Texas Crop Progress and Condition

Texas Crop Weather

Issue: TX-CW1108
Released: March 10, 2008
For the week of: March 3 - 9, 2008

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

Maps:
Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary: Rain and snow were observed across much of the Panhandle and northern regions of the state. Small grains continued to improve due to the moisture from the snow and rain in the Blacklands. Field preparation continued in the Blacklands, while planting continued in the Lower Valley. Recent rainfall delayed corn planting in the Blacklands, and corn planting was underway in South Texas. Sorghum planting continued in South Central and the Upper Coast regions. Soil moisture was mostly very short to short. North East Texas, the Blacklands, Upper Coast and the Coastal Bend all received 1.0 to 4.0 inches of rainfall. The Lower Valley and South Texas received 0.01 to 0.25 inches of rainfall. The Panhandle received 0.01 to .25 inches of rain, while the Trans-Pecos received very little to no rainfall. Livestock continued to be in good shape across the state due to the supplemental feeding of hay and protein. Range and pasture conditions improved slightly because of the rain and snow across much of the Panhandle.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains: Small grains continued to benefit from the moisture due to the snow and rain in the Blacklands. Recent moisture was beneficial to the Northern Plains, Blacklands, Edwards Plateau, and Cross Timbers as it allowed for the progression of wheat and oats. Wheat condition was very poor to poor. Oat condition was fair to good.

Cotton: Field preparation continued in the Blacklands, while planting continued in the Lower Valley.

Corn: Recent rainfall has delayed corn planting in the Blacklands. Corn planting was underway in South Texas.

Sorghum: Sorghum planting continued in South Central and the Upper Coast regions.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Vegetable crops continued to be planted in North East Texas. Early onions and melons were being planted in Trans-Pecos. Sugarcane, citrus, and cabbage continued to be harvested in South Texas and the Lower Valley. In addition, green beans were planted in South Texas.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Range and pasture conditions improved slightly because of the rain and snow across much of the Panhandle and in South Texas. Calving, lambing, and kidding continued in Cross Timbers, South East Texas, Trans-Pecos and the Edwards Plateau. Range and pasture condition was poor to fair.

Crop Progress Table - March 9, 2008
Crop	Stage	2008	2007	Average 2003-2007
Crop	Stage	Percent
Corn	Planted	37	18	10
Cotton	Planted	2	1	2
Sorghum	Planted	25	12	9
Winter Wheat	Headed	2	2	1
Oats	Headed	5	12	1

Crop Condition Table - March 9, 2008
Crop	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Index ^1/
Crop	Percent					2008	2007
Wheat	1	13	26	30	30	37	67
Oats	19	27	30	21	3	48	53
Range & Pasture	3	19	32	29	17	--	--
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 9, 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	58	41	57	28	13	3	0	0	61	47	30	40	0	61	23
Short	37	50	30	48	29	17	7	4	31	46	36	55	1	38	63
Adequate	5	9	13	22	54	42	57	71	8	7	28	5	32	1	14
Surplus	0	0	0	2	4	38	36	25	0	0	6	0	67	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 (March 3 - 9) Accumulation	Month-to-Date (March 1 - 9) Accumulation	Year-to-Date (Jan 1 - Mar 9) Accumulation	1961-90 Annual Normal	Previous Three Months (Dec, Jan, Feb) Percent of Normal
High Plains	0.02	0.03	0.26	18.87	61
Low Rolling Plains	0.09	0.19	0.51	23.78	31
North Central Texas	1.35	2.12	3.63	34.00	49
East Texas	1.89	1.93	7.36	45.69	75
Trans-Pecos	0.00	0.00	0.17	12.96	41
Edwards Plateau	0.19	0.38	0.60	24.01	14
South Central Texas	0.62	0.62	3.03	34.48	50
Upper Coast	1.49	1.49	7.83	47.63	80
South Texas	0.14	0.14	0.72	23.49	24
Lower Valley	0.00	0.00	1.88	25.34	52
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