Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW2909
Released:  July 20, 2009
For the week of:  July 13 - 19, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary: The Plains, East Texas, and the Upper Coast received up to 3 inches of rainfall while the rest of the state observed trace amounts of moisture.  Sorghum suffered from insects and lack of moisture, chilies were in full bloom, and heat caused stress on fall wheat preparation in the Cross Timbers.  In the High Plains, cotton heat units progressed well and recent moisture improved sorghum conditions.  Grain sorghum continued to head out and cotton progressed well in the Northern Low Plains.  In South Texas, cotton boll setting continued and peanut pegging was active.  Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in localized parts of the state.  Range and pasture conditions continued to suffer across the state and were in need of moisture.  Top soil moisture was mostly very short to short across the state.

Field Crop Report

Small Grains: Heat caused stress on fall wheat preparation 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, heat units progressed well.  Cotton began to bloom in the Southern Low Plains and responded well to the recent rain.  Cotton progressed well in the Northern Low Plains and insect and weed spraying was active.  Dryland cotton producers were in need of rain in the Southern Low Plains.  In South Texas, cotton boll setting continued and progressed well under heavy irrigation.  Cotton condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Corn: Tasseling progressed well in the High Plains due to cooler temperatures.  Heat caused stress on the crop in the Edwards Plateau.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum: In the High Plains, recent moisture improved crop conditions.  Grain sorghum continued to head out in the Northern Low Plains and the Blacklands.  Sorghum in the Cross Timbers suffered from insects and lack of moisture.  Hot, dry conditions accelerated the drying process in the southern part of the state.  Sorghum condition was mostly fair to good.

Peanuts: The crop progressed well in the Southern Low Plains.  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 were in full bloom in the Southern High Plains.  Peach harvest neared completion in the Cross Timbers.  Chilies were in full bloom in the Trans-Pecos, however, heat caused stress on the crop.

Pecan: Pecans progressed well in the Northern Low Plains and the Blacklands.  Pecan nut development continued in the Trans-Pecos.

Livestock, Range and Pasture Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in localized parts of the state.  Hay baling continued, however, the crop suffered due to hot, dry conditions across the state.  Stock tank levels were low in the central and southern part of the state while cattle culling continued.  Range and pasture conditions continued to suffer across the state and were in need of moisture.  Range and pasture condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.