Experts say record crop still likely

By Celinda Emison

emisonc@reporternews.com

Wednesday's severe thunderstorm pummeled several areas in southern Taylor and northern Callahan counties with large hail, damaging some wheat crops.

"Overall, we are still going to have a record crop," said Dub Vinson at Abilene Ag.

"We lost about 1,500 acres in Taylor County last night, and overall about 5,000 from the last two storms," Vinson said.

Farmers in Callahan County are reporting damage on 1,500 to 2,000 acres of wheat fields but are not calling the damage a total loss.

The wheat crop will be ready to harvest in a few weeks.

Hail this late in the growing season can damage the heads of the wheat.

"We are still trying to determine the complete impact of the storm," said Robert Frost, Callahan County executive director of the Farm Service Agency. "We are still getting reports from producers."

This was the first significant hail storm for Callahan County this year, while two storms have been recorded in Taylor County.

"It should still be a good crop if we don't get hit again," Frost said. "The conditions are still good to make some good wheat."

According to the National Weather Service in San Angelo, near softball-size hail was reported in Potosi, baseball-size hail was reported in Dudley and Eula in Callahan County, and golf ball-size hail was reported in Cross Plains.

No severe weather is on the horizon for the next week, according to the National Weather Service.

"We have a slight chance of rain in the Big Country over the next few days, but most of it is in the southern portion of the Big Country," said meteorologist Willie Gilmore.

"We don't see anything real significant right now. It should be calmer, especially around Taylor and Callahan counties."