Jan. 23, 2007

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COLLEGE STATION – El Niño continues to feed moisture across most of the state in the form of snow and freezing rain, according to Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

The moisture is providing a necessary boost for wheat crops, filling the soil moisture profile for spring crops and replenishing water in many ponds, Extension experts report. However, too much water in some areas is hindering some winter pasture grazing and the snow and ice have caused many cattle producers to have to put out extra hay and supplemental feed.

Several areas report concerns with dwindling hay supplies.

The following conditions were reported by Extension districts this week:

PANHANDLE: Temperatures were below average all week. Single digit and below zero temperatures were recorded over several days early in the week. Heavy snow occurred over the weekend, with amounts ranging from 5-12 inches. Field activities are on hold until snow melts and drier conditions prevail. Soil moisture is rated mostly adequate to surplus. A few cotton fields remain to be harvested, but recent moisture has caused harvest delays and reduced quality. Wheat is rated mostly fair to good. Recent moisture is beneficial for the crop. Range conditions are rated from very poor to good. Cattle are in fair to good condition. Cold temperatures and snow are causing considerable stress. Supplemental feeding continues.

SOUTH PLAINS: Soil moisture is adequate. A strong storm late in the week brought frigid temperatures and freezing rain and sleet. Snow fell over the weekend, dropping 2 to 8 inches, and halted field operations. Livestock producers threw out extra hay as they braced for the winter storm. Wheat is in fair to good condition. Wheat fields have responded well to the recent moisture and rapid growth is expected with sunny weather. Pastures and ranges are in poor to fair condition. Supplemental feeding of cattle is taking place with cold temperatures this week. Cattle are mostly in good condition.

ROLLING PLAINS: Cold weather and moisture (rain, sleet and snow) combined to give the Rolling Plains a taste of winter. The cold blast accelerated supplemental feeding and brought new concerns regarding hay supplies for the remainder of winter. Moisture concerns have been put on the back burner for the time being as El Niño continues to produce adequate rainfall/sleet replenishing soil moisture supplies and stock water. With some high winds and low temperatures, ranchers have been supplementally feeding livestock and breaking ice. Some cotton needs harvesting. The winter wheat crop looks good, and if the moisture continues, some producers may have a great crop. Livestock on wheat appear to be doing well.

NORTH: The soil moisture profile has improved greatly, ranging from adequate to surplus. Over the past several days, temperature have hovered around freezing, and accumulations of freezing rain, sleet and snow have been from 4-11 inches. The cold temperatures and precipitation have made it hard for all livestock, and they are starting to show signs or stress. Fields have become soggy, and supplemental hay feeding has been high. Pools are filling, and conditions are improving for farms and ranches. Lakes and ponds have caught significant runoff, but about one-third of the ponds still need water. Conditions are too wet to top dress wheat. Condition of winter ranges from fair to good condition at this time. Cotton is all harvested and pecans are nearly all harvested. The range and pasture conditions are mostly in fair condition with only a few reporting in the poor category.

EAST: Across the region, the story was cold weather and rain, which has been good for soil moisture and pond water. Several counties reported difficulty getting around in pastures and conditions too wet for winter grazing. Conditions were stressful for livestock, with cattle consuming a lot of hay and supplemental feed.. Hay supplies are getting short. Calving continues. Some livestock auctions barns did not sell this week due to weather. Rainfall ranged from 5-9 inches in Shelby County to 12-14 inches in Marion County, moving much of the region to above normal moisture for January. Runoff and flooding was a problem in some areas. The moisture was needed to keep winter pastures growing, and many hope these rains will help produce adequate forage and hay for cattle to graze this summer.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture ranges from very short to adequate, and crops, including winter wheat and pastures, are in very poor to good condition. Oats are in fair to good condition. This past week brought wintry weather with plenty of snow, sleet, rain and freezing rain across the district. The temperatures were much cooler with highs ranging from 20-40 degrees F.. Snow accumulations totaled 4-6 inches, with as much as 8 inches in the higher elevations. Producers are supplemental feeding even more now, due to the weather conditions.

WEST CENTRAL: Cold weather set in for most of the week. Temperatures stayed below freezing for five consecutive days. Winter ice and snow storms hit most areas bringing all agricultural activity to a stop. Soil moisture is increasing with the ice and snow received. Most crops will benefit from the moisture when the weather warms up. Livestock are in fair condition. Supplemental feeding continues. Stock tanks continue to decline.

CENTRAL: Soil moisture ranges from short to adequate across the district. The snow, rain and ice have made livestock feeding difficult, but the added moisture was great. Small grains and pastures are showing some growth. Producers have a much brighter perspective for planting corn and grain sorghum with good soil moisture and strong markets.

SOUTHEAST: More rain fell this week. Cold weather moved in, and the high temperatures stayed all week in the low 40s, with lows down to 33 degrees F.. Three weeks of rain have left pasture conditions weak due to standing water. Hay feeding is heavy and the supply is low. Winter pastures are fair, but warm weather and sunlight are needed to encourage grass growth. Overall, the ground is saturated. Excess rain has delayed spring crop preparations. Livestock are faring well. Rains have waterlogged soils, and there is little growth of winter pastures. No disease or insect damage has been reported.

SOUTHWEST: The region received the first significant rainfall since mid-October, recording more than an inch this week. While the cumulative rainfall total of one and three-quarters inches this month is above the long-term average for January, the soil profile remains very dry. The recent rainfall will make spring planting and spring grass production possible, but crops and range-forage production will not be sustained unless additional rainfall is received. The potential impact of last week's hard freeze with temperatures down to the high 20s F remains undetermined, but major damage is not expected. Ice and wet fields delayed harvest. The harvesting of spinach and cabbage should resume soon.

COASTAL BEND: Report not available.

SOUTH: Winter cold conditions with a light drizzle throughout the region delayed spinach and cabbage harvesting all week. Spinach and cabbage producers have not reported their crops to be adversely affected by the arctic freeze that occurred midweek. There was some wind damage in some areas, but little freeze damage. Harvesting of citrus, sugarcane and other winter vegetables continued throughout the week. Wet conditions have stimulated cool-season forage and vegetation production. Also, in response to wet conditions, range and pastures are expected to improve slightly. Some livestock producers have continued supplemental feeding.