Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW3709
Released:  September 14, 2009
For the week of:  September 7 - 13, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  Showers swept through the central part of the state, observing up to 10 inches of rainfall.  The rest of the state received a trace to 5 inches of rainfall.  Producers continued to plant wheat as cotton matured in the Northern High Plains.  Land preparation for wheat planting progressed well due to the recent rainfall, dry-land cotton was opening and peanuts continued to mature in the Southern High Plains.  Wheat planting continued in the Northern Low Plains where moisture was available.  Corn harvest neared completion in the Blacklands and was active in the Edwards Plateau.  In the Trans-Pecos, chilies were turning red and pecan nuts matured as the splitting of the shuck and separation of nut from shuck took place.  Cotton harvest continued in southern areas of the state.  Producers prepared seed beds for irrigated cabbage, spinach, and onion planting in South Texas.  Supplemental feeding of livestock was active in localized areas of the state.  Range and pastures progressed well due to the recent rainfall across most of the state, however, the southern part of the state continued to be in need of moisture.  Top soil moisture was mostly short to adequate across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  Producers continued to plant wheat in the Northern High Plains.  Land preparation for wheat planting progressed well due to the recent rainfall in the Southern High Plains.  Wheat planting continued in the Northern Low Plains where moisture was available and was active in the Cross Timbers.  In the Coastal Bend and South Texas, planting conditions improved due to the recent rainfall.

Cotton:  In the Northern Plains, cotton was in need of more heat units to continue maturing.  Dry-land cotton was opening in the Southern High Plains.  Cotton progressed well in areas of recent rainfall in the Southern Low Plains.  Cotton harvest continued in southern areas of the state.  Cotton condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Corn:  In the Northern High Plains, corn silage harvest began for feed yards.  Corn harvest neared completion in the Blacklands and was active in the Edwards Plateau.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  Sorghum progressed well in parts of the Northern High Plains receiving rainfall.  Grain sorghum harvest was active in the Northern Low Plains.  Grain sorghum harvest slowed down as producers waited for fields to dry out in the Blacklands.  Sorghum condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.

Peanuts:  Peanuts continued to mature in the Southern High Plains.  Producers have begun to dig dry land Spanish peanuts in the Northern Low Plains.  Peanuts progressed well in South Texas as producers prepared for harvest.  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.  Producers prepared seed beds for irrigated cabbage, spinach, and onion planting in South Texas.  Chilies were turning red in the Trans-Pecos.  Vegetable and sugarcane planting was active in the Lower Valley.

Pecan:  In the Trans-Pecos, pecan nuts matured.  Producers continued to monitor the pecan weevil in the Edwards Plateau.

Livestock, Range and Pasture Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock was active in localized areas of the state.  Stock tank levels in some areas of the state were replenished due to the recent rainfall.  Livestock herd liquidation continued in localized parts of the state due to hay being in short supply.  Armyworms caused hay meadows to suffer in East Texas.  Range and pastures progressed well due to the recent rainfall across most of the state, however, the southern part of the state continued to be in need of moisture.  Range and pasture condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.