Texas Crop Progress and Condition

Texas Crop Weather

Issue: TX-CW0408
Released: January 22, 2008
For the week of: January 14 - 20, 2008

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

Maps:
Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary: Cool and continuous dry conditions were prevalent throughout most of the state with a few heavy showers in Eastern Texas. Small grains continued to struggle due to lack of rainfall in most areas of the state. Field preparation was underway in the Northern Plains as cotton harvest neared completion in the Low Plains and the Edwards Plateau. Pecan harvest neared completion in the Cross Timbers and Trans-Pecos. Soil moisture was mostly very short to short across the state. The Eastern coast of the state received the largest amount of rainfall with 0.50 to 3.0 inches of rainfall. The Blacklands and East Texas received 0.01 to 1.5 inches of rainfall. South Texas received 0.01 to 1.0 inches of rainfall. The rest of the state observed little to no rainfall. Supplemental feeding of hay to livestock continued in most areas of the state as pasture conditions continued to decline due to lack of rainfall.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains: Winter wheat continued to struggle in the Northern Plains and Edwards Plateau due to lack of moisture. Winter wheat was slowly emerging in the Northern Low Plains. Winter wheat was in need of rain in the Cross Timbers and the Blacklands with some reports of green bugs. Some winter wheat was being planted in Trans-Pecos. Dry conditions also continued to put stress on wheat in South Central Texas and South Texas.

Cotton: Field preparation was underway in the Northern Plains as cotton harvest neared completion in the Low Plains and the Edwards Plateau.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Pecan harvest neared completion in the Cross Timbers and Trans-Pecos. Onion, carrot, and cabbage irrigation was underway in South Texas. Potato planting and spinach harvest was in full swing in South Texas.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock continued to increase due to the decline in forage quality. Ranges and pastures continued to be in need of rainfall.

Crop Progress Table - January 20, 2008
Crop	Stage	2008	2007	Average 2003-2007
Crop	Stage	Percent
Cotton	Harvested	99	98	100
Winter Wheat	Emerged	91	99	97
Oats	Emerged	96	99	90
Pecans	Harvested	97	98	97

Crop Condition Table - January 20, 2008
Crop	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Index ^1/
Crop	Percent					2008	2007
Wheat	0	9	29	32	30	35	62
Oats	1	10	33	21	35	37	56
Range & Pasture	4	20	40	23	13	--	--
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 20, 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	51	28	49	25	29	18	2	13	30	42	9	50	0	54	10
Short	35	59	34	61	58	38	30	29	42	45	62	50	5	38	30
Adequate	14	13	17	14	13	44	65	53	28	12	29	0	45	8	60
Surplus	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	0	1	0	0	50	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 (January 14 - 20) Accumulation	Month-to-Date (January 1 - 20) Accumulation	Year-to-Date (January 1 - 20) Accumulation	1961-90 Annual Normal	Previous Three Months (Oct - Dec) Percent of Normal
High Plains	0.00	0.00	0.00	18.87	48
Low Rolling Plains	0.00	0.00	0.00	23.78	26
North Central Texas	0.03	0.12	0.12	34.00	55
East Texas	0.53	0.76	0.76	45.69	66
Trans-Pecos	0.00	0.00	0.00	12.96	45
Edwards Plateau	0.00	0.00	0.00	24.01	47
South Central Texas	1.05	1.07	1.07	34.48	58
Upper Coast	2.99	3.10	3.10	47.63	64
South Texas	0.43	0.43	0.43	23.49	23
Lower Valley	1.23	1.23	1.23	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