Hurricane Beryl winds damage some crops, others benefit from rain

When Hurricane Beryl barreled into Texas, extreme winds caused the most damage to crops rather than the flooding often associated with a hurricane. In fact, the downgraded storm brought beneficial moisture to many counties, according to post-storm reports from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county agents.

Ben McKnight, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension statewide cotton specialist, Bryan-College Station, said croplands sustained varying levels of damage and that many acres will require more time to assess the storm’s impact on yields and quality. While up to 10-15 inches of rain and high winds battered Harris County and neighboring counties, farms on the hurricane’s outskirts received beneficial rain that helped boost dryland cotton.

“We are so far along in the cropping season for those folks in the upper Gulf Coast, so how it fared may depend on when the cotton was planted – some was more mature, and some was younger after being replanted,” McKnight said. “The latest planted cotton has enough growing season left to compensate for any damage and regain yield potentially. The older cotton we will have to wait until it is harvested to determine how much damage was done.”

Aside from the cotton damaged by wind, the overall rainfall was beneficial, he said. Much of the cotton acres in the Upper Gulf Coast are dryland and have been very dry the past two years, he said. This year, the region received good rain and looked very good before the storm. The storm delivered needed moisture in areas where soil moisture levels were declining. In College Station, producers were getting ready to start irrigating, but the rain allowed irrigation to be delayed.

“Anytime you get in one of these situations with tropical weather, you can get extreme flooding, and we don’t have that,” McKnight said. “The wind damage can be overcome, but with flooding, the plants have to just sit there and endure until the water recedes and then start growing again.”

All the crops still in the field

Two of the hardest-hit counties, crop-wise, were Matagorda and Wharton counties, which saw significant damage to crops. It will take time to determine how much damage will impact crop results, especially since the rains continued to fall after Hurricane Beryl passed, AgriLife Extension agents serving those counties said.

Corrie Bowen, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Wharton County, said 3-8 inches of moisture fell as the hurricane passed over the county with winds over 86 mph.

“We have extensive crop damage and ongoing damage,” Bowen said. “Nobody can remember a time when all 235,000 acres of crops were still in the field and susceptible to a hurricane or tropical storm. This was an early storm. Corn harvest had barely begun, and only about 30% of the grain sorghum had been harvested. And all our rice was still out there, along with soybeans and cotton.”

He said it is still too early to tell the extent of the damage, but most producers are estimating 20% to 30% losses in corn. Some fields have plants leaning 45 degrees that might still be harvestable, but in other fields, the corn is lying flat. Producers estimated that 50% of the sorghum crop in those counties is damaged.

The growth stage of corn during the storm is a concern, Bowen said. When the corn ears drop and are pointed down, the crop can withstand rain. But most fields were not that far along, and the ears were still standing up, which could lead to decreased quality and disease under continued moisture.

“Only time will tell,” Bowen said. “We’ve had a week of rain, another 4 to 5 inches after the hurricane, which continues to degrade the quality of grain crops that need to be harvested.”

Unsure about crop losses

The cotton is a twisted-up mess right now, Bowen said, with the row delineations no longer visible because the plants were so entangled by the winds.

“We were expecting a record crop the day before the storm,” he said. “Now, our cotton is laid down and twisted with the upper squares twisted off and the leaves flipped up and tattered. The bolls, however, had not opened when the storm came in, so we hope the crop will have time to grow out of it. So, with cotton, we are just not sure.”

Greg Baker, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Matagorda County, had a similar report, with 8-10 inches of rain during the storm and another 5 inches since it passed. 

“The corn is blown over, and the producers are not sure about losses,” Baker said. “Some are expecting at least 30%-40% loss. We were lucky most of the grain sorghum was out, but even the remaining fields seemed to fare well. And our cotton is twisted and blown together, so producers are still unsure.”

Not all was a loss

On a brighter note, Bowen said, soybean fields are at pod fill, and the rainfall will be extremely helpful as the crop matures. Cotton should also benefit from the moisture — producers were just about to start irrigating before the storm.

Most of the rice was still in the flood stage and green and was not damaged. He said some rice fields drained for harvest before the storm were laid over, so harvest will be slower. Also, there was extensive levee damage that rice producers had to repair to retain water.

But in many other counties along the storm path, Beryl provided a reprieve from the heat and some much-needed moisture. For many areas, producers could return to the field late in the week to continue harvesting. Hay production stalled for a couple of days but was back in full swing. 

Other agricultural damages

Bowen said Wharton County also lost some capacity to store crops once the harvests resumed. Three empty grain bins at two different storage facilities suffered damage from the high winds.

While no livestock losses had been reported in the counties, there were reports of producers having to get out and clear downed trees from fencerows as well as hay fields.

“There were a lot of trees down,” Bowen said. “Ranchers with timberland have trees on fences, which is keeping them busy trying to keep their livestock in. Also, with all the power down, many ranchers had to haul or pump water with generators. Livestock must have access to quality water, especially after a stressful event like this.”

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

Central

The district experienced hot, dry and windy conditions, which slightly affected field conditions. Some small showers were reported, but it stayed dry most of the week. Hay harvest progressed smoothly, and most fields were cut and baled. Corn and sorghum crop harvests were complete, and producers started planting second crops. Grasshopper numbers were increasing in the area, and crop damage was reported in most areas. Livestock remained in good condition with cattle, sheep and goat prices remaining strong.

Rolling Plains

Hot and dry conditions continued across the district, with only a few isolated rain showers bringing some relief and a bit of green to some cotton fields. Substantial rainfall was still needed to improve soil moisture levels and fill tanks.

