Jack Frost Takes Bite Out Of Texas Wheat

Though ice loads during freezing weather can damage irrigation pivots, many producers will keep them running until it drops well below freezing, said Rick Auckerman, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for Deaf Smith County. The temperature was 32 degrees with 20 -25 mph northerly wind when this picture was taken. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Rick Auckerman)

COLLEGE STATION – The damage to the wheat crop in the Panhandle, Southern Plains and Rolling Plains regions from the last bout of freezing weather was not uniform, but losses were “significant,” according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agronomist.

Freezing weather this late is a rare phenomenon, Dr. Travis Miller, AgriLife Extension agronomist and Texas A&M University soil and crop sciences associate department head said. He noted that in his 35 years as an AgriLife Extension agronomist, he’s never seen freezes occur this late in the year.