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 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 ------------------------------------------------------- Average Crop Stage 2008 2007 2003-2007 ------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Previous National Previous Week Month-to-Date Year-to-Date 1961-90 Three Months Weather Service (January 21 - 27) (January 1 - 27) (January 1 - 27) Annual (Oct - Dec) Climatic Divisions Accumulation Accumulation Accumulation Normal 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 ==================================================================================================================