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A short-lived El Nino

Drought has been one of the factors that have hindered herd expansion in the cattle industry. 

Atmospheric scientist Matt Makens tells Brownfield while precipitation has helped improve conditions, it will likely be short-lived. “By later this year, La Niña is back and that means drought for a lot of central and southern U.S.,” he says.  “You know what that has done historically, what hay has done the following year, and all of those things point to let’s not expand right now.”

He says there was optimism that the El Niño pattern that moved in last year would provide significant relief, but it hasn’t. “It’s a different flavor,” he says.  “It’s a weak one for our weather pattern in the states.  We are getting the moisture to Texas and Oklahoma, we’re just not going to stay in it long enough.”

He says temperatures have been milder this winter for the most part and that has allowed soils to better absorb the precipitation that has fallen in recent weeks. 

According to the latest drought monitor, 37 percent of the U.S. is showing at least some drought pressure. 

Brownfield interviewed Makens at the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention. 

AUDIO: Matt Makens, atmospheric scientist