Texas Crop Progress and Condition

Texas Crop Weather

Issue: TX-CW0208
Released: January 7, 2008
For the week of: December 31, 2007 - January 6, 2008

Cooperating Agencies:
   Texas A & M Cooperative Extension,
   Texas Department of Agriculture,
   National Weather Service

Maps:
Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary: Fluctuating temperatures were evident with below freezing temperatures earlier in the week and temperatures in the upper 70s near the end of the week. Small grains continued to struggle due to lack of rainfall. Cotton harvest neared completion in the Panhandle. Pecan harvest was completed in the Blacklands. Citrus and vegetable harvest continued in the Lower Valley. Soil moisture was mostly short to adequate across the state. Very little rainfall was observed across the state. South East Texas and Cross Timbers received zero to 0.10 inches of rain. The rest of the state observed no rainfall. Supplemental feeding of hay continued in most areas of the state as pasture conditions continue to decline due to lack of rainfall.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains: Winter wheat continues to struggle in the High Plains and is in much need of moisture. Winter wheat improved in the Low Plains after receiving some moisture during the Christmas holidays. Winter wheat was looking good in the Blacklands. Winter wheat and oats were beginning to suffer do to lack of moisture in the Edwards Plateau and South Texas.

Cotton: Good yields were reported in the Panhandle as cotton harvest was winding down. Producers were preparing land for the next season in Trans-Pecos and the Coastal Bend.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Pecan harvest was completed in the Blacklands. Above average yields were reported in Trans-Pecos as pecan harvest continued. Vegetable, citrus, and sugarcane harvest continued in the Lower Valley.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Livestock were in good shape as supplemental feeding continued due to lack of winter forage. Hay feeding continued to increase. Ranges and Pastures continued to show signs of stress due to prolonged dry weather. Range and Pasture conditions were fair to good statewide.

Crop Progress Table - January 6, 2008
Crop	Stage	2008	2007	Average 2003-2007
Crop	Stage	Percent
Cotton	Harvested	96	97	90
Winter Wheat	Emerged	88	98	94
Oats	Emerged	86	98	87
Pecans	Harvested	89	84	82

Crop Condition Table - January 6, 2008
Crop	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Index ^1/
Crop	Percent					2008	2007
Wheat	0	14	32	27	27	40	65
Oats	1	12	33	26	28	40	49
Range & Pasture	3	23	40	23	11	--	--
1/ The formula for the condition index is I = (5V + 25P + 60F + 90G + 110E)/100 where I = crop condition index and V, P, F, G, E = percentage of crop rated very poor, poor, fair, good, excellent.

Top Soil Moisture by District - January 6, 2008*
Condition	1-N	1-S	2-N	2-S	3	4	5-N	5-S	6	7	8-N	8-S	9	10-N	10-S
Condition	Percent of Acreage
Very Short	39	35	33	16	18	15	4	18	10	26	21	37	4	60	3
Short	47	47	46	51	50	37	22	21	40	55	53	58	28	35	77
Adequate	14	18	21	33	32	44	70	57	46	19	26	5	68	5	20
Surplus	0	0	0	0	0	4	4	4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0
* High Plains: 1-N, 1-S; Low Rolling Plains: 2-N, 2-S; North Central Plains: 3, 4; East Texas: 5-N, 5-S. Trans-Pecos: 6; Edwards Plateau: 7; South Central Texas: 8-N, 8-S; Upper Coast: 9; South Texas: 10-N; Lower Valley: 10-S.

Weather Information Table ^{1/ 2/}
National Weather Service Climatic Divisions	Previous Week (Dec 31 - Jan 6) Accumulation	Month-to-Date (December 1 - 31) Accumulation	Year-to-Date (Jan 1 - Dec 31) Accumulation	1961-90 Annual Normal	Previous Three Months (Oct - Dec) Percent of Normal
High Plains	0.00	0.76	18.95	18.87	48
Low Rolling Plains	0.00	0.53	23.82	23.78	26
North Central Texas	0.00	0.81	37.54	34.00	55
East Texas	0.00	2.75	45.33	45.69	66
Trans-Pecos	0.00	0.38	13.00	12.96	45
Edwards Plateau	0.00	0.25	31.15	24.01	47
South Central Texas	0.00	0.79	38.89	34.48	58
Upper Coast	0.02	1.50	58.18	47.63	64
South Texas	0.00	0.21	29.23	23.49	23
Lower Valley	0.00	0.30	23.82	25.34	46
1/ Average of all stations reporting precipitation data. 2/ High Plains: 1-N, 1-S; Low Rolling Plains: 2-N, 2-S; North Central Texas: 3, 4; East Texas: 5-N, 5-S. Trans-Pecos: 6; Edwards Plateau: 7; South Central Texas: 8-N, 8-S; Upper Coast: 9; South Texas: 10-N; Lower Valley: 10-S.
For more information, please visit the following web sites: www.srh.noaa.gov/rfcshare/precip_analysis_new.php and www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html