Texas Crop Progress and Condition

Texas Crop Weather

Issue: TX-CW0508
Released: January 28, 2008
For the week of: January 21 - 27, 2008

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

Maps:
Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary: Scattered showers were prevalent throughout most of the state with the heaviest rain in Eastern Texas. Small grains continued to struggle due to lack of rainfall in most areas of the state. Cotton field preparation was underway in the High Plains as cotton harvest neared completion in the Low Plains and the Edwards Plateau. Pecan harvest neared completion in the Cross Timbers, Blacklands and Trans-Pecos. Soil moisture was mostly very short to short across the state. Eastern Texas received the largest amount of rainfall with 0.25 to 1.5 inches of rainfall. The Edwards Plateau received 0.01 to 1.0 inches of rainfall. South and Central Texas received 0.01 to 0.25 inches of rainfall. The Panhandle received the least amount of moisture with zero to 0.10 inches of 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 across most of the state due to lack of moisture. Winter wheat was slowly emerging in the Northern Low Plains. Wheat producers continued to spray for green bugs in the Cross Timbers and Blacklands. Wheat and oat condition was mostly very poor to poor statewide.

Cotton: Field preparation was underway in the High Plains and Trans-Pecos as cotton harvest neared completion in the Low Plains.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

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

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Supplemental feeding of hay to livestock continued as cold fronts swept across much of the state. Ranges and pastures continued to be in need of rainfall. Range and pasture condition was mostly poor to fair statewide.

Crop Progress Table - January 27, 2008
Crop	Stage	2008	2007	Average 2003-2007
Crop	Stage	Percent
Cotton	Harvested	100	100	99
Winter Wheat	Emerged	92	100	98
Oats	Emerged	97	100	90
Pecans	Harvested	98	99	99

Crop Condition Table - January 27, 2008
Crop	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Index ^1/
Crop	Percent					2008	2007
Wheat	1	10	27	34	28	36	67
Oats	1	13	28	27	31	38	58
Range & Pasture	3	19	41	24	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 27, 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	56	26	33	17	32	18	3	1	41	30	7	35	0	45	0
Short	40	63	57	56	57	33	28	1	43	55	45	38	1	45	50
Adequate	4	11	10	27	11	48	61	55	16	15	44	27	26	9	50
Surplus	0	0	0	0	0	1	8	43	0	0	4	0	73	1	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 21 - 27) Accumulation	Month-to-Date (January 1 - 27) Accumulation	Year-to-Date (January 1 - 27) 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	0.04	0.04	23.78	26
North Central Texas	0.03	0.42	0.42	34.00	55
East Texas	0.53	1.58	1.58	45.69	66
Trans-Pecos	0.00	0.17	0.17	12.96	45
Edwards Plateau	0.00	0.08	0.08	24.01	47
South Central Texa	1.05	1.42	1.42	34.48	58
Upper Coast	2.99	4.37	4.37	47.63	64
South Texas	0.43	0.52	0.52	23.49	23
Lower Valley	1.23	1.57	1.57	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