Texas Crop Progress and Condition

Texas Crop Weather

Issue: TX-CW1008
Released: March 3, 2008
For the week of: February 25 - March 2, 2008

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

Maps:
Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary: Minimal amounts of rain were observed in East Texas. Small grains continued to benefit from the few recent showers in East Texas. Field work continued in the Low Plains and Trans-Pecos as cotton producers were preparing their fields for the upcoming planting season. Some corn was planted in South Central Texas, Upper Coast, and the Lower Valley. Sorghum planting continued in the Lower Valley and the Upper Coast. Soil moisture was mostly very short to short across the state. East Texas received the largest amount of rainfall with 0.01 to 1.5 inches of rainfall. The Lower Valley received 0.01 inches of rainfall. The rest of the state observed no rainfall. Livestock continued to be in good shape across the state due to the supplemental feeding of hay and protein. Ranges and pastures continued to be in need of moisture.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains: Small grains continued to benefit from the few recent showers in East Texas. Lack of moisture forced many wheat and oat fields to continue to be irrigated across the state. Wheat condition was very poor to poor statewide. Oat condition was poor to fair statewide.

Cotton: Field work continued in the Low Plains and Trans-Pecos as cotton producers were preparing their fields for the upcoming planting season. Planting continued in the Lower Valley.

Corn: Some corn was planted in South Central Texas, Upper Coast, and the Lower Valley.

Sorghum: Sorghum planting continued in the Lower Valley and the Upper Coast.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Ground preparation was in full swing for vegetable planting in South Central Texas and South East Texas. Onions were planted in Trans-Pecos. Cabbage, onion, and spinach harvest was active in South Texas. Sugarcane, citrus, and vegetable harvest continued in the Lower Valley.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Although some native grass and clovers were plentiful enough for grazing, supplemental feeding of hay and protein continued as livestock remained in good shape across the state. Cattle calving continued across much of the state. Ranges and pastures across much of the state continued to be in need of moisture. Range and pasture condition was poor to fair statewide.

Crop Progress Table - March 2, 2008
Crop	Stage	2008	2007	Average 2003-2007
Crop	Stage	Percent
Corn	Planted	8	9	5
Cotton	Planted	1	0	1
Sorghum	Planted	7	4	4
Winter Wheat	Headed	1	1	0
Oats	Headed	2	1	0

Crop Condition Table - March 2, 2008
Crop	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Index ^1/
Crop	Percent					2008	2007
Wheat	1	9	27	32	31	35	67
Oats	2	21	28	25	24	45	52
Range & Pasture	3	15	33	31	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 - March 2, 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	54	41	66	44	17	11	7	0	58	55	25	55	0	58	20
Short	43	51	26	41	56	28	79	2	29	38	38	42	10	39	63
Adequate	3	8	8	15	26	58	14	71	13	7	33	3	70	3	17
Surplus	0	0	0	0	1	3	0	27	0	0	4	0	20	0	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 (Feb 25 - Mar 2) Accumulation	Month-to-Date (February 1 - 29) Accumulation	Year-to-Date (Jan 1 - Mar 2) Accumulation	1961-90 Annual Normal	Previous Three Months (Nov, Dec, Jan) Percent of Normal
High Plains	0.01	0.23	0.24	18.87	57
Low Rolling Plains	0.00	0.28	0.42	23.78	32
North Central Texas	0.00	1.04	2.28	34.00	53
East Texas	0.47	3.37	5.47	45.69	67
Trans-Pecos	0.00	0.00	0.17	12.96	72
Edwards Plateau	0.00	0.14	0.41	24.01	54
South Central Texas	0.17	0.96	2.41	34.48	62
Upper Coast	0.59	1.73	6.34	47.63	88
South Texas	0.00	0.06	0.58	23.49	34
Lower Valley	0.01	0.31	1.88	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