Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW3609
Released:  September 8, 2009
For the week of:  August 31 - September 6, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  Most areas of the state observed 0.1 to 3.0 inches of moisture.  In the Northern High Plains, producers were planting wheat and corn progressed well.  Land preparation was underway for wheat planting, early planted sorghum was drying out, and peanuts and sunflowers continued to mature in the Southern High Plains.  Wheat planting began and drought conditions caused stress on cotton in the Northern Low Plains.  Wheat planting continued in the Cross Timbers.  Cotton harvest on matured varieties had begun and corn harvest neared completion in the Blacklands.  Cotton harvest continued in the southern areas of the state.  Corn harvest continued in the Edwards Plateau.  Pecan nuts were in the gel stage in the Trans-Pecos.  Supplemental feeding of hay to livestock continued in localized areas of the state and producers were looking for hay to buy before winter.  Range and pastures were in need of rainfall in the Northern part of the state while improving in South East Texas due to cooler temperatures and recent rainfall.  Top soil moisture was mostly very short to short across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  Producers were planting wheat in the Northern High Plains.  Land preparation was underway for wheat planting in the Southern High Plains.  Wheat planting began in the Northern Low Plains while planting continued in the Cross Timbers.  Producers were in need of moisture to begin wheat planting in the Edwards Plateau and South Central Texas.

Cotton:  In the High Plains, cotton harvest was active.  Dry-land cotton progressed well due to the recent rainfall in the Southern High Plains.  Drought conditions caused stress on cotton in the Northern Low Plains.  Harvest on matured varieties had begun in the Blacklands.  Cotton harvest continued in southern areas of the state.  Cotton condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Corn:  In the Northern High Plains, corn progressed well and insect activity was light.  Corn harvest neared completion in the Blacklands while continuing in the Edwards Plateau.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  Sorghum in parts of the Northern High Plains suffered due to the late rainfall and insect activity.  Early planted sorghum was drying out in the Southern High Plains.  Grain sorghum harvest neared completion in the Blacklands.  Sorghum condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.

Peanuts:  Peanuts continued to mature in the Southern High Plains.  Peanuts progressed well in the Southern Low Plains and South Texas while irrigation was active.  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 continued to mature in the Southern High Plains.  Sesame and sunflowers slowly matured in the Coastal Bend as harvest neared.  Producers prepared seed beds for cabbage, spinach, onions, and carrot planting in South Texas.

Pecan:  Pecan trees suffered in North East Texas due to walnut caterpillars and web worms.  Pecan nuts were in the gel stage in the Trans-Pecos.  Producers continued to monitor the pecan weevil in the Edwards Plateau.

Livestock, Range and Pasture Report

Supplemental feeding of hay to livestock continued in localized areas of the state and producers were looking for hay to buy before winter.  Stock tank levels across the state continued to fall.  Livestock herd liquidation continued in localized parts of the state due to hay being in short supply.  Hay fields were being cut and baled across the state.  Range and pastures were in need of rainfall in the Northern part of the state and improved in South East Texas due to cooler temperatures and recent rainfall.  Rangeland and pastures suffered in the Edwards Plateau and South Texas due to drought conditions.  Range and pasture condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.