Dry conditions prevail across Texas, and rainfall outlooks are raising concerns about hay supplies and grazing in the near term and production potential this coming season, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.
Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension forage specialist and professor, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Overton, said livestock producers continue to deplete hay supplies and the verdict is still out on warm-season haying prospects.
“Folks likely have supplies left over from last year, however the quality might be questionable,” Corriher-Olson said. “We are currently dry with some parts of the state in a drought, so things don’t look very promising now. Looking at the long-range forecast, it appears we should expect above-normal temperatures and below-normal rainfall.
Beyond drought, an invasive pest found in South Texas pastures – the pasture mealy bug – is raising concerns among hay producers.
“If it spreads, it could be devastating to a lot of forage and hay producers,” she said.
Though 2025 was a bumper hay crop for most, that initial surplus has proven to be a salvation for droughtplagued regions of the state. Some AgriLife Extension agent reports in drier areas of the state indicate tightening hay supplies, while other areas remain well stocked.
Round bale pricing varies from $75-$85 on average for Texas, according to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Texas Direct Hay Report. Premium round bales were between $110$145.
“We still have a surplus of hay from the major hay providers,” said Shane McLellan, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent, McLennan County. “Most livestock people have dipped fairly deep into their hay supplies, but I know there’s a lot of hay left over and prices are reduced drastically. We just made so much hay last summer that it’s expected to carry over into next year.”
In the Texas Panhandle, overall soil moisture levels were very short to short this past week, with high winds pulling moisture from the soil profile and bringing additional topsoil erosion across landscapes without cover crops or crop residue. The winds also pushed several major wildfires. Pasture and range conditions were very poor to fair, and winter wheat was poor to fair.
South Plains regional conditions were dry with above-average temperatures and extreme winds. In some areas, irrigation started on small grains. Winter wheat was in poor to fair condition. Grazing was available for livestock in some areas, but producers were relying on supplemental feed. Some started shipping livestock.