Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW1808
Released:  April 28, 2008
For the week of:  April 21 - 27, 2008

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  Showers swept across much of the state.  North East Texas, the Blacklands, and much of South Texas along the coast received up to 1.5 to about 3.0 inches of rain.  The panhandle and the Trans-Pecos regions received very little to no rain.  The recent rains helped small grains to continue to improve.  Cotton planting in the southern regions of the state and land preparation in the Plains both continued.  Corn planting was in full swing in the Northern High Plains.  Sorghum planting neared completion in South Texas, and planting continued in the Southern Low Plains and the Cross Timbers.  Rice planting continued in South Central Texas and the Upper coast.  Potato, cabbage, and onion harvest continued in South Texas and the Lower Valley.  Pecan trees began to leaf out in the Blacklands and the Southern High Plains, while the trees were flowering in the Trans-Pecos, Edwards Plateau, and South Central Texas.  Top soil moisture was mostly short to adequate statewide.  Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in areas of very poor to poor range and pasture.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  The recent rains helped small grains to continue to improve.  Wheat continued to head across much of the state.  Wheat condition was mostly poor to fair statewide.  Oat condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Cotton:  Cotton planting in the southern regions of the state and land preparation in the Plains both continued.

Corn:  Corn planting was in full swing in the Northern High Plains.  Corn planting neared completion or was complete in some areas in South Central Texas.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  Sorghum planting neared completion in South Texas, and planting continued in the Southern Low Plains and the Cross Timbers.  Sorghum condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Soybeans:  Soybean condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Rice:  Rice planting continued in South Central Texas and the Upper coast.  Rice condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Potato, cabbage, and onion harvest continued in South Texas and the Lower Valley.

Pecans:  Pecan trees began to leaf out in the Blacklands and the Southern High Plains, while the trees were flowering in the Trans-Pecos, Edwards Plateau, and South Central Texas.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in areas of very poor to poor range and pasture.  Range and pasture condition was mostly fair to good statewide.