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 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 ------------------------------------------------------- Average Crop Stage 2008 2007 2003-2007 ------------------------------------------------------- Percent Winter Wheat Emerged 95 100 99 ======================================================= Crop Condition Table - February 17, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Previous National Previous Week Month-to-Date Year-to-Date 1961-90 Three Months Weather Service (February 11-17) (February 1 - 17) (Jan 1 - Feb 17) Annual (Nov, Dec, Jan) Climatic Divisions Accumulation Accumulation Accumulation Normal 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 ===========================================================================================================