Impacts to agriculture continued across the combined Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle through the month of January due to drought especially in the northwest, southwest and southeast. Emergence of small grain plantings was limited during the month leading to very few cattle in pasture. Subsoil and topsoil moisture remained short to very short at the end of the month.  For the southwest Texas Panhandle the Exceptional (D4), Extreme (D3), and Severe (D2) drought conditions were creating a potential forage deficit toward the end of January. This led to increased demand and increase prices for forage silage.  Wheat crop will most likely not be harvested for grain but instead farmers will most likely cash in on diverse forage options for livestock producers.  Similar conditions are being felt elsewhere where drought conditions remain in D2 and above.

Drought in WHEELER, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Wheeler County continued with severe drought (D2) going into the month of January. Enough precipitation fell to help the western half of the county improve to moderate drought (D1). The eastern half of the county remained in D2 through the month.

Drought in DEAF SMITH, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

The far southern portion of the county remained in exceptional (D4)  drought conditions through the whole month of January.  Further north in central portions extreme (D3) drought conditions continued with the northern half of the county seeing at least severe drought (D2) conditions. Areas around the county saw around 0.40 to 0.50 inches of precipitation during the month. Farmers in the area were looking at abandoning winter wheat for grain and turning towards using for silage. This did nothing to improve conditions in drought considering the County has been in a 10 to 12 inch deficit since January 2020.

Drought in RANDALL COUNTY, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Randall County continued to see severe (D2) to extreme (D3) drought conditions during the month of January 2021. Some places across the county saw around half an inch of precipitation during the month of January. However, this did not improve conditions, but only prevented further degradation. There was one wildfire in Randall County during the month due to the extremely dry conditions that combined with a high wind event.

Drought in ARMSTRONG, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Armstrong County continued to see severe (D2) drought conditions during the month in the west up against Randall County. Some severe drought conditions were present in the far southern part of the county through the first two weeks. Some of this area saw a one categorical improvement about half way through the month. Areas in central to eastern Armstrong County saw anywhere between three quarters to an inch of precipitation which is about normal for January to slightly above normal. This helped prevent any further degradation is drought conditions.

Drought in COLLINGSWORTH, TEXAS
From 01-JAN-21 00:00:00 to 31-JAN-21 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Drought Monitor

Collingsworth County remained in severe drought (D2) conditions through the first three weeks of Jan. There also was a small section in the far southeast corner of the county that was in extreme drought (D3). This all changed by the end of week three as areas around the county received close to three quarters of an inch of rainfall in one event on the 24th. The county was able to see one categorical improvement across the vast majority of the county going into the final week of the month.