From: Heath Lusty [mailto:rhlusty@ag.tamu.edu] 
Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 3:11 AM
To: Heath Lusty
Subject: Texas crop, weather

Texas crop, weather
Extremely wet conditions cause hardship for some
February 09, 2010

Writer(s):
Robert Burns, 903-834-6191,rd-burns@tamu.edu 
COLLEGE STATION - - When it comes to moisture, from one side of the
state to the other, it ranged from extremely wet to extremely dry,
according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service (
http://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/ ) expert.

But in Texas, weather extremes are the norm, said Dr. Andy Vestal,
director of AgriLife Extension's Homeland Security and Emergency
Management program. "The weather is dynamic, as it usually is in
Texas," Vestal said. "It goes from one side to the next."

Vestal noted that in the most southern parts of the state there were
red-flag alerts for wildfire danger, while in Lubbock it was the seventh
wettest January since official record keeping was started in 1911.
"If you start in South and Southeast Texas, we are very, very
saturated," Vestal said. "And that saturation continues pretty
significantly throughout East and Central Texas and on up through West
Texas and the Panhandle."

"The rain started back last night and continues today," said Rick
Maxwell, AgriLife Extension agent for Collin County (
http://collin-tx.tamu.edu/ ), east of McKinney. "Small grains and
winter annual pastures are not growing much at all with all of the rain.
With all the wet weather this winter, producers have not been able to
turn in and graze winter pastures, therefore they have had to feed more
hay than usual."

"Two to 4 inches of rain were received throughout the week,"said Rick
Hirsch, AgriLife Extension agent for Henderson County (
http://henderson-tx.tamu.edu/ ), east of Tyler. "All farming and
ranching activities were drastically hampered by soggy and muddy
conditions. Hay supplies were fair for most producers, but producers
with short hay supplies were having difficulty finding hay for sale."

What's too wet for some spells good news for others. For example, in
Bexar County ( http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/ ), which includes San Antonio,
the continued rain is causing wheat and oats to thrive, said Jerry
Warren, AgriLife Extension agent. "We are in very good shape for
moisture going into spring," Warren said. "Wheat and oats are doing
well. Some warm days should provide some good growth on winter crops."


The following summaries were compiled by AgriLife Extension district
reporters:

CENTRAL:  ( http://stephenville.tamu.edu/~TAEX/ )Temperatures were in
the 40s and 50s. Soils were saturated by recent rains, keeping farmers
out of the fields. Producers continued to provide supplemental feed to
livestock.

COASTAL BEND:  ( http://agfacts.tamu.edu/ )The weather was cool and
damp. Moisture was good for forage growth in rangeland, but winter
grasses and row-crop fields needed sunshine and warmer temperatures.
Producers were more than three weeks behind in planting row crops due to
the wet conditions. Some herbicides were aerially applied. Livestock
producers continued to provide cattle with supplemental protein and
forages.

EAST:  ( http://overton.tamu.edu/ )As much as 4 inches of rain fell in
parts of the region. Pastures and fields were soggy, making fieldwork
difficult. Creeks and river bottoms were flooding, forcing feral hogs
out of those areas and increasing their damage in pastures and other
areas. Livestock were in fair to good condition with producers providing
supplemental feed. Despite shortages, producers were still feeding hay
to cattle, on which the cold, wet weather began to take a toll. Winter
forage growth was limited due to the weather.

FAR WEST:  ( http://ftstockton.tamu.edu/ )Scattered rain fell across
the district with accumulations from 0.5 inch - 1.5 inches. Farmers
could not get into fields due to the wet conditions. Ranchers were
thankful for the rain and looking forward to a good spring recovery of
rangeland grasses. Some cool-season grasses were emerging. The last of
the pecan harvest was on hold, with losses to embryo rot where nuts were
on the ground. Alfalfa remained dormant. Fall-planted onions came out of
dormancy and were at the three-leaf stage. Growers were irrigating
spring-planted wheat, but there were no signs of germination yet.

