Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW2809
Released:  July 13, 2009
For the week of:  July 6 - 12, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary: South East Texas and the Upper Coast received up to 5 inches of moisture while the Plains and the Trans-Pecos received up to 1.5 inches of rainfall.  The central and southern part of the state observed scattered showers while the rest of the state observed trace amounts of moisture.  Producers prepared wheat fields for fall planting in the Cross Timbers.  In the Northern High Plains, cotton blooming suffered due to the heat and dry winds while irrigated corn and sorghum progressed well.  In the Trans-Pecos, pecans were in the nut growth stage and chilies bloomed.  Cotton bolls opened in the Coastal Bend.  In South Texas, watermelon harvest was completed and peanut pegging 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 Report

Small Grains: Wheat harvest neared completion in the Plains as good progress was made.  Producers prepared wheat fields for fall planting in the Cross Timbers.  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 blooming suffered due to the heat and dry winds.  Cotton progressed well in the Northern Low Plains while insect and weed spraying was active.  In the Blacklands and Trans-Pecos, cotton progressed well, however, the crop was in need of moisture.  Cotton bolls opened in the Coastal Bend.  In South Texas, cotton boll setting continued.  Cotton condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Corn: Corn in the Northern High Plains and South Texas progressed well due to increased irrigation.  Corn harvest began in the Blacklands.  In the Upper Coast, corn harvest was active and yields varied.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum: In the Northern High Plains, sorghum progressed well, however the crop was in need of moisture due to dry, hot conditions.  Grain sorghum headed out in the Northern Low Plains.  Grain sorghum harvest continues to be active in the southern part of the state with varied yields.  Sorghum condition was mostly fair to good.

Peanuts: Peanut pegging was active 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

Sunflowers are in bloom in the Southern High Plains.  Heat caused stress on tomato and watermelon vines in North East Texas.  Chilies bloomed in the Trans-Pecos and flower drops was active due to the heat.  Watermelon harvest was completed in South Texas.

Pecan: In the Trans-Pecos, pecans were in the nut growth stage.  Pecan irrigation was in full swing in the Edwards Plateau.

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.  Hot, dry conditions in the Edwards Plateau caused stress on livestock, forage, and wildlife.  Low stock tank levels, heat, and declining forage supply caused stress on cattle in South Texas.  Range and pasture condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.