I think you should catch all the rainwater you can in Texas. They may even have some sort of tax break, or funding you could get. Several years ago, I read a whole bunch of stuff from Texas about how to catch and use rainwater.
Probably followed a link from one of the University Extension sites. Just can’t remember. Anyway, we usually have more rain than you, and we had one summer where the rain barrels didn’t last past May. Just had to let the garden burn up, as we didn’t want to take a chance on depleting our well.
We bought a 4000 gallon swimming pool from Walmart on sale at the end of summer, and put up some guttering to fill it with. It’s on the uphill side of the property, and we put a spigot on it and a hose. Gravity and a twist of the spigot does the rest. Lot’s easier than hauling water from the rain barrels.
We are going to put in some 5,000 gallon black plastic tanks for the rainwater recovery system.
Our normal annual rainfall is about 25 inches. We had a 5 year drought that was very unusual. Only previous example that we know of began in 1895 and lasted until 1898 (my family was here then & it’s an oral tradition that was always remembered.)
2 years ago the drought broke and we had a very wet year and a cold winter. The year the drought broke, it was almost impossible to get crops in at the appropriate time. Coupled with very long stretches of extremely cold an wet lead to a crop failure this year. Poor stand and weeds overtook us in spite of spraying for them.
Things are more normal this year. We are still trying to prep the ground for winter wheat. About 1/3 done, but we are not hurrying, there is huge crop of army worms affecting those who have already planted. That will not subside until cold weather. It is near. (wheat market collapsed at harvest this year, $2.75 per bushel at local elevator. headshake)
Normally we try to plant wheat after November 10th. That is dependent on weather conditions. It is OK to plant up until mid December. Actually even later, but it is discouraged by the crop insurance people. We have even planted as late as early January and made a good crop. That is not predictable.
Wife and I are moving back to the farm as soon as we finish the remodel of the home there (was completed in 1948). It is 4 miles from where we live now. Big undertaking, kitchen & 2 baths to redo, turning one of the dens into a 3rd bedroom. We have installed new Heating & Air unit. It is in place but the LP gas is not yet installed. Big Winter project.