Texas Crop Weather Issue: TX-CW1608 Released: April 14, 2008 For the week of: April 7 - 13 Cooperating Agencies: Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Department of Agriculture, National Weather Service Agricultural Summary: Strong storms with winds were observed in some Northern regions of Texas. Some of the High Plains received up to ½ inch of rain, and parts of the Low Plains received up to 2 or 3 inches of rain. The Cross Timber, the Blacklands, and North East Texas observed from 0.25 up to 2 or 3 inches in some areas. The rest of the state received very little to no rainfall. Small grains continued to benefit from the recent rains in the Cross Timbers. Pre-watering and land preparations continued for the upcoming cotton planting in the Plains. Corn planting continued in the Blacklands, while land preparations continued in the Northern High Plains. Some producers planted some early sorghum in the Southern Low Plains. Fall planted onions showed good growth in the Trans-Pecos, while onion harvest continued in the Lower Valley. Pecan trees were beginning to leaf out in North East Texas, the Trans-Pecos, Edwards Plateau, and South Central. Top soil moisture was mostly short to adequate statewide. Supplemental feeding of livestock decreased as pastures began to green up in most areas of the state. Field Crops Report Small Grains: Small grains continued to benefit from the recent rains in the Cross Timbers. Some producers in the Blacklands sprayed for rust. Wheat has headed in some parts of Edwards Plateau and in South Central. Wheat condition was mostly fair to poor statewide. Oat condition was mostly fair to good statewide. Cotton: Pre-watering and land preparations continued for the upcoming cotton planting in the Plains. Cotton planting slowed in parts of the Blacklands due to the recent rains. Cotton condition was mostly fair to good statewide. Corn: Planting continued in the Blacklands, while land preparations continued in the Northern High Plains. Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide. Sorghum: Some producers planted some early sorghum in the Southern Low Plains. Sorghum condition was mostly fair to good statewide. Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report Fall planted onions showed good growth in the Trans-Pecos, while onion harvest continued in the Lower Valley. Spring planting of tomatoes and other vegetable crops continued in North East Texas. Carrot harvest started along with some early potato fields. Pecans: Pecan trees were beginning to leaf out in North East Texas, the Trans-Pecos, Edwards Plateau, and South Central. Livestock, Pasture and Range Report Supplemental feeding of livestock decreased as pastures began to green up in most areas of the state. Range and pasture condition was mostly fair to good statewide. Crop Progress Table - April 13, 2008 --------------------------------------------------------- Average Crop Stage 2008 2007 2003-2007 --------------------------------------------------------- Percent Corn Planted 59 65 64 Emerged 44 61 54 Cotton Planted 16 12 16 Rice Planted 80 44 69 Emerged 58 30 42 Sorghum Planted 60 55 49 Soybeans Planted 44 35 41 Sunflowers Planted 8 9 13 Winter Wheat Headed 13 25 19 Oats Headed 54 64 57 ========================================================= Crop Condition Table - April 13, 2008 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Excellent Good Fair Poor Very Poor Index 1/ Crop ------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------- Percent 2008 2007 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Corn 5 39 42 10 4 69 69 Cotton 0 34 19 29 18 50 -- Sorghum 0 40 33 19 8 61 -- Wheat 3 16 34 26 21 46 80 Oats 7 41 26 13 13 64 64 Range & Pasture 6 28 37 19 10 -- -- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 - April 13, 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 57 45 16 9 1 0 0 0 59 20 9 84 9 66 60 Short 35 45 41 30 16 4 3 12 29 52 59 16 36 32 40 Adequate 8 10 37 58 76 60 49 64 12 28 32 0 50 2 0 Surplus 0 0 6 3 7 36 48 24 0 0 0 0 5 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 (Apr 7 - 13) (April 1 - 13) (Jan 1 - Apr 13) Annual (Jan - Mar) Climatic Divisions Accumulation Accumulation Accumulation Normal Percent of Normal ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- High Plains 0.43 0.43 0.77 18.87 16 Low Rolling Plains 1.27 1.31 2.71 23.78 43 North Central Texas 0.93 1.41 7.45 34.00 91 East Texas 0.70 1.66 11.57 45.69 93 Trans-Pecos 0.00 0.00 0.32 12.96 27 Edwards Plateau 0.22 0.39 2.69 24.01 65 South Central Texas 0.02 0.17 4.05 34.48 63 Upper Coast 0.01 0.20 9.22 47.63 101 South Texas 0.09 0.09 1.15 23.49 34 Lower Valley 0.00 0.00 1.93 25.34 54 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ===========================================================================================================