Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW1109
Released:  March 16, 2009
For the week of:  March 9 - 15, 2009

Cooperating Agencies:
   Texas AgriLife Extension Service,
   Texas Department of Agriculture,
   National Weather Service

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  The eastern and central part of the state received up to 6 inches of rainfall while the rest of the state observed moderate amounts of moisture.  Producers continued to irrigate wheat fields in the Plains due to dry conditions.  Producers were spraying small grain fields for insects in the High Plains.  Cotton field preparation took place in the Northern Low Plains; however, dry conditions were making it difficult to cultivate the land.  Cotton producers were irrigating their fields in the Trans-Pecos.  Pre-planted irrigation of corn fields was active in the Northern High Plains.  A few producers were waiting for their sorghum fields to dry-out from the recent rainfall so they could begin planting once again.  Peaches were in full bloom in the Cross Timbers.  Supplemental feeding of livestock was on going across most of the state.  Range and pasture conditions improved in East and Central Texas due to the recent rainfall.  Top soil moisture was mostly very short to adequate across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  Producers continued to irrigate wheat fields in the Plains due to dry conditions.  Producers were spraying small grain fields for insects in the High Plains.  Small grain fields in the Blacklands improved from recent rainfall; however, soil conditions remained dry.  Statewide, wheat condition was mostly very poor to fair and oat condition was mostly very poor to poor.

Cotton:  Field preparation took place in the Northern Low Plains; however, the dry conditions were making it difficult to cultivate the land.  Producers were preparing to plant cotton in the Edwards Plateau.  Producers were irrigating their fields in the Trans-Pecos.

Corn:  Pre-planted irrigation was active in the Northern High Plains.  Planting was active in the Blacklands up to the recent rainfall.

Sorghum:  A few producers were waiting for their fields to dry-out from the recent rainfall so they could begin planting once again.  Planting was active in the Upper Coast.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Peaches were in full bloom in the Cross Timbers.  Fall planted onions emerging from dormancy in Trans-Pecos were in the eighth leaf stage.  In the Edwards Plateau, cabbage harvest continued while onion field preparation was active.  Potatoes continued to progress in South Texas.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock was on going across most of the state.  Cattle culling continued in the Northern Low Plains, Edwards Plateau and South Texas.  Range and pasture conditions across the state continued to remain dry and in need of further rainfall.  Lambing, kidding and shearing were active in the Edwards Plateau.  Range and pasture conditions improved in East and Central Texas due to the recent rainfall.  Range and pasture condition was mostly very poor to poor statewide.