Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW4209
Released:  October 19, 2009
For the week of:  October 12 - 18, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary: Showers swept across the eastern part of the state leaving up to 2 to 6 inches of moisture in isolated areas.  The rest of the state observed light to moderate amounts of rainfall.  Freezing temperatures in the Northern High Plains virtually ended development of late planted cotton and sorghum.  Winter wheat planting continued, producers were spraying cotton, and sunflower harvest was active in the Southern High Plains.  Winter wheat in the Northern Low Plains emerged and was in need of sunshine for growth and cotton maturity was delayed due to cooler weather.  Wheat planting was delayed in the Cross Timbers due to wet conditions.  Wheat and oats continued to emerge in South Texas.  Cotton made good progress in the Edwards Plateau.  Supplemental feeding of livestock took place in localized areas of the state but continued to decline due to increased forage growth in the southern part of the state.  Range and pastures continued to improve 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 Southern High Plains.  Winter wheat in the Northern Low Plains emerged and was in need of sunshine for growth.  Wheat planting was delayed in the Cross Timbers due to wet conditions.  Wheat and oats made good progress in the Edwards Plateau in response to increased soil moisture.  Wheat and oats continued to emerge in South Texas.  Wheat condition was mostly fair to good statewide.  Oat condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Cotton: Freezing temperatures in the Northern High Plains caused some damage to cotton.  Producers were spraying cotton in the Southern High Plains.  Cotton maturity was delayed in the Northern Low Plains due to cooler weather and was in need of sunshine.  Cotton made good progress in the Edwards Plateau.  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: Freezing temperatures damaged late planted sorghum in the Northern High Plains.  Sorghum condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.

Peanuts: Producers were digging peanuts in areas of the Plains and South Texas.  Wet conditions delayed peanut harvest in the Southern Low Plains.  Peanut condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Soybeans: Soybean condition was mostly poor to fair statewide.

Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Report

Sunflower harvest was active in the Southern High Plains.  Sesame and sunflower harvest was delayed due to wet conditions in the Coastal Bend.  Spinach and onion planting was active while cabbage made good progress in South Texas.

Pecans: Pecans were beginning to open in area where adequate moisture was available early in the development stage.

Livestock, Range and Pasture Report

Supplemental feeding of livestock took place in localized areas of the state but continued to decline due to increased forage growth 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 and feral hogs 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.