Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW2409
Released:  June 15, 2009
For the week of:  June 8 - 14, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  The central part of the state received up to 8 inches of rainfall while the rest of the state observed scattered showers.  Wheat harvest began in the Northern High Plains.  Winter wheat harvest was nearing completion in North East Texas.  Irrigated cotton in the Southern High Plains progressed well.  In the Northern High Plains, dry-land grain sorghum planting was in full-swing.  In parts of the Plains, cotton planting neared completion.  Producers continued planting soybeans in the Northern High Plains.  Cabbage and onion harvest was completed in South Texas.  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 central and northern part of the state due to the recent rainfall.  Top soil moisture was mostly short to adequate across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  Wheat harvest began in the Northern High Plains.  In the Cross Timbers, wheat harvest continued.  Producers were nearing completion of wheat harvest in the Blacklands due to favorable weather.  Statewide, wheat condition was mostly very poor to poor and oat condition was mostly very poor to fair.

Cotton:  Irrigated cotton in the Southern High Plains progressed well, however, dry land cotton was in need of more moisture.  In parts of the Plains, planting neared completion.  Cotton progressed well in the Edwards Plateau, Trans-Pecos, and South Central Texas.  Cotton condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Corn:  Irrigated corn in the Northern High Plains progressed well as the pivots ran on the new crop.  Corn in the Blacklands was tasseling;  however, most was behind schedule due to flooding last month.  Spider mites caused corn to suffer in South Central Texas;  however, irrigated corn progressed well.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  In the Northern High Plains, dry-land grain sorghum planting was in full-swing.  Planted sorghum progressed well in the Northern Low Plains and Cross Timbers.  Dry-land milo progressed well in parts of South Central Texas which received rainfall.  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: Producers continued planting soybeans in the Northern High Plains.  Soybeans progressed well in the Blacklands but were in need of additional moisture.  Soybean condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Producers were planting irrigated sunflowers in the Northern High Plains.  Tomatoes in North East Texas suffered from disease while blueberry harvest continued.  Producers prepared to harvest fall planted onions.  Cabbage and onion harvest was completed in South Texas.

Pecan:  Hot, dry conditions caused stress on pecan trees in the Trans-Pecos.  The pecan crop progressed well in the Edwards Plateau.

Livestock, Range and Pasture Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in parts of the state.  Cattle were being used to clean up insured-out fields in the Southern Low Plains.  Producers were baling hay in most areas of the state and baling progressed well due to the heat drying up soil moisture.  Range and pasture conditions continued to improve across the central and northern part of the state due to the recent rainfall.  Range and pasture conditions in the southern part of the state was in need of moisture.  Range and pasture condition was mostly fair to good statewide.