Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW2609
Released:  June 29, 2009
For the week of:  June 22 - 28, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  The northern part of the state received up to 2 inches of rainfall while the rest of the state observed scattered showers.  Wheat harvest was in full-swing and cotton, grain sorghum, and irrigated corn progressed well in the Northern High Plains.  In the Northern Low Plains, wheat harvest neared completion and dry-land cotton was in need in rain.  In South Texas, cotton set bolls, peanut plants emerged, and watermelon harvest was active.  Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in localized parts of the state.  Pastures and hay meadows suffered due to hot, dry conditions across the state.  Top soil moisture was mostly very short to short across the state.

Field Crops Reports

Small Grains:  Wheat harvest was in full-swing in the Northern High Plains as hot weather dried out the crop.  In the Northern Low Plains, wheat harvest neared completion and yields varied depending on freeze damage and rainfall.  Wheat and oat harvest in the Blacklands was completed and yields were low due to the freeze in early April.  Statewide, wheat condition was mostly very poor to fair and oat condition was mostly very poor to fair.

Cotton:  In the Northern High Plains, cotton progressed well due to the warm weather providing heat units.  Dry-land cotton was in need of moisture in the Northern Low Plains.  Dryland cotton planting continued in the Edwards Plateau.  In South Texas, cotton boll setting continued.  Cotton condition was mostly poor to fair statewide.

Corn:  Irrigated corn in the Northern High Plains progressed well due to favorable weather conditions.  Hot temperatures caused corn to suffer in the Blacklands during its most critical time.  Irrigated corn progressed well in South Central Texas.  In South Texas, corn in the mature stage progressed well under heavy irrigation.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  In the Northern High Plains, grain sorghum progressed well as producers planted sorghum behind wheat.  Very hot, dry conditions caused sorghum to suffer in the Southern Low Plains.  Sorghum suffered in the Blacklands due to lack of moisture.  Sorghum matured rapidly in the Coastal Bend.  Baling of zeroed-out sorghum in the Upper Coast was active.  Sorghum condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Peanuts:  Peanut crop progressed well in the Southern Low Plains.  Peanut plants emerged 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

Green bean planting and pumpkin irrigation was active in the Northern High Plains.  Watermelon harvest was active in South Texas.

Pecan:  Irrigated pecan bottoms progressed well in South Central Texas while insect and disease had minimal effects on the crop.  Pecan crop suffered due to low moisture in South Texas.

Livestock, Range and Pasture Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in localized parts of the state.  Pastures and hay meadows suffered due to hot, dry conditions across the state.  Producers continued to sell cattle due to low stock tank levels in the southern part of the state.  Heat and lack of moisture in South Texas caused range and pasture conditions to suffer.  Range and pasture condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.