The month of March had some much needed rainfall, falling mostly on only two days, the 18th and 19th.  This put Dallas/Fort Worth 1.34 inches above normal for the month.  However, twelve month rainfall deficits (from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006) remained high, with 13.38 inches lacking at Dallas/Fort Worth and 10.86 inches lacking at Waco.  Although this rainfall helped the crops and put some much needed water into lakes and reservoirs, the drought persisted.  March's rainfall helped drop north Texas down a category from Extreme to Severe Drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.  Burn bans were still in place in several north Texas counties.  Wildfires continued to be a problem for north Texas.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture allocated more than $8 million in Emergency Conservation Program funds this month for farmland in 16 Texas counties affected by wildfires.  In north Texas, Hood, Cooke, Parker, and Somervell Counties were designated to receive funds.  Farmers in these counties were able to go to their Farm Service Agency offices and apply for damages.  Aid requests were also sent to Congress by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.  The request sought funds to help feed livestock, repair fences destroyed by wildfires, and compensate producers who lost cattle and vegetation.  The USDA continued to offer conservation land for up to 60 days to farmers that needed grazing land for their cattle.

Drought in PALO PINTO, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in FANNIN, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in YOUNG, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in FREESTONE, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in GRAYSON, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in LAMPASAS, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in MCLENNAN, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in KAUFMAN, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HENDERSON, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in MILLS, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in LAMAR, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in CORYELL, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in WISE, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in BOSQUE, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in JACK, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in DENTON, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in LIMESTONE, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in ANDERSON, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in COLLIN, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HUNT, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in DELTA, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HOPKINS, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in STEPHENS, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in PARKER, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in LEON, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in BELL, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in FALLS, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in MILAM, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in ROBERTSON, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in RAINS, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in EASTLAND, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in COMANCHE, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in DALLAS, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in COOKE, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in MONTAGUE, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Crop damage: 200M
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in TARRANT, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HILL, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in NAVARRO, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in ERATH, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HOOD, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in SOMERVELL, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in JOHNSON, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in ELLIS, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in VAN ZANDT, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in ROCKWALL, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Drought in HAMILTON, TEXAS
From 01-MAR-06 00:00:00 to 31-MAR-06 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.