'Nothing but dirt,' dead cattle in dry Texas

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

LUBBOCK, Texas - Drought conditions in Texas are so bad cattle are keeling over in parched pastures and dying.

Drought conditions worsened significantly in the past week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday. Seventy-one percent of the state is now in some stage of drought, up from 58.3 percent last week.

A week ago the two worst drought designations — extreme and exceptional — covered 9.1 percent of the state. This week the two categories cover 15.1 percent of the state, with a circle near San Antonio and Austin widening in all directions. Only the eastern and southeastern parts of Texas are without any drought status.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28691905/

[Nagishkaw 510]

[Jasman0717 9]

There is always something going on in Texas

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Are they illegal cattle?

[Jasman0717 9]

Are they illegal cattle?

[Peikko 1,575]

Is this drought due to the up coming ice age we are all anticipating?

Not very funny whatever way you look at it really though. I am guessing that part of the problem is an overuse of the land because of the US craving for large amounts of red meat at all times?

[Jasman0717 9]

Its not like it is the first time the mid-west has suffered from a drought

[Ban Hammer 14,572]

Its not like it is the first time the mid-west has suffered from a drought

correct. whether there's cows on the land or not, it still won't rain. we had droughts in texas back in the early 70's

[peejay 327]

I've driven through this area numerous times in my travels around the state. If it wasn't for the huge rotary irrigators and the Ogallala aquifer this area would be screwed as far as agriculture is concerned. And, unfortunately, the Ogallala aquifer is depleting way faster than it is being replenished.

You definitely don't want to drive through this area if you suffer from Agoraphobia. It reminds me of the open ocean. Barren, flat as a pancake, and wide open nothingness except for the sparse grain silos and homesteads. Welcome to the countryside around Lubbock. That's the high plains of TX.

Actually Lubbock is in the yellow area in the northern area of the posted map. The worst of the drought is shown in the Hill Country part of TX.

Edited January 17, 2009 by peejay