From: Heath Lusty [mailto:rhlusty@ag.tamu.edu] 
Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 10:16 AM
To: Heath Lusty
Subject: Texas crop, weather

Texas crop, weather
Agronomist: Most Panhandle wheat in fair condition

December 01, 2009

Writer(s):
Robert Burns, 903-834-6191,rd-burns@tamu.edu 
COLLEGE STATION - - With a few notable exceptions, soil moisture levels
in much of the state were adequate or better, thanks to rain and snow.

Soil moisture remained short to very short in the western counties of
South Texas, but most of the region was enjoying improved soil moisture
levels due to October and November rains, according to Texas AgriLife
Extension Service ( http://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/ ) personnel.

As much as 4 inches of snow fell in parts of the Panhandle, but soil
moisture levels remained short in some parts of the region.

While for the most part wheat was progressing well, some counties
reported that their wheat needed more rain.

J.D. Ragland, AgriLife Extension agent in Randall County (
http://randall-tx.tamu.edu/ ), south of Amarillo, said his area's
wheat could use more moisture.

"Some irrigated fields are progressing well, but tremendous input
cost has already occurred," Ragland said. "Additionally many area
wheat fields are stocked with wheat pasture cattle and will remain until
pull-off about March 15."

Wheat "desperately" needs more rain in parts of the Rolling Plains
too, said Bryan Reynolds, AgriLife Extension agent in Lynn County, south
of Lubbock. In Motley County, northeast of Lubbock, the situation
isn't much different, said Ryan Martin, AgriLife Extension agent.

"The weather may be perfect for this year's cotton harvest, but it
hasn't been for pastures and livestock," Martin said. "With the lack
of any moisture over the past couple of months, pastures and wheat
ground are showing the signs. Ranchers are worried that there may not be
enough winter forages to last and supplemental feeding may begin early
this year. Some ranchers turned cattle out on winter wheat early in
hopes of getting some type of return on the crop, but the grazing didn't
last long."
Two counties to the east, the situation was much different, reported
Anthony Munoz, AgriLife Extension agent in Knox County (
http://knox-tx.tamu.edu/ ).

"We had some nice warm days for the Thanksgiving holiday," Munoz
said. "Cattle are being turned out on great stands of winter wheat.
Producers are getting their cotton stalks shredded and plowed up to
prepare for winter wheat planting. Pasture conditions are holding on but
could lose a little forage with the forecasted freezes."

Though it has been dry of late in the Panhandle, the wheat that was
planted early is doing well, said Dr. Brent Bean, AgriLife Extension
agronomist based in Amarillo.

"It kind of depends upon who got the rain and who didn't," Bean
said. "I tend to think that wheat north of I-40 is in reasonably good
shape. We grow a lot of wheat up here, and we'll continue to do so.
It's a good rotational crop for us, especially for those who run some
cattle. This is wheat country."
In many other parts of Texas, wheat made good progress though planting
was delayed due to wet conditions. 

The following summaries were compiled by AgriLife Extension district
reporters: 

CENTRAL:  ( http://stephenville.tamu.edu/~TAEX/ )Weather for the past
week has been mild with cool nights. Though greened-up by November rain,
pasture growth remained slow due to cooler temperatures. Livestock
producers were supplementing cattle with hay and protein. Stock water
tanks were full. 

COASTAL BEND:  ( http://agfacts.tamu.edu/ )The region received light
rains with below-normal temperatures. Soils were saturated, and there
was little field activity. Pond levels remained low in some areas.

EAST:  ( http://overton.tamu.edu/ )As much as 1.5 inches of rain fell
across the region. Producers tried get one more hay cutting between
rains. Winter forages were planted in some areas, and those already
planted showed good growth. Livestock were in fair to good condition
with some supplemental feeding. Feral hog damage continued.

FAR WEST:  ( http://ftstockton.tamu.edu/ )Cotton yields were better
than expected, and grade improved as the harvest neared completion.
Ranchers hoped for more moisture. Pastures were dry and it doesn't look
good going into winter. The dry and windy conditions also raised the
risk of wildfire. Most pecans have shed their nut load, with a few
varieties slower in opening shucks and falling.

