Aug. 29, 2007

Audio MP3(1.9 Mb) Audio Script

COLLEGE STATION– Tropical storm Erin brought more rainfall to the San Angelo region with some areas south of the city reporting 9 inches, according to Scott Durham, Texas Cooperative Extension district administrator at San Angelo.

"Area lakes have gained more runoff than has been received in years," Durham said. "Oak Creek north of us is full, and it has been little more than a puddle for years."

Excellent moisture throughout the summer has positioned the area for an excellent fall, he said, and September is traditionally one of its wettest months.

"Good fall rains mean excellent wild flower displays in the spring, so I am going to take a calculated risk and predict that next year's spring flower display will be one of the best ever," Durham said.

PANHANDLE: Temperatures were above average all week. Isolated thunderstorms brought as much as 1 1/4 inches of rain. Land preparation continues for wheat planting. Soil moisture in most areas is short. Corn ranges from fair to excellent with most areas reporting good. Much of the crop is in the dent stage. Cotton is fair with some bollworm moth and larval infestations reported. Peanuts are good with no pest problems. Most of the grain sorghum crop is in good shape, but headworms are showing up in a few fields. The soybean crop is good with no pest problems. Range conditions are declining as a result of hot, dry weather. Fire danger has increased. Cattle are in excellent condition.

SOUTH PLAINS: Rainfall in some areas ranged as high as 3.22 inches. The corn harvest continues with good yields reported. Cotton is in fair to good condition with much of the dryland cotton showing moisture stress. Grain sorghum and peanuts are in good condition. Pumpkins have progressed well, and the harvest should start in mid-September. Watermelons are being harvested with average yields reported. Pastures and ranges are in good condition. Cattle are in good condition with no supplemental feeding reported.

ROLLING PLAINS: Scattered showers helped the cotton crop, but more hot weather is needed for the crop to reach full potential. Some early milo has been harvested with good yields. Pastures continue to make good growth and most livestock are in excellent condition. Fly populations remain high in most areas. Preparation has begun for winter forage planting.

NORTH: Fields are beginning to dry and the heat is beginning to wilt some pastures. Hay operations continue. There is a lot of hay, causing some producers to seek out-of-state markets for their excessive quantities. Corn is about 60 percent harvested with above average yields expected. Grain sorghum is being harvested and some early maturing varieties of soybeans are also being harvested. Both crops are in good to excellent condition. The pastures and hay meadows are holding up fairly well. Native range are in good condition.

EAST: Hot, dry conditions prevail. Hay harvesting continues with excellent yields but with poor to fair quality. Nacogdoches and Upshur counties report armyworms in hayfields. Cattle prices on quality cows are strong. The cotton crop is not doing well due to the high rainfall received this year. Fall gardens are being planted in some areas. Turfgrass disease problems are being reported in Nacogdoches County.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture ranges from very short to adequate, with crops reflecting the wide variation in moisture conditions. Isolated thunderstorms dropped from two-tenths inches up to 4.5 inches of rain in parts of the district. Alfalfa and Sudan grass are being baled. Long green chiles and onions are doing well. Cotton is growing rapidly due to the warm days and nights. Livestock are in good shape and pasture forage is mostly good.

WEST CENTRAL: Hot dry conditions continue in most areas. A few counties received some heavy rainfall and some fields were lost due to standing water. Area lakes are catching a lot of runoff and filling up. Crop conditions are good. Many hay fields are still being cut and baled with good yields. Some fall planting preparations have started. Cotton is doing very well. Grain sorghum harvest is underway with above average yields reported. Range and pastures remain in good condition. Producers are restocking pastures and buying additional female replacements as they head into fall.

CENTRAL: Most counties need rain. Corn and sorghum harvest continues. Pecans are either extremely good or bad. Some branches are sagging or breaking due to the nut load, while in other places pests or weather have greatly reduced yields.

SOUTHEAST: Intermittent rains have slowed hay baling and rice harvesting. Livestock are in good condition. A lot of hay is being produced but the quality is probably not very good.

SOUTHWEST: Tropical storm Erin deposited 5-8 inches of concentrated rain in South Central Texas, but Hurricane Dean only brought minor showers. Erin's rain caused flooding in the San Antonio and Hondo area , causing extensive damage to buildings, bridges, fences and personal property. Damage to agriculture was minimal. Forage availability remains above average. The mild, open weather, which followed Erin, has helped cotton and peanuts make good progress. The corn, sorghum and hay harvest has gained momentum after four to five weeks of delays from wet fields. Fields are ready for fall crops, but some early planted vegetables are having problems surviving hot afternoons with temperatures in the mid-90s.

COASTAL BEND: The area experienced hot weather with a few scattered showers late in the week. Grain sorghum harvest has made excellent progress. Cotton harvest began early last week. Cotton yields are better than first thought. Rice yields are off 10 percent to15 percent from last year due to weather. Pastures are good and hay is being made in large quantities.

SOUTH: Adequate soil moisture continues throughout the region. Weather conditions are mostly mild and humid. There is plenty of soil moisture in most areas while others are completely saturated. Cotton harvest continues as weather permits. Corn and sorghum harvesting is over in the Cameron County area. Fall planting preparations continue in the western parts of the region. Pastures and rangeland are good with plenty of moisture. Livestock are in good to excellent condition.