April 18, 2006

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COLLEGE STATION – In a word, "windy" described conditions across Texas farms and ranches through the weekend, and gusts whipped the moisture out of many fields awaiting seed, Texas Cooperative Extension officials noted.

Even the eastern and northern areas of the state where ample rains fell in March now have been strapped by unusually hot, dry weather, zapping reserves and taking a toll on crops, according to Extension agents in those areas.

District Extension administrator Bob Robinson of Amarillo said very windy conditions there caused soil erosion and high wildfire danger. Similar conditions were noted by Extension administrator Jett Majors of Lubbock, where peak gusts reached 52 mph over the weekend.

"Soil conditions have dried again because no rain has fallen in two weeks," said Tony Douglas, Extension district administrator in Dallas.

Similarly, "area conditions are becoming seriously dry again after some heavy March rains," said Ron Woolley, Extension district administrator in Stephenville.

Even in places where crop irrigation is possible, water levels are being monitored to avoid overuseage, and high energy prices are preventing farmers from relying too heavily on pumping the water.

"Corn and cotton are making good progress under heavy irrigation, but some irrigation out of the Nueces River has been cut off," said Jose Pena, Extension agricultural economist in Uvalde.

District Extension officials reported the following:

PANHANDLE: Dry, windy and warm sum up the weather. Temperatures were 20 F above average. Land preparation and prewatering for spring planting were active. Soil moisture is short to very short. Corn planting made progress, and stands were fair. Wheat was mostly very poor to fair. Irrigation was active. The Russian wheat aphid population increased in some fields. Range conditions were mostly poor to very poor. Cattle condition was fair to good and supplemental feeding active.

SOUTH PLAINS: Temperatures were 10-15 F above normal, and winds gusted to 30 mph daily. Soil moisture was very short to short. Rows were bedded up in most fields and producers were pre-irrigating. Wheat is in very-poor-to-poor condition. Pastures and ranges were poor to very poor. Cattle conditions remained mostly fair to good with supplemental feeding.

ROLLING PLAINS: Continued hot wind and record high temperatures causing the evaporation what little moisture was left in the ground. As a result, wheat crops did not produce heads and the livestock carrying capacity in pastures decreased. Pastures are slowly starting to green up. Producers are starting to ease up on supplemental feeding somewhat. Many cattle are being sold due to the lack of grass and forage. Cotton fields are being prepared for planting, and moisture levels indicate a late stand at best on dryland fields. Wheat is being grazed out rather than put back into grain.

NORTH: Corn planting was completed, and grain sorghum and soybean planting continued. Wheat condition was poor to excellent with 10 percent to 100 percent headed. Pasture and winter crops were fair to good. Winter pastures provided some much needed grazing for livestock, which was in good condition and improving. Sweet potato growers prepared fields.

EAST: No rainfall and higher daytime temperatures caused soil to dry out. Grazing of winter pastures continued. Warm season pastures were fertilized and greening but at a slower-than-normal pace. Some producers made a first hay cutting. Horn fly numbers increased. Crop situations were still good, and cotton planting got under way. Watermelons made good growth with warm temperatures.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture ranged from very short to adequate. Pastures ranged from very poor to good, and winter wheat was very poor to fair. Cotton was 10 percent to 20 percent planted. Oats and sorghum range from very poor to fair. Very widely scattered thunderstorms left no measurable rainfall.

WEST CENTRAL: Unseasonable conditions dominated with hot days and mild nights. Burn bans were issued in some areas. Field preparations for planting continued. Most farmers were waiting for rainfall to continue field activity. Small grain crops continued to suffer. Some wheat and oats were improving but at an extremely slow pace. Corn and sorghum under pivot irrigation were emerging. Rangeland and pastures greened up from recent rains. Livestock were in poor-to-fair condition. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued. Stock ponds dried in most areas. Pecan trees were leafing out, and the first round of zinc was applied. Irrigation continues in area orchards.

CENTRAL: High winds are drying out topsoil moisture. Hay production continues to suffer. Sorghum and cotton planting continued. Spring cattle-breeding season was in full swing.

SOUTHEAST: Crops suffered from lack of moisture. Corn came out of the March 25 freeze with little damage. Lack of rain is taking a toll. Livestock are doing well in spite of the dry conditions. Pecans were leafing, and the peach crop looked good.

SOUTHWEST: The region remained very dry with less than 1.5 inches of total rainfall since mid October. Pastures and ranges are stressed. Forage is almost totally gone. Unseasonably hot weather, with afternoons at near record highs around 97 F aggravated the dry spell. The Edwards Aquifer water level remained just below the monthly average, but use of well water for irrigation is down due to very high energy costs.

COASTAL BEND: Drought with hot, dry weather continued. The lack of rain and subsoil moisture continued to be the major issue affecting crops. Sorghum showed signs of drought stress. Cotton was up to a stand in some areas. However, inadequate planting moisture has left most dry planted cotton unemerged. Both row crop and pasture conditions have deteriorated to the point that some farmers will not be planting this year.

SOUTH: Dry conditions continued. Producers continued to irrigate crops such as onions, watermelons, cotton and corn. Dryland sorghum producers have not planted due to the lack of moisture. The existing sorghum crop wilted during the heat of the day indicating that soil moisture is being depleted. Hay sources became more and more scarce, and some cattle were moved or shipped as a result.