Texas Crop Progress and Condition

Texas Crop Weather

Issue: TX-CW0808
Released: February 19, 2008
For the week of: February 11 - 17, 2008

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

Maps:
Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary: Much of the state excluding Trans-Pecos received significant amounts of rainfall. Small grains benefitted from rain in the Blacklands. Cotton harvest continued to draw to a close in the Low Plains while land preparation continued in the Upper Coast. Land preparation continued for spring planting for corn in the Low Plains and Trans-Pecos. East Texas received the largest amount of rainfall with 0.50 to 5.0 inches of rainfall. The Panhandle received 0.01 to 1.0 inch of rainfall; while South Texas, Coastal Bend and Lower Valley observed 0.01 to 0.25 inches of rain. Central Texas received 0.01 to 2.0 inches of rain. Soil moisture was mostly very short to short across the state. Supplemental feeding of hay to livestock increased in some areas of the state despite the rainfall received.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains: Small grains benefitted from rain in the Blacklands. Irrigation was underway in wheat and oat fields due to lack of moisture. Wheat condition was very poor to fair statewide. Oat condition was poor to fair statewide.

Cotton: Land preparation continued in the Upper Coast . Cotton harvest continued to draw to a close in the Low Plains.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Pecan harvest is complete. Sugarcane, citrus and vegetables continued to be harvested in the Lower Valley. Cabbage and spinach harvest continued this week in South Texas.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Due to the frequent nighttime cold fronts, supplementation of hay and protein increased across much of the state. Ryegrass and clover pastures benefitted from the rain in South East Texas. Range and pasture condition was poor to fair statewide.

Crop Progress Table - February 17, 2008
Crop	Stage	2008	2007	Average 2003-2007
Crop	Stage	Percent
Winter Wheat	Emerged	95	100	99

Crop Condition Table - February 17, 2008
Crop	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Index ^1/
Crop	Percent					2008	2007
Wheat	1	8	27	32	32	34	67
Oats	0	9	32	29	30	36	60
Range & Pasture	1	14	37	30	18	--	--
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 17, 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	61	37	61	46	20	9	1	1	58	62	10	50	0	51	55
Short	37	51	27	42	57	32	20	3	35	32	49	43	13	43	30
Adequate	2	12	12	12	23	53	66	70	7	6	38	7	37	5	15
Surplus	0	0	0	0	0	6	13	26	0	0	3	0	50	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 (February 11-17) Accumulation	Month-to-Date (February 1 - 17) Accumulation	Year-to-Date (Jan 1 - Feb 17) Accumulation	1961-90 Annual Normal	Previous Three Months (Nov, Dec, Jan) Percent of Normal
High Plains	0.22	0.22	0.22	18.87	57
Low Rolling Plains	0.28	0.28	0.32	23.78	32
North Central Texas	0.95	1.04	1.51	34.00	53
East Texas	2.70	2.82	4.88	45.69	67
Trans-Pecos	0.00	0.00	0.17	12.96	72
Edwards Plateau	0.14	0.14	0.22	24.01	54
South Central Texas	0.75	0.75	2.20	34.48	62
Upper Coast	1.09	1.14	5.75	47.63	88
South Texas	0.06	0.06	0.58	23.49	34
Lower Valley	0.30	0.30	1.87	25.34	59
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