Our grasslands are incredible ecosystems, vital for everything from supporting wildlife to producing our food. But what happens when snaps of extreme climate occur and prolonged drought becomes the new norm? A fascinating new study, dives deep into the unseen world beneath our feet to show us the progression of grassland decline under increasing aridity and desertification.
[Read more…] about Getting to the Root of It: Understanding Grassland Decline in a Drying World
Texas summers all too often bring rapid and/or prolonged drought conditions, whereas our Texas winters can deliver heavy rains with extended saturated conditions. While rangeland managers welcome any rains, this combination and rapid shifts of extreme weather events from dry to wet or vice versa can lead to a hidden problem: nitrate-contaminated groundwater.
[Read more…] about Understanding Nitrate Leaching: The Hidden Threat After Extreme Weather Shifts
The Prescribed Burn Alliance of Texas (PBAT) (https://www.pbatexas.org/) announced the results of the 2024–2025 dormant season for prescribed fire. During this period, 18 Texas-based Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs), covering 175 counties, assisted private landowners in conducting 73 prescribed burns, safely treating approximately 25,000 acres across the state.
[Read more…] about Texas Landowners Successfully Implement Prescribed Fire on 25,000-acres!!
Prescribed fires are a necessary process for rangeland management, helping to reduce fuel loads, restore ecosystems, and mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires. More importantly, the estimated escape rate across the U.S. is quite low, at 0.16% (2022). A recent study by Li et al. (2025) sheds light on the spatial and temporal patterns of escape prescribed fires, offering crucial insights for rangeland managers and fire professionals.
We’re thrilled to welcome our guest blogger, Mr. Mike Mecke, to the West Texas Rangelands blog! Mr. Mecke brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for land stewardship, drawing from his unique background as a San Antonio native who as of 2008 retired into the Texas Hill Country outside of Kerrville. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University with Biology and Agriculture degrees. He later earned a Masters of Science in Rangeland Ecology & Watershed Management at the University of Wyoming. Helping people by improving agricultural management, land stewardship, water resources conservation and water resources planning has been the primary aspects of his career. We’re excited for him to share his insights and practical expertise with our West Texas rangeland community. Take it away sir!
That is a really great headline written by Ms. Emily Seldomridge, writing for Texas Water Solutions a few years ago and it is fantastic advice for ranchers, farmers, agencies or water utilities. Caught my attention right away, which a title should do. You can’t beat developing a good conservation plan and then applying it. The blog article contains some very good conservation proposals as well. This is a rewrite of my Ranch & Rural Living magazine article some years ago.
A fascinating new report from the amazing team at Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute sheds light on the changing landscape of Texas. Their sixth edition of a five-year study dives deep into population growth, land values, ownership patterns, and how land use is changing across Texas. The takeaways, reveal some significant trends that paint a picture of a state undergoing considerable transformation.
A recent study from Dr. David Matarrita-Cascante, Texas A&M University Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries, explores why people are migrating towards rural communities, their previous rangeland management experience, and their goals and expectations for their newly owned private property.
Wildfires have become a significant concern in the United States, causing substantial economic, environmental, and agricultural losses. The financial burden, regional impact, and seasonal length of wildfires have increased in recent decades, raising national and global concerns. In fact, since 2015, three of the five largest wildfire years for acreage burned in the United States have occurred. [Read more…] about The New Wildfire Season
Prescribed fire is a critical process for grassland and savanna function, management of invasive species, and wildfire mitigation. It’s a practice that requires careful coordination and collaboration among various organizations. The overall effectiveness and success of prescribed fire is heavily influenced by social networks.
Hel-loooooo La Niña. Until June-July-August (hopefully).
The percentage of the state under drought conditions (D1-D4) has alarmingly increased from 49% to 68% in just four weeks. Extreme drought or worse has jumped from 17% to 29% during the same period, and exceptional drought has more than doubled from 6.3% to 14%. Overall, a staggering 85% of the state is now abnormally dry or worse (D0-D4).
While the eastern parts of Texas saw typical March precipitation patterns, a significant portion of West and Far West Texas received less than 0.01 inches of rainfall. Consequently, despite the localized flooding in the Lower Rio Grande Valley,, almost the entire state experienced substantially less than normal rainfall for March 2025.
The current La Niña Advisory, is expected to be short-lived, with a high probability (62%) of transitioning to neutral conditions by late summer. The U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook through May predicts continued drought or drought development for most of Texas, excluding the far east. Furthermore, the three-month temperature outlook favors above-average temperatures, while the precipitation outlook leans towards rainfall deficits for the majority of the state.
It’s going to get worse before it gets better.
This is growing season drought.
For the full article, check it out here!