Is this drought too much for our crops to handle?
Posted: 05.25.2011 at 7:11 PM
Updated: 05.26.2011 at 7:25 AM
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AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The drought continues to cause problems across the panhandle, not only is the fire danger high but it's also effecting how our crops are doing.

It’s no secret that the wheat yield this year is in jeopardy in the Panhandle.

“The wheat crop is holding on in spots if it was a summer fallow dry land crop we could still look are cutting a 10-15 bushel crop around here although there has been some wheat that we've totally disastered out,” said Troy Skarkey, local farmer.

Cotton is no exception either.

“If you're a cotton producer dry land, basically the time is running out we have a week to 10 days before the deadline to get the cotton in, it needs to be up and growing and right now there's just no moisture to do it.”

With both of those crops being so scarce this year, according to Donna Hughes the President of Lone Star Portfolios, both of these crops could affect your wallet at the grocery store.

“Certainly higher commodity prices due to situations like this, is going to get played out in what you buy in the grocery stores, cotton you know as far as the clothing and that that you buy.”

Hughes went on to say that over time the higher prices go that it will filter in to the consumer end of it, but skarkey still show optimism.

“Producers are amazing people and I think we'll grow the crop needed to make all this work.”

Skarkey did say that the reason the crops have struggled so much is due to the lack of moisture during the winter and obviously the lack of moisture now since May is supposed to be our wettest month.