Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW1309
Released:  March 30, 2009
For the week of:  March 23 - 29, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  The western part of the state received little to no moisture while the rest of the state received up to 6 inches of rainfall.  Producers continued to irrigate wheat fields in the Plains.  Wheat was growing well in the Cross Timbers and the Blacklands; however, more moisture was needed to help fill heads with grain.  Cotton field preparation took place in the Northern Plains.  Corn has emerged in the Blacklands, the Edwards Plateau, and South Texas.  Sorghum producers in South Central Texas were in need of more rain for land preparation.  Pecan trees in the Trans-Pecos and the Edwards Plateau were beginning to bud.  In South Texas, land was being prepared for melons, cabbage harvest continued, green beans were being planted, onions were making good progress and potatoes were in the flowering stage.  Producers continued to supplement livestock in most areas of the state.  Range and pasture conditions improved in areas of 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.  Winter wheat was under stress in the Northern High Plains due to adverse weather conditions and aphid activity.  Wheat was growing well in the Cross Timbers and the Blacklands; however, more moisture was needed to help fill heads with grain.  Wheat in the Edwards Plateau and South Central Texas were in bad condition and in need of more moisture.  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 Plains.  Producers were dry planting in the Coastal Bend.

Corn:  Pre-planted irrigation was active in the Northern High Plains.  Corn has emerged in the Blacklands, the Edwards Plateau, and South Texas.  Producers in South Central Texas were in need of more moisture to begin planting.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  Producers in South Central Texas were in need of more rain for land preparation, while producers were planting in South Texas.  Sorghum condition was mostly poor to fair statewide.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Fall planted onions were growing well in the Trans-Pecos.  Cabbage was ready to be harvested and onions were ready to be clipped in the Edwards Plateau.  In South Texas, land was being prepared for melons, cabbage harvest continued, green beans were being planted, onions were making good progress, and potatoes were in the flowering stage.

Pecans:  Trees in the Trans-Pecos and the Edwards Plateau were beginning to bud.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Producers continued to supplement livestock in most areas of the state.  In the Trans-Pecos, cattle were in calving season and goats were in kidding season.  Due to lack of forage in South Texas and low stock tank levels in the Coastal Bend, herd reductions took place.  Lambing and kidding were active in the Edwards Plateau.  Range and Pasture conditions improved in areas of recent rainfall.  Range and pasture condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.