly, dispersing the flow of water to get the water deep down to the trees’ roots. Watering for short periods of time only encourages shallow rooting, which can lead to more drought damage.

Shane McLellan, a county extension agent for more than 13 years, serves as the agriculture agent for McLennan County. Send email to s-mclellan@tamu.edu.