Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW2309
Released:  June 8, 2009
For the week of:  June 1 - 7, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  The central and northern parts of the state received up to 3 inches of rainfall while the rest of the state observed scattered showers.  Wheat continued to mature rapidly in the Northern High Plains.  Wheat harvest continued in parts of the Plains.  In the Plains, cotton planting neared completion.  Corn progressed well due to the recent rainfall in the Northern High Plains.  Sorghum planting for silage and hay continued in the Northern High Plains.  Pecan nutlets activity took place in parts of the Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau.  Peaches progressed well in the North East Texas while blackberry, blueberry, and vegetable harvest continued.  Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in parts of the state.  Producers were baling hay in most areas of the state.  Range and pasture conditions continued to improve across the state due to the recent rainfall.  Top soil moisture was mostly short to adequate across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  Wheat continued to mature rapidly in the Northern High Plains due to warmer temperatures.  Wheat harvest continued in parts of the Plains.  In South Central Texas, producers were preparing to harvest irrigated wheat while oats were being grazed out due to dry conditions.  Statewide, wheat condition was mostly very poor to poor and oat condition was mostly very poor to fair.

Cotton:  In the Plains, planting neared completion.  Producers were planting in the Edwards Plateau due to improved soil moisture.  Warmer temperatures were favorable for irrigated cotton in South Texas.  Cotton condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Corn:  Corn progressed well due to the recent rainfall in the Northern High Plains.  Corn in the Blacklands was tasseling; however, most was behind schedule due to extended rainfall in the past month.  Corn was in need of moisture in South Central Texas.  Warmer temperatures were favorable for irrigated corn in South Texas.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  Sorghum planting for silage and hay continued in the Northern High Plains.  Sorghum was in need of rain in the Edwards Plateau.  Irrigated grain sorghum in the Lower Valley progressed well and was turning color.  Sorghum condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Peanuts:  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 were planting pumpkins in the Northern High Plains.  Peaches progressed well in North East Texas while blackberry, blueberry, and vegetable harvest continued.  Cabbage harvest neared completion while green beans, watermelon, cantaloupes, and potato harvest continued this past week in South Texas.

Pecan:  Nutlets activity took place in parts of the Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau.

Livestock, Pasture and Range Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in parts of the state.  In parts of the Northern Low Plains, pastures were producing enough forage to carry cattle through the summer.  Producers were baling hay in most areas of the state.  Horn fly populations on beef cattle were increasing in North East Texas.  Range and pasture conditions continued to improve across the state due to the recent rainfall.  Range and pasture condition was mostly fair to good statewide.