NORTH:  ( http://dallas.tamu.edu/ )Soil moisture was adequate to
surplus. The corn, soybeans, sorghum and cotton harvests were nearly
complete or complete. Winter wheat and oat planting also neared
completion. Producers tried to take a last hay cutting. Warm weather and
good moisture improved pastures. Livestock were in fair to good
condition. Some grazing was possible on winter pastures, but most small
grains were late to be planted and may not be ready until early spring.
Cattle producers began feeding hay as most summer grasses were gone.
Rangeland and pastures were in fair to good condition. Some areas
received the first frost of the season. 

PANHANDLE:  ( http://amarillo.tamu.edu/ )Some areas received as much as
4 inches of snow. The entire area had much colder temperatures toward
the end of the reporting period. Soil moisture levels remained short to
adequate. All grain crops were 95 percent to 100 percent harvested with
average to slightly above-average yields. The cotton harvest was
ongoing. Yields were good, but quality remained low. Rangeland was in
fair condition.

ROLLING PLAINS:  ( http://vernon.tamu.edu/ )The cotton harvest
continued, aided by nearly perfect weather. The cotton crop, however,
hasn't been perfect. Only a small portion produced above-average yields.
Some producers considered turning acres in on insurance because it would
cost more to harvest them than they're worth. With the lack of any
moisture over the past couple of months in some counties, pastures and
wheat were stressed. Ranchers worried that winter forages may not last,
and supplemental feeding may begin early this year. Some ranchers turned
cattle out on winter wheat early in hopes of getting some type of return
on the crop, but the grazing didn't last long. Pastures are in the same
condition with winter weeds and ryegrass playing out early. Feed bills
may be high this year and some will be forced to sell off portions of
their herd or calves early. Supplemental feeding was in full swing. The
pecan harvest began early in most orchards.

SOUTH:  ( http://southtexas.tamu.edu/ )Soil moisture was adequate in
most areas, but remained short to very short in the western part of the
region. Mild daytime and cool nighttime temperatures continued. Peanut
harvesting was put on hold in the northern part of the region due to
rain. Some producers were doing field work in preparation for planting
2010 crops. Hay harvesting slowed down considerably. In the western
parts of the region, producers were irrigating spinach, cabbage, onion
and carrots. Growers were harvesting cabbage and spinach. Responding to
cooler temperatures and recent rains, dryland wheat and oats made good
progress. The sugarcane and citrus harvests continued. Producers were
preparing to harvest tomatoes and winter vegetables. Rangeland and
pasture conditions remained mostly fair, and livestock were in good
condition as the availability of good grazing improved. Stock water tank
levels remained limited. Ranchers still had to haul water on almost a
daily basis or resort to poor-quality supplies from wells and
windmills.

SOUTH PLAINS:  ( http://lubbock.tamu.edu/ )Cotton producers had another
week of warm, clear weather and nearly finished the harvest. Soil
moisture was short to adequate. The corn harvest was complete with
above-average yields reported. The sorghum harvest wound down. Winter
wheat continued to mature and needed moisture. Pastures and rangeland
were in poor to fair condition. Livestock were in fair to good condition
with continued supplemental feeding.

SOUTHEAST:  ( http://bryan.tamu.edu/ )Topsoils were saturated and
cooler temperatures prevailed. Harvesting was slowed by rains. The
ratoon rice crop harvest continued. Some soybeans were harvested. Some
pastures improved with the continued rains. Other pastures remained in
poor condition because of earlier overstocking. Farmers prepared for
spring planting. Livestock were all right. Producers had to start
feeding hay earlier than average.

SOUTHWEST:  ( http://uvalde.tamu.edu/ )Nearly a half an inch of rain
fell, bringing the cumulative rainfall during the last three months to
about 160 percent of the long-term average. The rain was expected to
help sustain the improved agricultural situation and will make early
spring planting possible. Cool weather helped conserve moisture. Forage
availability improved. Small grains made excellent progress. The pecan
harvest was almost complete. The cabbage, pickling cucumber, green bean
and peanut harvests continued. 

WEST CENTRAL:  ( http://sanangelo.tamu.edu/ )The weather was fair with
warm-to-cool days and cold nights. The cotton harvest was in full swing.
Small-grain planting was nearly complete. Early planted wheat looked
good. Dry conditions slowed growth, and producers had to spray fields
because of insect problems. Rangeland and pastures were in good
condition. Livestock remained in fair to good condition.


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