Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW4009
Released:  October 5, 2009
For the week of:  September 28 - October 4, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  Scattered showers were observed across much of the state.  The eastern and southern parts of the state received the most rain with up to 2 to 6 inches in isolated areas.  Low lying areas of the Northern High Plains experienced freezing conditions.  Winter wheat planting continued, cool temperatures slowed cotton maturity, and corn harvest made good progress in the Northern High Plains.  Recent rainfall improved wheat growing conditions in the Northern Plains.  Wheat planting was in full-swing in the Cross Timbers.  Producers sprayed defoliant on cotton in the Northern Low Plains.  Cotton received adequate moisture for boll development in the Edwards Plateau.  Cotton harvest continued in southern areas of the state.  Cotton ginning continued in South Texas.  Sorghum harvest neared completion in the northern part of the state.  Soybeans were dropping leaves in North East Texas.  Supplemental feeding of livestock continued to decline due to improved pasture conditions.  Range and pastures progressed well due to the recent rainfall across most of the state.  Top soil moisture was mostly short to adequate across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  Winter wheat planting continued in the Northern High Plains.  Recent rainfall improved wheat growing conditions in the Northern Plains.  Wheat planting was in full-swing in the Cross Timbers.  Army worms caused early-planted wheat and oats to suffer in the Blacklands.

Cotton:  In the Northern High Plains, cool temperatures slowed cotton maturity.  Producers sprayed defoliant on cotton in the Northern Low Plains.  Cotton received adequate moisture for boll development in the Edwards Plateau.  Cotton harvest continued in southern areas of the state.  Cotton ginning continued in South Texas.  Cotton condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Corn:  Corn harvest made good progress in the Northern High Plains, however, some producers were waiting for drier conditions to continue harvest.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  Cool temperatures delayed sorghum maturity in the Northern High Plains.  Sorghum harvest neared completion in the northern part of the state.  Sorghum condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.

Peanuts:  Producers were digging peanuts in parts of the Northern Low Plains.  Peanuts progressed well in the Southern Low Plains.  Peanut condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Rice:  Rice condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Soybeans:  Soybean harvest was active in the Northern High Plains.  Soybeans were dropping leaves in North East Texas and the Upper Coast.  Soybean condition was mostly poor to fair statewide.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Chilies were mostly red and drying as harvest neared in the Trans-Pecos.  Sesame and sunflowers continued to dry as harvest neared.  Spinach planting was active and cabbage progressed well in South Texas.  Fall vegetable planting continued in the Lower Valley.

Pecans:  Pecan development made good progress in the Blacklands.  In the Trans-Pecos, Pawnee pecan cultivar harvest was active and the Western pecan shell was in the hardening stage.  Pecan shuck split was active in the Edwards Plateau.

Livestock, Range and Pasture Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock continued to decline due to improved pasture conditions.  Stock tank levels in some areas of the state continued to be replenished due to the recent rainfall.  Some hay was still being cut and baled in localized areas of the state.  Producers were increasing hay supplies for the winter months in the Northern High Plains.  Army worms caused damage to hay meadows and pastures across most of the state.  Range and pastures improved due to the recent rainfall across most of the state.  Range and pasture condition was mostly fair to good statewide.