The blistering Texas drought has caused an estimated record $5.2 billion in crop and livestock losses.

AgriLife Extension Service economist David Anderson today said surveys from November to Aug. 1 indicate livestock losses of $2.1 billion, with crop losses making up the rest. Anderson says there could be more losses by the time crops are harvested.

The previous record annual loss was $4.1 billion in 2006.

Crop losses include cotton, corn, wheat, sorghum and lost hay production. The estimates don't include fruit and vegetables, horticultural and nursery crops, or other grain and row crops.

Experts say Texas needs more than 4.5 inches of rain over the next two months to avoid breaking the 1956 record for driest 12 consecutive months.