AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The High Plains have seen some hot temperatures this summer, combined with dry conditions, making it hard for farmers and their crops.
“So we’ve had some uncharacteristically hot days this summer. We typically have some very hot days in the summer, but for going on two-plus weeks of over 100-degree-plus weather, it has been very difficult on the crops,” added Kevin Heflin, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agronomist. “Our crops are extremely water-stressed right now. Even our irrigated ag, especially like you see the crops behind me, they’re really stressed. They are receiving water on a regular basis, but without the rain and cooler temps, a lot of the crops in the High Plains are really hurting right now.”
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Heflin explained that it is a critical time for crops like corn, as the heat is heavily impacting crops.
“Any of our summer crops going right now are going to be very vulnerable to heat. Cotton is actively pollinating and putting on fruit. It’s going to be affected. It could start shedding bolls, so of course we do shield,” added Heflin. “Our corn and forage sorghums, when they really start putting on a lot of yield or tonnage, that we would cut here in the next four to six weeks if it’s going as a forage crop, they’re going to be severely impacted.”…