Texas Department of Agriculture Affirms No Role in Weather Modification Amidst Flood Theories

Following devastating floods in Central Texas, Augustus Doricko, CEO of cloud-seeding company Rainmaker, publicly thanked the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) for "sticking to the truth." This social media post came amidst widespread speculation and conspiracy theories linking weather modification efforts to the recent catastrophic rainfall and subsequent flooding that claimed numerous lives and caused extensive damage in the region. The floods, partly triggered by remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, saw the Guadalupe River surge by over 20 feet in a short period.

Social media platforms became a hotbed for claims that cloud seeding was responsible for the intensity of the floods. Rainmaker, a company that works with Texas farmers during droughts, confirmed it conducted a brief 20-minute cloud seeding mission over Karnes County on July 2, two days before the most severe flooding began. Augustus Doricko has consistently stated his company "unequivocally had nothing to do with the flooding" and suspended all operations in compliance with state regulations before flood warnings were issued.

Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller directly addressed the "misinformation flying around," clarifying that the TDA has "absolutely no connection to cloud seeding or any form of weather modification." Miller emphasized that since the passage of Senate Bill 1303 in 2011, the TDA's authority and involvement in weather modification programs were transferred, urging Texans to focus on recovery efforts instead of "conspiracy theories."

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is the state agency responsible for managing cloud seeding through licensing and permitting procedures. According to meteorologists, cloud seeding, while capable of enhancing existing rainfall by up0 to 20%, cannot create storms of the magnitude seen in Central Texas or generate new clouds. Experts attribute the catastrophic flash floods to the region's unique terrain, thin soil, and significant atmospheric moisture from the tropical storm remnants.