Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW3009
Released:  July 27, 2009
For the week of:  July 20 - 26, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  The southern part of the state received little to no rainfall while scattered showers brought up to 3 inches of rainfall across the rest of the state.  In the Northern High Plains, wheat field preparation took place, grain sorghum headed out, and sunflowers were in full bloom.  Irrigated cotton was blooming and corn matured in the Southern High Plains.  Grain sorghum heads were turning color in the Blacklands.  In the Trans-Pecos, cotton squaring continued, chilies were in full bloom, and pecan nut development continued.  Drought conditions in South East Texas and the Upper Coast has caused the corn crop to suffer.  Peanut pegging was active in the Northern Low Plains and South Texas.  Supplemental feeding of livestock continued in localized parts of the state.  Recent rainfall improved range and pasture conditions in the northern part of the state while conditions continued to decline in the southern part of the state and were in need of moisture.  Top soil moisture was mostly very short to short across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  Wheat field preparation took place in the Northern Plains.  Oat condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.

Cotton:  In the Northern High Plains, cotton progressed well due to the recent rainfall and warm temperatures.  Irrigated cotton was blooming in the Southern High Plains.  Cotton progressed well in the Northern Low Plains while insect and weed spraying continued.  Cotton was in need of moisture to supplement fertilizer applications in the Southern Low Plains.  In the Trans-Pecos, cotton squaring continued and Southwestern Cotton Rust was treated.  In the Edwards Plateau and South Texas, cotton progressed well under heavy irrigation.  Cotton condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Corn:  Corn progressed well in the High Plains due to cooler temperatures.  Corn is in the dough stage in the Southern High Plains.  Drought conditions in South East Texas and the Upper Coast has caused the corn crop to suffer.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  In the Northern High Plains, grain sorghum headed out and irrigation was active.  Head worms caused stress on sorghum in the Southern High Plains.  Grain sorghum heads were turning in the Blacklands.  In parts of South Central Texas, recent rainfall improved harvest conditions.  Sorghum condition was mostly fair to good.

Peanuts:  The crop progressed well in the Southern Low Plains.  Pegging was active in the Northern Low Plains and 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 Northern High Plains.  Chilies were in full bloom in the Trans-Pecos.

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.  Stock tank levels were very low in the southern part of the state and in need of rain.  Livestock herd liquidation continued across the state.  Recent rainfall improved range and pasture conditions in the northern part of the state while conditions continued to decline in the southern part of the state and were in need of moisture.  Range and pasture condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.