July 7, 2006

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HOUSTON – The National Weather Service has reported between 4 and 6 inches of rain along the Gulf Coast during the past 14 days, with some areas receiving as much as 10 to 14 inches. However, Texas Cooperative Extension agricultural agents in Southeast Texas reported a mix of benefits and concerns from too much rain too late.

Corn crops are late in the growth cycle, and the abundance of recent rain will promote development of fungi and bacteria on developing ears, said Wayne Thompson, Extension agent for agriculture in Harris County.

"This problem is compounded, because during the drought that preceded the rain, producers were combating insect infestations that are common with drought," he said. "The drought also caused poor pollination, so we're seeing corn with poor grain fill."

Thompson said soybeans are suffering similar problems.

"Insect conditions were exceptionally high during the drought, and now the plant pathogens are severe under wet conditions," he said.

In Fort Bend County, Joe Mask, Extension agent for agriculture, said bermudagrass pastures were improving because of the rain in the region.

"Bermudagrass hay quality and production were both low during the drought, and crops tend to produce seed heads prematurely during drought," Mask said. "With recent heavy rains, bermudagrass production will improve."

However, Mask said that the heavy rains during sorghum crop harvest will cause the seed heads to sprout before they are cut, resulting in lower yields.

Though rain has improved conditions in coastal areas of the region, less than 75 miles inland, it has been insufficient to improve drought conditions for livestock producers, said Michael Heimer, Extension agent for agriculture in Montgomery County.

"There are parts of Montgomery County that have received less than one inch of rain," he said. "Less-than-normal rainfall amounts have not supplied enough runoff to supplement livestock watering."

Extension officials reported the following conditions for the week:

PANHANDLE: Temperatures were below average early in the week but returned to normal by the end of the week. Light, isolated showers fell early in the week, but most of the region received no rain. Soil moisture is rated short to very short. Corn is rated fair to good and is beginning to silk and tassel. Irrigation is heavy. Isolated infestations of spider mites continue to be reported. Cotton is squaring and rated poor to good with most areas reported as fair. No major pest problems have been reported. Peanuts are rated fair to good with no pest problems reported. There have been no pest problems reported for sorghum, and crops are rated very poor to good with most areas reporting fair. Soybeans are reported mostly fair with no pest problems. Range conditions are rated mostly poor to very poor. Fire danger is high. Cattle are rated in fair to good condition.

SOUTH PLAINS: Temperatures have moderated this week to below the mid-90s, but dry conditions persist. Soil moisture remains very short to short. Cotton is in fair condition. While rising energy costs for center-pivot pumping continue to increase producers' investment, crops are rated good. Dryland cotton is suffering from drought and heat. Corn is in good to excellent condition, and producers have been irrigating non-stop. Most fields have reached the tassel stage. Peanuts are in fair to good condition. Irrigation continues on peanuts and they are growing well with the heat. Sorghum is in fair to good condition. Irrigated acres are holding on and dryland is in desperate need of rainfall. The pumpkin crop is progressing well and irrigation continues. Pastures and ranges are in very poor to poor condition. Cattle conditions are mostly fair to good, and producers continue supplemental feeding.

ROLLING PLAINS: Although the region recently received scattered showers, high winds and temperatures in the 90s to 100s continue to cause dry conditions and poor crops. Corn fields are burning up from weeks of extremely high temperatures, and any moisture received from the rain is quickly soaked up. No runoff water has been received, and stock water is becoming a bigger issue. Cotton is coming in skimpy stands. Dryland sorghum is burning up, and hay production is cutting back. Hay is hard to find, and producers are selling complete cow herds due to lack of grazing, no water or a combination of both. Fire ants have started to produce mounds. The range and pastures are turning brown, increasing wildfire danger.

NORTH: Soil moisture ranges from short to very short. Corn is rated poor to fair condition and is 100 percent silked. Soybeans are rated from poor to fair. Cotton, which is squaring and setting bolls, is mostly rated in fair condition. Sorghum condition is fair and is headed and mature. Winter wheat and oats have been harvested. The range and pastures are in very poor condition.

EAST: Report not available.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture ranges from very short to adequate, and crops and pastures are in very poor to good condition. Cotton ranges from very poor to good condition with 15 percent to 80 percent squaring. Winter wheat is almost 100 percent harvested. There were scattered showers across the region, but no significant amount of rainfall.

WEST CENTRAL: Although temperatures were lower this week with highs in the mid to upper 90s and cooler nights, hot and dry conditions continue. A few scattered showers were reported throughout the region, however range fires continue to be a concern. Dry conditions continue to cause distress to many crops. Cotton and sorghum crops are starting to show signs of moisture stress, and some cotton producers are replanting due to poor stands. Some sorghum and improved hay fields have been baled, but the number of bales is less than normal. Concerns over nitrate and prussic acid toxicity have been noted. Hay supplies are scarce and summer forages are short due to drought conditions. Range and pastures are burning up and continue to decline. Supplemental feeding and culling livestock continues. Calves are being weaned early and sold to alleviate the grazing demand. Pecan crops are marginal this year, and some producers are providing only maintenance irrigation and considering their crop a loss.

CENTRAL: The drought continues. Pecan crops continue to shrink as pecans are dropped. Peach production is lower than normal. Portions of some counties have grasshopper infestations. Corn and soybeans are being harvested for hay or silage.

SOUTHEAST: Rainfall across the district has been very beneficial to pastures, hay fields and cotton. The rainfall will help to produce new grass growth in drought stricken areas, which will help livestock producers needing forage and hay. The rainfall should also help to increase boll size and set on cotton. Corn and grain sorghum crops are have already begun to mature, so the late rainfall will not benefit crops in the region.

SOUTHWEST: Close to 1 inch of much needed rain fell, with heavy concentrations of almost eleven inches in the Gonzales County received since July 1. However, areas remain that have a year-to-date cumulative rainfall at less than 30 percent of the average for the first half of the year. Forage availability in more than 50 percent of the region is almost completely depleted. Cotton and peanuts are making good progress under heavy irrigation. The corn and sorghum harvest will begin soon. Corn, cotton and sorghum production under dryland conditions will be down 70 percent to 80 percent. The watermelon and cantaloupe harvest continues. The onion and green bean harvest is almost complete. Pecan orchards are showing drought stress and are starting to drop pecans.

COASTAL BEND: Mostly hot and dry conditions continue with some rain in the northern portion of the region. Some grain sorghum is being harvested with varied yields depending on location and rainfall or irrigation. Late-planted soybeans need rain, and the remaining cotton is very moisture stressed. Livestock continue to be fed supplements. Some producers are grazing out hay patches because production does not justify baling. Areas receiving rain have reported improved pasture conditions.

SOUTH: The region continues to be dry. Scattered showers during the weekend provided some moisture to isolated areas, so many crops are still being irrigated. Cotton is in good condition and has been developing rapidly. Some cotton bolls have begun to open. Early defoliation will begin next week. There is a boll weevil problem. Harvest of sorghum and corn has been delayed by light and spotty showers. Grain sorghum is in poor condition. Rangeland has improved slightly as a result of scattered showers in recent weeks, and some producers continue to bale improved pastures.