Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW1609
Released:  April 20, 2009
For the week of:  April 13 - 19, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  The eastern part of the state received up to 15 inches of moisture while the rest of the state received moderate amounts of rainfall.  Producers continued to supplement wheat fields with irrigation in the Southern Low Plains.  Cotton field preparation took place in parts of the Plains as the recent rainfall improved planting conditions.  Cotton was progressing well in South Texas.  Across the state, corn was under stress due to the recent freeze.  Sorghum producers were preparing their land for planting in the Northern High Plains.  Onions were progressing well in the Trans-Pecos and were ready to bulb.  Pecans were breaking dormancy in the Trans-Pecos.  Supplemental feeding of livestock continued across the state.  Conditions in South Texas were still very dry and moisture was needed to establish vegetation in pastures and rangeland.  Top soil moisture was mostly very short to adequate across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  Russian aphids and green bugs continued to damage the wheat crop in the Northern High Plains.  Producers supplemented wheat fields with irrigation in the Southern Low Plains.  Across the state, the wheat and oat crop was under stress from the recent freeze.  Statewide, wheat condition was mostly very poor to poor and oat condition was mostly very poor to poor.

Cotton:  Field preparation took place in parts of the Plains as the recent rainfall improved planting conditions.  Producers were planting in the Blacklands.  Cotton was progressing well in South Texas due to favorable weather conditions for the crop.

Corn:  Fields were being planted in the Northern High Plains.  Across the state, corn was under stress due to the recent freeze.  Planting continued in South Central Texas.  Corn was progressing well in South Texas as producers increased irrigation.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  Producers were preparing their land for planting in the Northern High Plains.  Planting was almost complete in South Texas.  Sorghum condition was mostly poor to fair statewide.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

The peach crop in the Cross Timbers was under stress due to the recent freeze as producers lost most of their crop.  In the Blacklands, sunflowers were being planted on damaged wheat fields from the recent freeze.  Onions were progressing well in the Trans-Pecos and were ready to bulb.  Cabbage harvest continued in South Texas and the Lower Valley.

Pecans:  Pecans were breaking dormancy in the Trans-Pecos.  Pecans had reached bloom stage in all varieties in South Texas.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock continued across the state.  Spring calving continued in South East Texas.  In the Edwards Plateau, ranchers were shearing sheep and goats while marking lambs.  Pastures responded well in East Texas from the recent rainfall.  Conditions in South Texas were still very dry and moisture was needed to establish vegetation in pastures and rangeland.  Range and pasture condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.