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 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 -------------------------------------------------------- Average Crop Stage 2008 2007 2003-2007 -------------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn Planted 40 39 25 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Previous National Previous Week Month-to-Date Year-to-Date 1961-90 Three Months Weather Service (March 10 - 16) (March 1 - 16) (Jan 1 - Mar 16) Annual (Dec, Jan, Feb) Climatic Divisions Accumulation Accumulation Accumulation Normal 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 ===============================================================================================================