Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW3309
Released:  August 17, 2009
For the week of:  August 10 - 16, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  The Plains observed up to 6 inches of rainfall while the Trans-Pecos and Upper Coast observed up to 3 inches of rainfall.  The central and southern parts of the state received a trace to 2 inches of moisture.  Producers prepared to plant wheat and oat fields in the northern part of the state.  Corn progressed well in the Northern High Plains.  Sorghum continued to mature in the Northern Low Plains.  Cotton was blooming and setting bolls in the Plains.  Grain Sorghum suffered due to the hot, dry condition in the Southern Low Plains.  Grain sorghum and soybeans neared harvest while corn harvest was active in the Blacklands.  Corn harvest was active in North East Texas.  Cotton bolls were beginning to open, producers began to cultivate fields in preparation for wheat and oat planting, and peanuts continued to be irrigated in South Texas.  Supplemental feeding of livestock was ongoing across most of the state.  Recent rainfall improved range and pasture conditions in the northern and central part of the state.  Top soil moisture was mostly very short to adequate across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  Producers prepared to plant wheat and oat fields in the northern part of the state.  Producers began to cultivate fields in preparation for wheat and oat planting in South Texas, however, soil moisture was needed.

Cotton:  In the Northern High Plains, cotton progressed well; however, the crop was in need of heat units.  Cotton was setting bolls in the Plains and bolls were beginning to open in South Texas.  In the Trans-Pecos, cotton progressed well.  In the Edwards Plateau hot and dry conditions caused cotton to suffer.  Cotton condition was mostly fair to good state-wide.

Corn:  Corn progressed well in the Northern High Plains due to light insect activity and recent rainfall.  Army worms caused stress on corn in the Northern Low Plains.  Corn harvest was active in the Blacklands and North East Texas.  Corn condition was mostly very poor to good state-wide.

Sorghum:  Grain sorghum progressed well due to the recent rainfall in parts of the Northern High Plains.  Grain Sorghum suffered due to the hot, dry condition in the Southern Low Plains.  Sorghum continued to mature in the Northern Low Plains.  Sorghum progressed well in the Edwards Plateau; however, the crop was in need of moisture.  Sorghum continued to suffer in South Texas due to drought conditions.  Sorghum condition was mostly very poor to fair state-wide.

Peanuts:  Diseases caused stress on peanuts in the Southern High Plains.  Producers sprayed for leaf spot in the Northern Low Plains.  Wild hogs caused damage to peanuts in the Southern Low Plains.  In South Texas, peanuts continued to develop with irrigation.  Peanut condition was mostly fair to good state-wide.

Rice:  Rice condition was mostly fair to good state-wide.

Soybeans:  Soybeans progressed well in the Blacklands due to the recent rainfall.  Soybean condition was mostly fair to good state-wide.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Sunflowers progressed well in the Southern High Plains.  Chilies were in full bloom in the Trans-Pecos and progressed well.

Pecan:  Pecans continued to progress well in the Cross Timbers, however, pecans suffered in areas affected by the late freeze.  Irrigation was active in the Edwards Plateau while producers sprayed for shuck worm and pecan weevil.

Livestock, Range and Pasture Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock was ongoing across most of the state.  Stock tank levels across the state remained low.  Weaning of lambs and goats began in the Edwards Plateau.  Livestock herd liquidation continued in localized parts of the state.  Recent rainfall improved range and pasture conditions in the northern and central part of the state.  Range and pastures in the southern part of the state continued to remain dry.  Range and pasture condition was mostly very poor to fair state-wide.