Coastal Bend

The district received some rain, and producers reported some storm damage in a few areas. Most field crops fared well with Hurricane Beryl, but some damage was reported to crops in the eastern areas. Producers reported that corn could be harvested but was blown at a 45-degree angle. The high winds ripped some tin off barns and uprooted large trees in some areas, and Wharton County reported winds reaching over 80 mph. Corn crops ranged from slight to severe damage due to flooding and wind, and cotton was lying down and twisted, with most plants not cracking or opening bolls. Grain sorghum was also damaged by winds, and possible damage to Jasmine rice was reported in hard-hit areas. Unaffected cotton crops were beginning to be harvested, and producers were applying defoliant. Range and pasture conditions were good, and livestock were finding plentiful forage. Livestock were in good condition.

East

The district received much-needed rainfall from Hurricane Beryl, with some areas receiving up to 6 inches. Unfortunately, some areas reported wind damage including numerous downed trees and fences. Pastures greened up, and hay production continued in the district with conditions varying from good to excellent, but armyworms were reported in some fields. Livestock were in fair to good condition.

Southeast

The district received varying amounts of rainfall, mainly due to Hurricane Beryl. The hurricane knocked out electricity for many in the area, and wind damage was reported in most areas. Sorghum, corn and cotton crops in Waller County did receive wind damage, but the effect on yields was undetermined at the time. Armyworms were being treated in Brazos County hay fields, but pastures and hay were still in good condition overall. Rice in Jefferson County was lodged due to wind damage but was in the pollen stage. Minimal damage was reported to rice crops in Chambers County. Pasture and range conditions varied from poor to excellent, and soil conditions were adequate to surplus.

South Plains

Weather conditions in the district were hot and windy, with temperatures in the upper 90s. Some area producers were reporting their fields were drying out. There were reports of hail damage in some areas from scattered storms, but most fields were unaffected. Cotton conditions remained good with most fields in the squaring stage. Producers were spraying crops for weeds. Potato and peanut crops were good as potato harvest continued. Black-eyed peas were growing rapidly in the warmer weather. There were some reports of fleahoppers, but they were not reaching threshold, and katydids and grasshoppers were seen in pastures. Cattle were in good condition.

Panhandle

The district continued to be hot and dry, with most fields needing moisture to support crop growth and development. Early planted corn and cotton reached the flowering stage and were beginning to set fruit. Heat units were accumulating at a sufficient pace for warm-season crops, and crop irrigation continued. The extremely dry conditions and heat were decreasing potential yields in irrigated crops. Overall, soil moisture was very short to adequate, with very poor to fair pasture and range conditions. Crops were in fair to good condition.

North

The district received rainfall that ranged from 1-6 inches in most areas. Most crops were planted and emerging, but corn has turned color and dried rapidly due to the heat. Hay was producing well, and okra was being planted for the late summer and early fall seasons. Blackberries were being harvested but some areas were experiencing drops in fruit due to the excessive heat and lack of rainfall. There also has been a slight rise in grasshopper numbers. Soil conditions ranged from short to adequate in most areas with pasture conditions reported to be good to fair. Livestock were in good condition.

Far West

Weather conditions in the district were seasonable with most areas having low temperatures in the mid-70s and highs in the mid-90s. Cotton insurance adjustments have occurred this past week on fields that failed. Irrigated cotton was still holding on with the more seasonal temperatures, and producers were starting to plant a second crop depending on moisture availability. Cotton plants were in the early squaring to blooming stages with light insect activity. Corn was maturing, but yields were expected to be below average due to the excessive heat during pollination. Onion harvest was complete, and melon harvest continued with increasing yields reported. The pecan trees looked good. There were reports of very little grass in pastures, except in ungrazed areas in tank bottoms. Livestock conditions were good, but many producers continued to thin their herds due to these dry conditions.

West Central

Weather conditions in the district varied from hot and dry to warm and humid with rainfall averaging 0.36 inches. Soil conditions were drying, and drought stress was beginning to show in crops and fields. Hay cutting and baling continued, and producers were reporting above-average yields. Some hail-damaged sorghum fields were being cut as hay, and grain sorghum was maturing quickly. Early planted cotton was in good condition, but late cotton looked poor. Corn was drying down and should be harvested soon. Early planted sorghum was maturing, while late-planted crops were producing smaller heads. Pecan trees looked good. Range and pasture conditions were poor to fair, with most areas suffering from dry conditions. Grasshopper damage worsened, which reduced the quality and quantity of forage available for livestock. Livestock and cattle remained in good condition, and markets were strong.

Southwest

The district reported cooler weather and spotty showers with most areas averaging 1-3 inches of rainfall. Wet conditions delayed corn harvest. Bermuda grass on pastures were seeded out and received a second or third cutting due to favorable growing conditions. Livestock were able to graze, and wildlife remained active.

South

The district reported warm and humid conditions with rainfall averaging from 1-4 inches. Hay fields improved with the recent rains, and producers were cutting and baling fields. Cotton crops were in the blooming stage and should be ready to harvest soon. There were reports of heavy whitefly pressure in Hidalgo County cotton fields. Corn and sorghum looked good and were harvested or will be harvested over the next couple of weeks. Peanut fields were in the pegging stage and being sprayed with fungicide. The cantaloupe season was complete, and yields looked good in most areas. Pasture and rangeland conditions varied from good to excellent, and livestock were in good condition. Cattle prices remained strong.