I know it’s not nice to brag, but this year’s rainfall has been a welcome boost—enough to say, so far, things are really good. For homeowners, fruit growers, stockmen, and hay producers alike, our rainfall in 2025 is making all the difference. It’s not a guarantee that we won’t see drought later in the remaining year, but it’s a trend worth celebrating.
Recent rain across our part of East Texas is already setting the stage for better hay yields. AgriLife Extension experts reported that first cuts of hay, especially of volunteer annual ryegrass were substantial. Of course, this all rides on continued rain and prudent fertilization. Soils have adequate moisture now, warm-season grasses are going strong, and hay inventories are building.
Visiting with a couple of cattlemen earlier this week, they both reported two good hay harvests to date and were looking forward to their third hay harvest soon. “It’s not every year you see such green pastures around here in August,” one remarked.
One local blueberry operation told me that they still have not had to turn on their irrigation system at the time we spoke in mid to late-June.
In the home landscape, our continuity of showers is delivering the best lawn-care news in a while. Grass is greening up and less supplemental watering is needed. I don’t know any scientific reasoning for rainwater making a greener yard that well water, but our rains have kept our landscapes and gardens looking good.
Looking at the rainfall recorded at the Angelina County Airport; the January through July rainfall total was 36 inches – over six inches over the average for that same time frame. For the first few days of August (Thursday, Aug 7 at the time this is written) the total was already 1.25”. That one and a quarter inch doesn’t even recognize the nearly four inches that I got at my place just north of Lufkin in the Clawson Community last weekend on August 1 and 2.
Visiting with retired Air Force Meteorologist, Matthew Addison, he said, “Localized rainfall can be extremely localized, especially in East Texas where convective events (like summer storms) can dump inches in one area and leave another nearby spot dry (just like the 4” we had recently).” He continued, “Typically, even though one area of the county may get heavy rain today while others get nothing, next week, that location that got nothing today will get something next week…so it really does just ‘even out’ over the course of the year.”
But if you expect rain to continue, don’t throw out your water-wise routines just yet. I’ve heard several wise residents remember that we are just a few weeks away from drought. Across the state, drought conditions still exist in other regions. And even a substantial rain doesn’t automatically end a dry spell. So, while your lawn looks great today, conservation is still smart management.
For hay producers, this spring and early summer rain was a lifeline- a valuable window to grow hay (so long as you found time to bale it!)
For homeowners enjoying greener grass, this is a chance to ease off overwatering (and resulting water bill) and let nature do its work—without losing sight of potential drought ahead.
So yes, it’s good so far. Let’s use this window wisely—harvest smartly and water responsibly to keep momentum going, should the skies slow down again.
