Six-Year Drought Devastates Southern Plains Farms

The Southern Plains has been enduring a severe drought for six years, with significant impacts still felt in 2026. This prolonged dry spell has cost the agriculture sector an estimated $23.6 billion from 2020 through 2024 due to lost crops and increased feed costs. Ranchers have been forced into drastic measures, such as an all-night auction in Texas where over 4,000 cattle were sold.

The drought's severity is exacerbated by rising temperatures and a persistent La Niña climate pattern, leading to rapid drought intensification events. Water supplies across the region are critically depleted, with reservoirs and groundwater reserves falling to historic lows. San Antonio's water sources, including the Edwards Aquifer, reached record lows in 2024 and 2025.

Lingering economic effects from a previous 2010-2015 drought have hampered recovery. Many cattle herds had not been rebuilt when the current drought began in 2020, forcing further sell-offs. Crop failures were widespread in 2022, significantly reducing the value of harvests. While a potential shift to El Niño might bring wetter conditions later in 2026, the region must first navigate the spring and summer months, with drought conditions possibly worsening before improving.