Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW2709
Released:  July 6, 2009
For the week of:  June 29 - July 5, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary: The Plains and the Edwards Plateau received up to 2 inches of rainfall, while isolated showers brought up to 5 inches to specific areas.  The rest of the state experienced scattered showers receiving up to 0.5 inches of moisture.  Wheat harvest neared completion in the Plains.  In the High Plains, cotton blooming progressed slowly.  Dryland cotton planting continued in the Edwards Plateau while irrigated cotton progressed well.  In South Texas, cotton boll setting continued, corn progressed well under heavy irrigation, peanuts have emerged, and watermelon harvest was active.  Irrigated corn in the Northern High Plains was in the pre-tassel stage and grain sorghum planting neared completion.  Corn in the Blacklands was turning color and ready to harvest.  Much corn in South Central Texas was baled for hay.  Grain sorghum was heading out in the Northern Low Plains and Blacklands.  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 cut hay across the state.  Top soil moisture was mostly very short to short across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains: Wheat harvest neared completion in the Plains.  Statewide, wheat condition was mostly very poor to fair and oat condition was mostly very poor to fair.

Cotton: In the High Plains, cotton blooming progressed slowly.  Cotton progressed well and was squaring in the Northern Low Plains, Blacklands, and Trans-Pecos due to adequate moisture and heat.  Dryland cotton planting continued in the Edwards Plateau while irrigated cotton progressed well.  In South Texas, cotton boll setting continued.  Cotton condition was mostly poor to fair statewide.

Corn: Irrigated corn in the Northern High Plains was in the pre-tassel stage and progressed well.  Corn in the Blacklands was turning color and ready to harvest.  Much corn in South Central Texas was baled for hay.  In South Texas, corn in the mature stage continued to progressed well under heavy irrigation.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum: In the Northern High Plains, grain sorghum planting neared completion.  Grain sorghum was heading out in the Northern Low Plains and Blacklands.  Grain sorghum matured rapidly in the Coastal Bend.  Harvest was active in the southern part of the state.  Sorghum condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Peanuts: Peanuts were blooming in the Northern Low Plains and have 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

Insects caused vegetable crops to suffer in North East Texas.  Chilies were blooming in the Trans-Pecos.  Watermelon harvest was active in South Texas.

Pecan: Pecans in the Trans-Pecos were in the nut growth stage.

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 cut hay across the state.  Producers continued to liquidate their herds due to hot, dry conditions in the southern part of the state.  Goat herds in the Trans-Pecos were being weaned while most mare brands have been foaled out.  Range and pasture condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.