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 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 ------------------------------------------------------ Average Crop Stage 2008 2007 2003-2007 ------------------------------------------------------ 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Previous National Previous Week Month-to-Date Year-to-Date 1961-90 Three Months Weather Service (March 3 - 9) (March 1 - 9) (Jan 1 - Mar 9) Annual (Dec, Jan, Feb) Climatic Divisions Accumulation Accumulation Accumulation Normal 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 ==========================================================================================================