Texas Crop Progress and Condition

Texas Crop Weather

Issue: TX-CW0608
Released: February 4, 2008
For the week of: January 28 - February 3, 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 in the Panhandle with Eastern Texas receiving the largest amount of rainfall. Small grains continued to struggle due to lack of rainfall in most areas of the state. Cotton harvest neared completion in the Southern Low Plains. Pecan producers pruned their trees. Land preparation was underway for spring planting. Soil moisture was mostly short to adequate across the state. Eastern Texas received the largest amount of rainfall with 0.25 to 1.0 inches of rainfall. The Panhandle and Trans-Pecos received 0.01 to 0.10 inches of rainfall. The rest of the state observed no rainfall. Supplemental feeding of hay to livestock increased in much of the state as pasture conditions continued to decline due to lack of rainfall and windy conditions.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains: Winter wheat continued to struggle across most of the state due to lack of moisture. Continued dry and windy conditions affected small grains. Wheat condition was poor to fair statewide. Oat condition was very poor to poor statewide.

Cotton: Cotton harvesting continued and was drawing to a close in the Low Plains.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Pecan, other nut and wine grape producers were pruning their trees and vines. Vegetables, citrus and sugarcane continued to be harvested in the Lower Valley. Irrigation of spinach, cabbage, onions, carrots and other cool season crops continued in South Texas. Potatoes continued to be planted in South Texas.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

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

Crop Progress Table - February 3, 2008
Crop	Stage	2008	2007	Average 2003-2007
Crop	Stage	Percent
Winter Wheat	Emerged	93	100	99
Oats	Emerged	98	100	91
Pecans	Harvested	99	99	99

Crop Condition Table - February 3, 2008
Crop	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Index ^1/
Crop	Percent					2008	2007
Wheat	1	9	29	33	28	36	66
Oats	1	8	31	22	38	34	59
Range & Pasture	3	21	37	25	14	--	--
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 - February 3, 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	57	35	48	43	16	17	3	2	34	40	9	38	0	50	55
Short	34	50	35	48	72	35	24	6	52	51	42	57	0	40	15
Adequate	9	15	17	8	12	47	60	54	14	9	45	5	38	8	30
Surplus	0	0	0	1	0	1	13	38	0	0	4	0	62	2	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 (Jan 28 - Feb 3) Accumulation	Month-to-Date (January 1 - 31) Accumulation	Year-to-Date (Jan 1 - Feb 3) 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	0.05	0.47	0.47	34.00	55
East Texas	0.48	2.06	2.06	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 Texas	0.03	1.45	1.45	34.48	58
Upper Coast	0.24	4.61	4.61	47.63	64
South Texas	0.00	0.52	0.52	23.49	23
Lower Valley	0.00	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