Texas Crop Progress and Condition

Texas Crop Weather

Issue: TX-CW1208
Released: March 17, 2008
For the week of: March 10 - 16, 2008

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

Maps:
Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary: Most of the state received much needed rainfall after being faced with dry conditions for the last few weeks. Small grains continued to benefit from the mild temperatures and moisture. Cotton field preparation continued in the High Plains, while planting continued in the Lower Valley and Coastal Bend. Corn planting continued in South Central, while planting was delayed due to wet fields in the Blacklands and North East Texas. Sorghum planting was wrapping up in the Coastal Bend. Soil moisture was mostly very short to short across the state. Trans-Pecos and the High Plains received little to no rainfall. The rest of the state received 0.01 to 2.0 inches of rain. Some producers experienced some improvement in pasture condition, but supplemental feeding for livestock continued.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains: Wheat conditions continued to improve in Northern High Plains and the Low Plains due to the combination of warmer temperatures and recent moisture. Wheat condition was mostly poor to fair statewide. Oat condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Cotton: Cotton field preparation continued in the High Plains, while planting continued in the Lower Valley and Coastal Bend.

Corn: Corn planting continued in South Central, while planting was delayed due to wet fields in the Blacklands and North East Texas.

Sorghum: Sorghum planting continued in the Coastal Bend. After the rain last week, sorghum producers resumed planting activities in South Texas.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Sugarcane, citrus, and vegetables continued to be harvested in the Lower Valley. Peach trees started to bloom and potato fields continued to develop in North East Texas.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Some producers experienced some improvement in pasture condition, but supplemental feeding for livestock continued. Hay consumption slowed some in East Texas as pasture began to green up. Range and pasture condition was mostly poor to fair statewide.

Crop Progress Table - March 16, 2008
Crop	Stage	2008	2007	Average 2003-2007
Crop	Stage	Percent
Corn	Planted	40	39	25
Corn	Emerged	3	7	8
Cotton	Planted	3	4	4
Sorghum	Planted	27	32	19
Soybeans	Planted	2	1	1
Winter Wheat	Headed	3	3	1
Oats	Headed	6	3	1

Crop Condition Table - March 16, 2008
Crop	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Index ^1/
Crop	Percent					2008	2007
Wheat	1	15	34	28	22	43	70
Oats	4	34	30	20	12	59	60
Range & Pasture	3	18	34	30	15	--	--
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 16, 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	59	46	58	39	6	1	0	0	55	46	17	55	0	46	27
Short	37	47	29	48	30	7	7	10	31	45	44	45	2	50	60
Adequate	4	7	13	12	59	62	61	61	14	9	35	0	56	4	13
Surplus	0	0	0	1	5	30	32	29	0	0	4	0	42	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 10 - 16) Accumulation	Month-to-Date (March 1 - 16) Accumulation	Year-to-Date (Jan 1 - Mar 16) Accumulation	1961-90 Annual Normal	Previous Three Months (Dec, Jan, Feb) Percent of Normal
High Plains	0.01	0.04	0.27	18.87	61
Low Rolling Plains	0.09	0.28	0.60	23.78	31
North Central Texas	0.12	2.24	3.75	34.00	49
East Texas	0.61	2.54	7.97	45.69	75
Trans-Pecos	0.00	0.00	0.17	12.96	41
Edwards Plateau	0.14	0.52	0.74	24.01	14
South Central Texas	0.54	1.16	3.57	34.48	50
Upper Coast	0.79	2.28	8.62	47.63	80
South Texas	0.28	0.42	1.00	23.49	24
Lower Valley	0.04	0.04	1.92	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