Texas Crop Weather

Issue:  TX-CW4309
Released:  October 26, 2009
For the week of:  October 19 - 25, 2009

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

Maps:
   Agricultural District Map

Agricultural Summary:  Showers swept across the central and 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.  Winter wheat planting continued in the High Plains.  Cool temperatures have accelerated cotton maturity in the Northern High Plains.  Rain delayed cotton harvest and milo matured in the Southern High Plains.  Winter wheat in the Northern Low Plains continued to emerge.  Wheat and oat planting continued in the Cross Timbers and the Edwards Plateau.  Winter wheat responded well to the recent rainfall in South Central Texas.  Cotton bolls were opening in the Edwards Plateau.  Pecan scab increased in North East Texas.  Pecan shuck splitting was active in the Trans-Pecos.  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 adequate to surplus across the state.

Field Crops Report

Small Grains:  Winter wheat planting continued in the High Plains and was in need of more rainfall.  Winter wheat in the Northern Low Plains continued to emerge.  Wheat and oat planting continued in the Cross Timbers and the Edwards Plateau.  Wheat and oats in the Blacklands suffered due to armyworms.  Winter wheat responded well to the recent rainfall in South Central Texas.  Wheat condition was mostly fair to good statewide.  Oat condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Cotton:  Cool temperatures have accelerated cotton maturity in the Northern High Plains.  Rain delayed cotton harvest in the Southern High Plains.  Cotton bolls were opening in the Edwards Plateau.  Cotton condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Corn:  Nearly all early-planted corn has been harvested in the Northern High Plains.  Corn condition was mostly fair to good statewide.

Sorghum:  Sorghum harvest continued in parts of the Northern High Plains.  Milo matured in the Southern High Plains.  Sorghum condition was mostly very poor to fair statewide.

Peanuts:  Producers were digging peanuts in areas of the Plains.  Peanut harvest in South Texas was delayed due to wet conditions, however, harvest resumed by the end of the week.  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 continued in the Southern High Plains.  Sesame and sunflower harvest was delayed due to wet conditions in the Coastal Bend.  Cabbage harvest continued in South Texas.

Pecans:  Pecans progressed well in the Cross Timbers.  Pecan scab increased in North East Texas.  Pecan shuck splitting was active in the Trans-Pecos.

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 were full in most areas of the state; however, more rainfall was needed to return tanks to adequate levels in the southern part of the state.  Some hay was still being baled in localized areas of the state.  Army worms and feral hogs continued to cause damage to hay meadows and pastures in some areas 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.