What did the rain do?

Despite as much as four inches of rain having fallen in some parts of Frio County during the past month, giving some relief to regional agribusiness, area residents should expect few breaks from a persistent drought during the summer.

According to AgriLife Extension Agent Brianna Gonzales in Pearsall this week, most families have appreciated the rains for saving lawns and outdoor plants, and occasional breaks from high temperatures, but farmers and ranchers have more for which to be thankful.

“The rains we experienced in the past few weeks have made a slight impact on the long-term drought conditions, but we are still behind in total rainfall compared to this time last year,” Gonzales said on Monday. “Where the rains have really helped is in the producers’ economy. This has had a financial benefit for some.”

Gonzales said she has spoken with beef cattle producers who believe the recent rains will promote new growth in vital grazing crops for livestock, sparing some operators the expense of providing full-time supplemental feed.

“That’s a significant amount, when you consider the cost of supplemental feed,” Gonzales said. “Having an opportunity for cattle to graze gives those producers some relief.”

Pearsall’s position as a center for the peanut farming industry has been affected detrimentally by harsh drought conditions, which have brought a financial burden to some farmers preparing their acreage for planting, Gonzales said.

“Many farmers have had to pre-irrigate their land for peanuts, so the rains helped with that,” the extension agent said, adding that the precipitation has been beneficial in both cost-saving and in labor.

“This time of year, it’s no surprise to us in South Texas that we are experiencing triple-digit temperatures and drought conditions,” Gonzales said of the hot summer trend in the weather. “A couple of years ago at this time, we saw temperatures at nearly 120 degrees in some parts.”

Precipitation recorded in Frio County by the US Department of Agriculture’s Resources Conservation Service, with an office in Pearsall assisting the Frio Soil & Water Conservation District, shows that totals this year reached 8.57” by the end of May, while they stood at just over ten inches at the same time last year.

The tally, however, was brought closer to last year’s measurement only after more than three inches of rain fell in Frio County during one week alone. The previous week, less than half an inch of rain was recorded, and Frio County was headed to the end of May with approximately half of the precipitation it experienced in 2024.

“This year we are a little behind in rainfall, compared to last year,” Gonzales said, “but we were blessed with the recent rains. A lot of producers are hoping for more.

“In watching the news, I believe we can expect some more rain in the coming days,” she added. “We have not had a significant amount to put us at more than in years past, but we are not complaining. Whatever we have received has been helpful.”

With temperatures remaining in triple digits for most of the summer and drought trends continuing, the AgriLife extension agent acknowledges this month’s fresh rain-fed growth in grasses and brush could pose a hazard by August and September, when many plants become dry tinder for wildfires.

“There is definitely a risk of wildfire, and we have to ask whether it is higher than usual,” Gonzales said on Monday. “We have had meetings about this, and the consensus is that we need to be cautious.

“When the earth is saturated now, the high temperatures later will dry out anything that grows,” she said. “We are encouraging local residents, farmers, ranchers, landowners, to take preventative measures now and through the summer.”

La Salle County also experienced heavy rains under passing storms during May, with significant precipitation in one night mid-month and additional rainfall recorded on at least two other occasions.

Rains across the region have proved beneficial to spring and early-summer growth, with livestock water tanks refilled naturally, but members of the La Salle Fire Rescue have indicated some concern over speedy brush growth that can pose a serious wildfire hazard later in the year.

Wildfires moving through South Texas have been recorded at speeds of at least 40 miles per hour, threatening lives and property, and have been fueled by dry brush and accelerated by high winds.

Fire Rescue Chief Daniel Mendez said this week that reports of at least 2.5” of rain in some areas of the county were confirmed after one night of thunderstorms, but that his department is aware new grass growth may become wildfire fuel later in the summer.

“We will continue to monitor conditions,” Mendez said on Tuesday. “We check state weather conditions daily, and right now one of our biggest concerns is heat stroke and heat-related illness.”

The fire chief said all area residents should exercise caution in high temperatures, take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water, notably those who work outdoors.

“You should also check on the elderly as often as possible,” Mendez said. “The heat is intense, and heat-related illness will creep up on you. You must be prepared for these conditions.”

Burn bans lasting 90 days are signed by commissioners in each South Texas county based on recommendations from the Texas Forest Service and on the advice of volunteer and paid firefighting services.

La Salle County’s burn ban expired in May and has not been renewed, although Chief Mendez said he will recommend it to commissioners as soon as conditions indicate wildfire danger. Burn band remain in effect for the cities of Cotulla and Encinal.

The Texas Forest Service recommends keeping brush away from structures, removing all overgrowth to prevent potentially hazardous buildup of wildfire fuel, and to exercise extreme caution with any source of ignition, notably burn barrels, barbecues and any welding equipment.

State law overriding local burn bans prohibits anyone from having an outdoor fire before dawn or after sundown.

Under a county or city burn ban, residents and property owners and managers are prevented by law from burning any material outdoors. Prescribed agricultural burns are allowed only with permission given in advance by the county government.

Violations are prosecuted as misdemeanors.

“Even if there is no burn ban, which may be the case, anyone burning anything outdoors should call their local sheriff’s office for advice on all prescribed safety precautions,” the fire chief said. “All smoke and fire must be subdued by sunset.”