Former Soil Conservation Service employee and longtime writer Mat Taylor offers his outdoors column for Dispatch Record readers. He can be contacted at (254) 518- 2262 or via e-mail at mntaylor@agristar.net. Over half the month of September has passed and still no rain. Historical rainfall data shows September is the second-wettest month of the year after May.

Unlike the rest of the state, portions of Central Texas are experiencing severe drought conditions. I noticed in the latest issue of the Dispatch Record the National Weather Service observer station in Lampasas has recorded 20.35 inches. In my gauge east of Kempner, I still haven't reached 15 inches. That is less than half the yearly average.

On our ranch, there are several springs, but they have all gone dry. Our farm pond is the lowest it has been since it was built more than 40 years ago. The leaves on many trees and bushes are turning brown and falling off. Even though we have received several small showers, I have not recorded an appreciable rain since May.

The brief rains have temporarily greened up the grass, but there has been very little growth. There also are no acorns on oak trees. That will affect the deer this fall, as acorns are a valuable food staple of deer this time of year.

My wife and I take a long walk almost every afternoon. Our two dogs, a cat and sometimes a few cows usually accompany us. Walking along a pasture road, we all kick up a small cloud of dust.

I sometimes get very depressed when we take our walks and wonder when it will rain again. Normally, I feed protein supplement to my cattle during the winter months, but I have been feeding them and the deer most of the summer. Also, it seems that every time I buy feed the price goes up. Most of that is due to the high price of corn caused by the use of corn to produce ethanol.

Even though we have not been blessed with a substantial soaking rain, parts of Texas are in good shape. During my recent travels to other regions of the state, the countryside looks very green, and the worst-looking area is right here in Central Texas.

In the Texas Panhandle, most of the area has received more rain in the past few months than I have had for the entire year. Lubbock, as you probably heard or saw on television, was deluged with over seven inches of rain in one day, and parts of the city were flooded.

I recently read in the San Angelo Standard-Times that many areas of West Texas are experiencing their wettest year in decades, and the grass is green and lush. I also read in the Alpine paper that the city already has received more than its yearly average rainfall -- and that is before their normal rainy season of September and October.

The small community of Sanderson in the desert west of Del Rio has an average rainfall of about 12 inches. Recently, areas around Sanderson received that much in just one week.

You also may have read about the Rio Grande River flooding parts of Presidio, the city of Ojinaga and Big Bend National Park. This has been caused by above-average rains in the area and in Mexico. Due to the heavy rains, Mexico has been releasing water from the Louis Leon Dam on the Concho River that empties into the Rio Grande near Presidio.

The road from Presidio to Lajitas and areas of Big Bend National Park were closed for a period of time due to the moisture.

I am glad to hear that other areas of Texas have received good rains, however some areas received too much with the recent passing of Hurricane Ike. I, like other local ranchers, wished the hurricane had passed a little closer so we could have benefitted from a soaking rain.

I do not know why Central Texas has been dryer than normal, and I confess I have been concerned and worrying about it. My pastor, the Rev. Don Casper, preached on worry recently and how the Bible says worrying does not solve anything and is not good for your health. Worrying will not add one day to our life or one inch to our height.

I felt better after the sermon and know we will get a good rain one of these days; we just have to be patient.

A prayer for rain would help, however.

Even with the dry weather, my cattle are in pretty good shape, and overall the deer also seem to be in good body condition -- the exception being some older does with fawns that look a little thin. I have seen several bucks lately, and it is my impression that their antlers are smaller and lighter than normal.

This was not a good year for antler growth, and the fawn crop also seems to be below normal.

I will report on the condition of the deer herd in an upcoming column.