The significance of rainfall in South Texas

The unabated climatic change within and outside South Texas inflicts serious suffering on farmers and ranchers as the region grapples with unreliable rainfall and severe water shortage. South Texas experiences varied climatic conditions with the zone along the Mexican border majorly witnessing semi-arid weather and the west of San Antonio exhibiting humid subtropical characteristics. Since the region has recently received depressed rainfall, the diminished water supply resulted in

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parched fields with little to nil vegetation or fodder. These drought-driven adversities hurt the agricultural sector and perilously endanger the livelihood of citizens in South Texas. Rainfall crucially impacts the agricultural industry since precipitation increases crop yield and facilitates the production of livestock feeds. Specifically, the water from rain-wetted soil dissolves a wide range of micro- and macro-nutrients that enters into the plant through roots so that crops and other vegetation may undertake photosynthesis, which involves the use of carbon dioxide, water and sunlight to produce energy and oxygen. The uninterrupted supply of resources that are required to undertake photosynthesis enables plants and other vegetation to grow flourishingly so that humans and livestock may obtain sufficient food and animal feeds, respectively.

Ranchers in South Texas depend on rainfall to produce grasses and other types of fodder on which this region’s cattle and other livestock survive.

Access to healthy and adequate grass enables the South Taxa community to rear livestock from which high-quality dairy products and meat are obtained. Without rainfall, residents would struggle to acquire dairy products, meat, vegetables, fresh fruits and fodder.

Thus, rain constitutes a vital component of the region’s food supply chain as well-watered grass grows in abundance to sustain cattle and other livestock from which different consumer products such as hamburgers are produced. The ongoing climatic change in South Texas and beyond increasingly impels people to recognize the significance of rainfall in (1) agriculture and (2) the survival of both humans and animals. Rainfall sustains the South Texas food supply chain by moistening grounds on which crops and livestock fodder are grown. To safeguard this crucial resource, residents within and outside South Texas are implored to conserve water and reverse the degradation of the ecosystem as a way of building a sustainable future.

With firearms as the leading cause of death for children in the United States, our leaders need to shift their attention away from banning Drag Queens, to banning guns that harmed more than 6,000 children in 2022 alone.

dren and three adults were killed. The primary weapon used in this deadly assault was an AR-15.

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On March 27, a school shooting in Nashville took place during which three nine-year-old chil-

So far in 2023, there have been 17 school shootings in the U.S., more than any other country. Our politicians, especially those in the Republican Party, place greater value upon their right to own an AR-15 than the value of children’s lives.

Recently many of those Republicans have set their sights on banning the art form that is drag in Texas and across the country. In Tennessee, a state Senate bill was passed deeming drag in the presence of children illegal. This puts anyone performing in drag at risk of a 15-year prison sentence if they are seen in any public area. Many who believe it necessary to ban drag, make an argument of “safety concern,” for their children but I view it as an attack the LGBTQ+ community. Legislation to ban drag is a waste of time and money. Children are statistically safer at a drag show than they are at a church today, yet no form of legislation has been passed to protect kids from sexual assault while there. It is blatant hate for the gay community that is driving bills like this to be passed. Other than drag, the government has been on a mission to ban TikTok, abortion and books that discuss racism or women’s rights. Our government is taking quick action to ban things they do not politically agree with but fail to pay attention to the real-life threat that is assault rifles. Ban assault rifles, not Tik Tok. Ban assault rifles, not books. Ban assault rifles, not women’s rights. Ban assault rifles, not drag.

Graduation for me brings uncertainty to the future in many aspects. The future is coming up on everyone who is graduating in the spring and the summer, and it is that feeling of “now what?” that can really stop you in your tracks. We’ve all spent four or more years reaching for this goal while studying for exams, tests, presentations and late-night labs to get to this place in our life. The people you’ve met along with the new things you have found out about yourself on the way has made this a journey you can’t forget.

Now we are at the point where it is time to simply just move on from it all to contribute our own way to the world.

The stress of finding and securing a job in your chosen career field can weigh heavily on a person because it’s as if you’re just now realizing “this is what I came to college for.” This was our life for four or more years and now the relationships

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Ronni Reyna Editor-in-Chief chief.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Melissa Mata Managing Editor managing.editor@thesouthtexan.com we’ve built and the sort of home we’ve now come to know is something we must leave behind.

That said, there are ways to make this process easy for you. The people you have come to know do not have to be lost to you on this road to a new beginning and you do not have to lose yourself on the way as well. Staying connected with the people you know is a great way to get through this. Also, as far as the world being your oyster now as a college graduate, remember who you are now after college and build off that and your

Dylan Sanchez Opinion Editor opinion.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Erik Estrada Digital Editor digital.editor@thesouthtexan.com

Dominic Valdez

Asistant Digital Manager interests. Knowing what you like and what you intend to do to incorporate that in your new everyday life will keep you grounded as well. Another important thing to try to focus on is making new connections during this phase in your life. You did the same thing when you enrolled in university, and it will help you just the same now as it did before. This is the time for you to forge your path and use the degree you earned to benefit you. Graduations bring uncertainty but the path forward is what you can make it, truly.

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The South Texan is a student publication produced by Texas A&M University- Kingsville students. The views, opinions and commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas A&M University system. The South Texan uses student fees in part to publish. The South Texan is part of the Art, Communications, and Theatre Department (ACT) and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA).

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