Texas Crop Progress and Condition

Texas Crop Weather

Issue: TX-CW1708
Released: April 21, 2008
For the week of: April 14 - 20

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

Maps:
Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary: Frost as well as high winds, were observed in the earlier part of last week across some of the state. The Blacklands, East Texas, the Upper Coast, and South Central received about an inch of rain last week. The rest of the state received little to no rainfall. Hail was observed in a few places in the Cross Timbers. Wheat, as well as some oats, had headed in some of the Southern Plains, Cross Timbers and the Blacklands. Cotton land preparation and pre-watering continued in the High Plains last week. Drier conditions allowed corn planting to progress in the Blacklands. Sorghum planting continued in both South Central Texas and the Blacklands. Cabbage, carrots, broccoli, and some potatoes continued to be harvested in the Southern areas of the state. Pecan trees continued to bud in the Blacklands and the Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau. Top soil moisture was mostly short to adequate statewide. Supplemental feeding of livestock was still prevalent due to cooler temperatures in Trans-Pecos, the Edwards Plateau and South Central Texas.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains: Wheat, as well as some oats, was headed in some of the Southern Plains, Cross Timbers and the Blacklands. Wheat condition was mostly poor to fair statewide. Oat condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Cotton: Land preparation and pre-watering continued in the High Plains last week.

Corn: Corn planting was underway in the Northern High Plains. Corn planting neared completion in South Central Texas. Drier conditions last week allowed corn planting to progress in the Blacklands. Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum: Sorghum planting continued in both South Central Texas and the Blacklands. Sorghum condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Cabbage, carrots, broccoli, and some potatoes continued to be harvested in the Southern areas of the state.

Pecans: Pecan trees continued to bud in the Blacklands, Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock was still very prevalent due to cooler temperatures in the Trans-Pecos, Edwards Plateau and South Central Texas. Range and pasture condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Crop Progress Table - April 20, 2008
Crop	Stage	2008	2007	Average 2003-2007
Crop	Stage	Percent
Corn	Planted	62	68	68
Corn	Emerged	51	65	61
Cotton	Planted	19	14	18
Rice	Planted	89	62	73
Rice	Emerged	69	43	59
Sorghum	Planted	63	57	52
Soybeans	Planted	58	47	53
Sunflowers	Planted	9	14	16
Winter Wheat	Headed	24	36	30
Oats	Headed	68	73	66

Crop Condition Table - April 20, 2008
Crop	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Index ^1/
Crop	Percent					2008	2007
Corn	2	30	54	12	2	65	68
Sorghum	1	30	36	20	13	55	--
Wheat	3	16	33	27	21	45	80
Oats	7	35	28	14	16	60	64
Range & Pasture	5	29	34	21	11	--	--
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 20, 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
Condition	Percent of Acreage
Very Short	59	47	29	15	1	4	0	0	63	24	14	96	0	49	65
Short	37	47	45	34	20	12	3	13	27	55	54	4	25	49	35
Adequate	4	6	26	51	74	62	72	71	10	21	32	0	65	2	0
Surplus	0	0	0	0	5	22	25	16	0	0	0	0	10	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/}
National Weather Service Climatic Divisions	Previous Week (Apr 14 - 20) Accumulation	Month-to-Date (April 1 - 20) Accumulation	Year-to-Date (Jan 1 - Apr 20) Accumulation	1961-90 Annual Normal	Previous Three Months (Jan - Mar) Percent of Normal
High Plains	0.00	0.43	0.77	18.87	16
Low Rolling Plains	0.00	1.31	2.71	23.78	43
North Central Texas	0.51	1.92	7.96	34.00	91
East Texas	0.72	2.38	12.29	45.69	93
Trans-Pecos	0.00	0.00	0.32	12.96	27
Edwards Plateau	0.14	0.53	2.83	24.01	65
South Central Texas	0.40	0.57	4.45	34.48	63
Upper Coast	0.62	0.82	9.84	47.63	101
South Texas	0.10	0.19	1.25	23.49	34
Lower Valley	0.08	0.08	2.01	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