DROUGHT RESOURCES U.S. Drought Monitor map U.S. seasonal drought outlook

Officials said cattle raisers have lost $829 million since last summer, $569 million of that since November.

Recent rains across much of the state, though welcome, came too late. Ranchers have spent substantial money on hay and supplemental feed, the cost of trucking in additional hay. The drought losses also include failed wheat crops usually used for grazing.

All of Texas is in some stage of drought for the second straight week, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday.

Worst hit is Central Texas and the Hill Country, where exceptional drought, the most severe designation, has persisted for months and is the driest area in the U.S.

Texas just had its driest December-February stretch on record.

More than 60% of the state's beef cows are in counties with severe to exceptional drought — the three worst stages.

Losses will likely grow past $1 billion in the next two months as livestock producers continue to make supplemental feed purchases or sell cattle and calves in a declining market, said David Anderson, an agriculture marketing economist with Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

In 2006, drought-related crop and livestock losses were the state's worst for a single year, totaling $4.1 billion.

The effects of the drought on livestock aren't short-term, Anderson said.

"Drought results in reduced conception rates and calf crops the next year," he said. "The lack of feed results in lower cattle sale weights. Range and pasture recovery from drought can take multiple years and can result in reduced stocking rates while ranges recover."

No crop loss estimates are possible now, though South Texas farmers have probably planted some and Central Texas producers would just now be planting, he said.

"My impression is, yes people were planting," Anderson said. "You have to plant anyway before the deadline for crop insurance purposes."

Rancher Betsy Ross was grateful for the rain at her Blacklands spread near Granger, about 45 miles northeast of Austin.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness," the 72-year-old rancher said. "I think it's really disastrous if we don't continue to get rain."