Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW4109
Released:  October 13, 2009
For the week of:  October 5 - 11, 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 northeast part of the state received the most rain with up to 2 to 6 inches in isolated areas.  Winter wheat planting continued producers sprayed defoliant on cotton, and corn and soybean harvest was active in the Northern High Plains.  Recent rainfall and cooler temperatures improved wheat conditions in the Northern Plains.  Army worms caused wheat to suffer in the Blacklands.  Wheat and oats were emerging in South Texas.  High winds and large hail damaged cotton in parts of the Southern High Plains.  In the Trans-Pecos, Pawnee pecan cultivar harvest was active and the Western pecan was in the final stage of maturity.  Soybeans continued to progress well in the Upper Coast while pods were filling.  Supplemental feeding of livestock took place in localized areas of the state.  Range and pastures continued to improve due to the recent rainfall across most of the state.  Top soil moisture was mostly adequate to surplus across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains: Winter wheat planting continued in the Northern High Plains and more moisture was needed for seed germination.  Recent rainfall and cooler temperatures improved wheat conditions in the Northern Plains.  Army worms caused wheat to suffer in the Blacklands.  Wheat and oats was emerging in South Texas.

Cotton: Cotton maturity slowed in the Plains due to wet and cool conditions.  In the Northern High Plains, producers sprayed defoliant on cotton.  Recent high winds and large hail damaged cotton in parts of the Southern High Plains.  Cotton harvest was active in the Trans-Pecos.  Cotton condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Corn: Corn harvest continued in the Northern High Plains as producers worked around wet conditions.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum: Producers were chopping sorghum silage in the Northern High Plains.  Sorghum harvest was active in the Edwards Plateau.  Sorghum condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.

Peanuts: Producers were digging peanuts in areas of the Plains.  Producers were preparing to harvest peanuts in South Texas.  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 continued to progress well in the Upper Coast as pods were filling.  Soybean condition was mostly poor to fair statewide.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Sunflower harvest was active in the Southern High Plains and the Coastal Bend.  Spinach planting was active and cabbage made good progress in response to cooler temperatures and adequate moisture in South Texas.

Pecans: In the Trans-Pecos, Pawnee pecan cultivar harvest was active and the Western pecan was in the final stage of maturity.

Livestock, Range and Pasture Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock took place in localized areas of the state but continued to decline due to improved pasture conditions in the southern part of the state.  Stock tank levels in some areas of the state continued to be replenished; however, more rainfall was needed to return tanks to adequate levels.  Some hay was still being cut and baled in localized areas of the state.  Army worms continued to cause damage to hay meadows and pastures across most of the state.  Range and pastures continued to improve due to the recent rainfall across most of the state.  Range and pasture condition was mostly fair to good statewide.