Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW1709
Released:  April 27, 2009
For the week of:  April 20 - 26, 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 6 inches of rainfall while the rest of the state received trace amounts of moisture.  The freeze and drought damage to the wheat crop across the state was becoming more evident as the crop matures.  Cotton field preparation took place in parts of the Plains.  Recent rainfall in South Central Texas has prompted producers to begin planting.  Corn planting neared completion in the Blacklands.  Corn was progressing well in South Texas.  Sorghum producers were planting in the Northern High Plains and the Cross Timbers.  Pecan trees suffered from the recent freeze in the Cross Timbers.  Cabbage, potato, and green bean crops continued to progress well in South Texas.  Supplemental feeding of livestock continued across the state.  Rainfall in the Low Plains improved pasture conditions while ranchers in South Central Texas were applying fertilizer.  Top soil moisture was mostly very short to adequate across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  Russian aphids and spider mites continued to cause damage to the wheat crop in the Northern High Plains.  The freeze and drought damage to the wheat crop across the state was becoming more evident as the crop matured.  Wheat and oats were turning color in South Texas.  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.  Recent rainfall in South Central Texas has prompted producers to begin planting.  Most of the crop was not emerging in the Coastal Bend due to low soil moisture.

Corn:  Fields were being planted in the Northern High Plains.  Producers were nearing completion in the Blacklands and only a small percentage of the crop suffered from the recent freeze.  Corn was progressing well in South Texas due to the favorable growing conditions.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  Producers were planting in the Northern High Plains and the Cross Timbers.  Recent rainfall had prompted sorghum producers to begin planting in South Central Texas.  Sorghum was progressing well following additional irrigation applications in South Texas.  Sorghum condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

The peach crop in North East Texas received cover sprays.  Cabbage, potato, and green bean crops continued to progress well in South Texas.

Pecan:  Pecan trees suffered from the recent freeze in the Cross Timbers.  Producers were spraying their crop in the Edwards Plateau.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock continued across the state.  Spring calving also continued.  In the Edwards Plateau, ranchers continued shearing sheep and goats while marking lambs.  Rainfall in the Low Plains improved pasture conditions as well as provided an infusion of tank water.  Ranchers in South Central Texas were applying fertilizer to improve pasture conditions.  Conditions in the Southern High Plains were still very dry and more moisture was needed to establish vegetation in pastures and rangeland.  Range and pasture condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.