Now in its tenth month, the historic drought continued across West Central Texas as a strong upper level high pressure ridge persisted across West Central Texas.  Many areas across West Central Texas had more than twenty days of highs of 100 degrees or greater.  Also, the San Angelo Regional Airport had 8 days of highs of 105 degrees or greater.
According to the Texas Crop Weather Report prepared by the Texas A&M Agriculture Program, the following agricultural impacts were noted across West Central Texas as extremely hot, dry, and windy conditions continued.  There will be little to no dryland cotton harvested this year, but recent reports indicate only a portion of the irrigated will be harvested either. Irrigated cotton producers continued to apply water, but with poor results. Some cotton stands were flowering but had no bolls. Rangeland and pasture conditions continued to decline, and producers further decreased the size of their herds while increasing the amount of supplemental feed and water hauled. Hay was in very short supply. Most small livestock operators have already completely liquidated their herds. Some larger ranches were holding on to core herds, hoping for conditions to improve.  With hay prices as high as they���ve ever been, producers were looking for feeding options. Summer calves that were born in midday were lost because of overheating.
Lake Ivie, which supplies water to Abilene and several other cities in West Texas, has dropped to 24 percent of its capacity.  If it does not receive adequate rainfall, the water supply could be depleted by December 2012.
From October 1 of 2010 through July 31 of 2011, the state climatologist stated that this was one of the driest periods on records for the entire state of Texas.  The following precipitation amounts were recorded in Abilene, San Angelo and Junction for that period.
Abilene received 9.35 inches of rain. Normal rainfall for this period is about 18.39 inches
San Angelo received 6.44 inches of rain. Normal rainfall for this period is about 16.02 inches.
Junction received 4.06 inches of rain.
Last month, the Department of Agriculture declared all of Texas a natural Disaster due to extreme heat, high winds and lack of rain.

Drought in KIMBLE, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Kimble County.

Drought in MASON, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Mason County.

Drought in MCCULLOCH, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Mcculloch County.

Drought in MENARD, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Menard County.

Drought in NOLAN, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Nolan County.

Drought in BROWN, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated extreme drought conditions across Brown County.

Drought in CALLAHAN, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated extreme drought conditions across Callahan County.

Drought in COKE, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Coke County.

Drought in COLEMAN, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated extreme drought conditions across Coleman County.

Drought in CONCHO, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Concho County.

Drought in CROCKETT, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Crockett County.

Drought in FISHER, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Fisher County.

Drought in HASKELL, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Haskell County.

Drought in IRION, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Irion County.

Drought in RUNNELS, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated extreme drought conditions across Runnels County.

Drought in SAN SABA, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across San Saba County.

Drought in SCHLEICHER, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Schleicher County.

Drought in SUTTON, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Sutton County.

Drought in THROCKMORTON, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Throckmorton County.

Drought in TOM GREEN, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Tom Green County.

Drought in SHACKELFORD, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Shackelford County.

Drought in STERLING, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Sterling County.

Drought in JONES, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Jones County.

Drought in TAYLOR, TEXAS
From 01-JUL-11 00:00:00 to 31-JUL-11 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The U.S. Drought Monitior indicated exceptional drought conditions across Taylor County.