Texas Crop Weather Issue: TX-CW1308 Released: March 24, 2008 For the week of: March 17 - 23, 2008 Cooperating Agencies: Texas A & M Cooperative Extension, Texas Department of Agriculture, National Weather Service Summary: Much of the Blacklands, Cross Timbers, and Edwards Plateau received showers with up to 5 or 6 inches of rainfall in some areas. Fire danger remained a concern in Trans-Pecos and South Texas as very dry and windy conditions were observed Trans-Pecos, South Texas, and the Lower Valley received very little rainfall, about 0.01 to 0.25 inches. The Low Plains received up to 1.5 inches of rain; however, the High Plains received very little to no rainfall. Small grains fields improved after recent rains across much of the state. Pre-irrigating of some cotton fields occurred in the Southern High Plains, while some planting of cotton was delayed due to rain in the Coastal Bend. Corn planting was still delayed due to wet fields in the Blacklands. Dry planting of sorghum continued in the Coastal Bend. Top soil moisture was mostly short to adequate across the state. Hay consumption remained constant as pastures continued to green up in the Edwards Plateau and the Northern Low Plains. Field Crops Report Small Grains: Small grains fields improved after recent rains across much of the state. Irrigated wheat continued to improve; and dryland wheat started to improve with the small amounts of rain received. Wheat condition was mostly poor to fair statewide. Oat condition was mostly fair to good statewide. Cotton: Pre-irrigating of some cotton fields occurred in the Southern High Plains, while some planting of cotton was delayed due to rain in the Coastal Bend. Corn: Corn planting was still delayed due to wet fields in the Blacklands. Corn planting continued in South Central and South Texas. Early planted fields started to emerge in South Central. Sorghum: Dry planting of sorghum continued in the Coastal Bend. After the rain last week, sorghum producers resumed planting activities in South Texas. Sorghum condition was mostly fair to good statewide. Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report Sugarcane, citrus, and cabbage continued to be harvested in the Lower Valley and South Texas. Peach trees continued to bloom in North East Texas. Potato fields continued to develop in South Texas. Livestock, Pasture and Range Report Hay consumption remained constant as pastures continued to green up in the Edwards Plateau and the Northern Low Plains. Some producers experienced some improvement in pasture condition, but supplemental feeding of livestock continued. Range and pasture condition was mostly poor to fair statewide. Crop Progress Table - March 23, 2008 ----------------------------------------------------- Average Crop Stage 2008 2007 2003-2007 ----------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn Planted 40 51 39 Emerged 12 22 16 Cotton Planted 5 6 6 Rice Planted 19 15 14 Sorghum Planted 38 42 28 Soybeans Planted 6 4 5 Winter Wheat Headed 3 4 3 Oats Headed 7 8 4 ===================================================== Crop Condition Table - March 23, 2008 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excellent Good Fair Poor Very Poor Index 1/ Crop ------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------- Percent 2008 2007 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Corn 0 52 45 2 1 74 -- Sorghum 0 34 54 11 1 66 -- Wheat 1 15 32 29 23 42 77 Oats 4 29 36 16 15 57 62 Range & Pasture 2 21 35 28 14 -- -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 23, 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 66 43 32 18 3 0 0 0 48 23 10 88 0 54 30 Short 28 45 52 45 24 1 7 5 39 44 56 12 3 42 58 Adequate 6 12 16 36 62 55 54 60 13 33 33 0 76 4 12 Surplus 0 0 0 1 11 44 39 35 0 0 1 0 21 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 17 - 23) (March 1 - 23) (Jan 1 - Mar 23) Annual (Dec, Jan, Feb) Climatic Divisions Accumulation Accumulation Accumulation Normal Percent of Normal --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- High Plains 0.07 0.11 0.34 18.87 61 Low Rolling Plains 0.80 1.08 1.40 23.78 31 North Central Texas 2.21 4.45 5.96 34.00 49 East Texas 0.95 3.49 8.92 45.69 75 Trans-Pecos 0.15 0.15 0.32 12.96 41 Edwards Plateau 1.49 2.01 2.23 24.01 14 South Central Texas 0.23 1.39 3.80 34.48 50 Upper Coast 0.11 2.39 8.73 47.63 80 South Texas 0.00 0.42 1.00 23.49 24 Lower Valley 0.01 0.05 1.93 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 ===============================================================================================================