Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW1408
Released:  March 31, 2008
For the week of:  March 24 - 30, 2008

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  Scattered showers were observed in some parts; however, much of the state remained dry last week as producers hoped for any amount of moisture.  North East Texas observed up to 2 inches of rain, but most of the state did not receive the rainfall needed.  Edwards Plateau, South Central, and parts of South Texas received up to 1.5 inches of rain.  Only a few locations, Cross Timbers and the Blacklands, saw improvement in wheat condition.  Pre-watering of cotton fields continued in the Northern High Plains, while other growers in the Coastal Bend waited to plant in hopes of rain.  Corn planting resumed in some parts of the Blacklands following several weeks of very wet fields; and planting continued in South Central areas.  Planting of sorghum continued in the Southern High Plains, South Central, and South Texas.  Rice and soybean planting picked up in the Upper Coast due to dry weather conditions.  Top soil moisture was mostly short to adequate statewide.  Summer grasses started to green up in the Cross Timbers and South East Texas, but supplemental feeding of livestock continued in much of the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  Only a few locations, Cross Timbers and the Blacklands, saw improvement in wheat condition.  In those areas, the light precipitation amounts only provided a slight green-up.  Wheat condition was mostly poor to fair statewide.  Oat condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Cotton:  Pre-watering continued in the Northern High Plains, while other growers waited to plant in hopes of rain in the Coastal Bend.

Corn:  Planting resumed in some parts of the Blacklands following several weeks of very wet fields, and planting continued in South Central areas.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  Planting continued in the Southern High Plains, South Central, and South Texas.  Sorghum condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Rice:  Planting resumed in the Upper Coast due to dry weather conditions.

Soybeans:  Planting picked up in the Upper Coast as growers benefitted from the dry weather.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Peach trees continued to bloom in East Texas.  Harvest of citrus and vegetables continued, while harvest of sugarcane came to a close in the Lower Valley.  Irrigation of cabbage and green beans continued in South Texas.  Potato fields continued to develop and started to move into the flowering stage in South Texas.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Summer grasses continued to green up in the Cross Timbers and South East Texas, but supplemental feeding of livestock continued in much of the state.  Range and pasture condition was mostly poor to fair statewide.