SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) - Grayson County farmer Ben Wible is used to plowing and caring for hundreds of acres and pastures along Wible Road, but drought conditions this year are affecting his routine.
“It’s definitely taking a toll,” Wible said.
Wible said dry ground could push back wheat planting.
“Two or three weeks from now, we should start planting wheat where there’s no moisture in the ground. So it’s kind of, you’re just dusting wheat and hope for a decent rain is what’s going to happen, looks like,” Wible said.
Farmers across Texoma may have to delay planting wheat and other crops because of the drought.
“We may be backed off till the end of October, maybe going into November before we plant if it doesn’t rain soon,” Wible said. “It really affects the money that we expect to get next year. And the longer this drought holds on, it starts lowering your expectations of what you’re going to make next year.”
Preparation for next year’s harvest is not the only issue affecting local farmers. Dry pasture conditions and high fertilizer costs are also factors.
Wible said some of his cattle have been jumping the fence to find greener pastures.
“When the pastures are so bad, those cattle are wandering, and they may get into a pasture that’s worse than the one they’re in. But they want to go see,” Wible said.
Wible said he has run out of grass on several farms and has been feeding hay for the past three weeks, about a month earlier than normal.
“Normally you don’t start feeding until the end of October,” Wible said.
Wible said water levels are also a concern on some of his pastures. One pasture holding about 100 head of cattle has a tank that is dropping nearly every week, he said.
Fertilizer costs are up, forcing farmers to plant less of certain crops.
“People are all backing off of the wheat, going more with the corn and soybeans because of the price of the fertilizer we’ve got to put out,” Wible said.
