Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW2209
Released:  June 1, 2009
For the week of:  May 25 - 31, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  Scattered showers swept through most of the state bringing up to 2 inches of rain in some areas.  The Edwards Plateau and South Texas received the most rainfall while the rest of the state received scattered showers.  Wheat continued to develop in the Panhandle and harvest neared completion in the Blacklands and South Texas.  Cotton planting was in full swing in the Panhandle and was progressing well in the Edwards Plateau and South Texas.  Corn continued to develop across the state.  Sorghum planting continued in the Panhandle, Cross Timbers, and the Coastal Bend.  Watermelon, green beans, and potato harvest continued this past week in South Texas.  Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in parts of the state.  Range and pasture conditions improved across the state due to the recent rainfall.  Top soil moisture was mostly very short to adequate across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  Winter wheat continued to progress towards harvest in the High Plains.  Wheat continued to develop in the Low Plains.  Wheat harvest neared completion in the Blacklands and South Texas.  Statewide, wheat condition was mostly very poor to poor and oat condition was mostly very poor to fair.

Cotton:  Planting continued to be in full swing in the High Plains.  Planting continued on irrigated fields in the Low Plains while producers were in need of additional rainfall for dry land plantings.  Irrigated cotton continued to develop in the Edwards Plateau as producers were waiting for rain for their non-irrigated cotton.  Scattered showers provided some relief to the cotton producers in South Central Texas.  Irrigated cotton in South Texas continued to develop.  Statewide, cotton condition was mostly fair to good.

Corn:  Corn made excellent progress in the Northern High Plains due to the warmer weather.  Corn in the Blacklands and South Texas continued to develop.  Corn continued development in the Edwards Plateau with very little insect pressure.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  Sorghum planting was in full swing in the Panhandle; however, rain was still needed.  Sorghum progressed well in the Cross Timbers area.  Sorghum began to emerge along the Coastal Bend.  Sorghum condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Peanuts:  Peanut planting neared completion in the Low Plains while planting was in full swing in South Texas.  Peanut condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Rice:  Rice condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Soybeans:  Soybean condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Producers continued to plant pumpkins in the Northern High Plains.  Peach production continued in North East Texas while disease and insect pressure was observed on various garden vegetables.  Watermelon, green beans, and potato harvest continued this past week in South Texas.  Recent rainfall halted onion harvest in South Texas.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in parts of the state as cattle condition continued to look good.  Range and pasture conditions improved across the state due to the recent rainfall, however, further moisture was needed for very dry parts of the state.  Range and pasture condition was mostly fair to good statewide.