NORTH:  ( http://dallas.tamu.edu/ )Weather was cold, wet and miserable
for livestock and producers. The soggy, muddy conditions were getting
worse, making it extremely difficult for cattle feeding and other
activities. Livestock producers were having trouble getting hay out due
to mud, and hay supplies were running low. The cattle were in fair to
good condition, and producers were forced to feed more supplemental
protein and forages due to the wet and cold conditions. Winter pastures
were too wet to be grazed, which further increased the demands for
supplemental feed. Unless there is drier weather, corn planting will be
delayed. Small grains and winter annual pastures were not growing much
at all with all of the rain. Winter wheat ranged from poor to good
condition. Pecans were 100 percent harvested. Most pastures will need
significant repair work this spring and summer to fix ruts in the
feeding areas. The Van Zandt County area reported that this was the
wettest it has been in 18 years, and producers there were still cleaning
up from tornado damage in late January. Rangeland and pasture conditions
ranged from very poor to good.

PANHANDLE:  ( http://amarillo.tamu.edu/ )Rain and snow brought
much-needed moisture. Soil conditions improved and should continue to do
so as the snow melts. Spring planting preparations halted because of the
wet conditions. The moisture will be good for spring planting and wheat
when it comes out of dormancy. Because most fields were snow covered and
not grazable, producers had to supplement cattle with hay. Cattle death
lossesfrom the winter storm were low.

ROLLING PLAINS:  ( http://vernon.tamu.edu/ )The district received
much-needed moisture in the form of ice and snow. Several counties were
without electricity following an ice storm. Thanks to the moisture,
wheat and oat stands were looking great, but the region could use some
warm, sunny weather to dry fields out and make applying fertilizer
possible. Only a few scattered acres of cotton had not been harvested.
Livestock were in fair condition with producers providing some
supplemental feed. Stock water tanks were nearly full.

SOUTH:  ( http://southtexas.tamu.edu/ )Nearly the entire region had
adequate soil moisture levels. One county reported surplus soil
moisture. Cool temperatures and from 3 inches to 5 inches of rain fell
in the northern part of the region. The rain improved rangeland and
pasture conditions but put a halt to field work in both the northern and
eastern areas. Wheat and oats in the western part of the region
benefited from rains, but harvesting of both market and processing
spinach came to a standstill. Crops, particularly onions, were in fair
condition in the southern part of the region. Rangeland and pastures had
not yet fully recovered from multiple freezes during December and
January, but showed some improvement thanks to rains. Body scores of
cattle have declined some due to cold, muddy range and pasture
conditions. That ranchers had difficulty supplemental feeding cattle
because of wet conditions was also a factor.

SOUTH PLAINS:  ( http://lubbock.tamu.edu/ )The region received more
moisture in the form of rain and snow. Soil moisture was adequate.
Fieldwork was still on hold due to wet conditions. Wheat was in fair to
good condition and continuing to mature. Pastures and rangeland were in
fair to good condition. Cattle were in fair to good condition, with beef
producers continuing to supply supplemental feed.

SOUTHEAST:  ( http://bryan.tamu.edu/ )Light rain and cool, overcast
conditions prevented any plant growth. Pastures were so wet that it was
difficult for cattle producers to get into the fields to feed. The wet
conditions also delayed hay deliveries. Supplemental feeding continued
at a steady high rate where conditions allowed. Livestock were stressed
by the weather but still in good condition.

WEST CENTRAL:  ( http://sanangelo.tamu.edu/ )Cold, cloudy and rainy
conditions were the rule. Soil moisture levels were good, but all
fieldwork came to a halt because of the wet conditions. Rangeland and
pastures were in good condition, and cool-season grasses were growing.
Stock water tanks were filling from rain runoff. Livestock were in fair
to good condition as producers continued supplemental feeding.


Heath Lusty
Jack County Extension Agent
Agriculture & Natural Resources
940-567-2132 office
817-584-6628 cell