July 11, 2007

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COLLEGE STATION – With flood waters receding in most areas of Central Texas, the major chore of cleaning up now begins, according to Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

"Homeowners on rural water systems and wells in flooded areas should contact local health officials or their Extension agent for proper water well testing procedures if they haven't done so already,"said Scott Durham, Extension administrator in San Angelo.

"Any time flooding has occurred, contamination from runoff waters is a real possibility.

"While the recent rains have helped relieve drought conditions on rangelands and fill stock tanks, the cool, wet weather has delayed cotton crop development and limited the harvest of some wheat fields," he said. "Reports in some areas indicate the total loss of some wheat fields due to the wheat sprouting in the head while still on the stalk."

The following condition reports are from Extension officials:

PANHANDLE: The weather was warm with temperatures near 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Cotton is in fair to good condition, but later than normal due to cool weather and late planting. Wheat harvest is almost complete with good to excellent yields reported. The cool, wet conditions have helped corn grow rapidly. Sorghum, peanuts, pumpkins and sunflowers are also in good condition and progressing well. Producers are applying fungicides and herbicides to control weeds. Pastures and ranges are in good to excellent condition, and cattle continue to do well with the improved forage from above-normal rainfall.

ROLLING PLAINS: Last week was the first week in a while that some counties did not receive rain. Cotton acreage covered in water dried out enough for planting. The cotton crop looks good with adequate ground moisture. Wheat harvest is only 85 percent complete in several counties, and the rest is very likely to be abandoned due to storm damage. Some farmers posted yields of 60-plus bushels per acre. Pastures are green, and livestock are thriving. Some ranchers are concerned about the amount of grass underneath the weeds that have flourished with the rain. Flooding continues in the Brazos River and creek bottom lands. Some hay and several miles of fence have been lost.

NORTH: Extraordinary amounts of rainfall have created problems for farmers and ranchers. The water-logged soils are causing crops to suffer. Many fields are under water. Creeks and streams have overflowed their banks. The Red River is expected to stay at or above flood stage throughout July. Winter crops are feared lost due to lodging, sprouting and shattering. No hay is being baled because fields are too wet. Rain has damaged the wheat crop with some areas reporting a 95 percent loss.About 50 percent to 60 percent of the oat crop is expected to be lost; it's too early to forecast losses on sorghum and corn. A heavy infestation of sorghum midge is expected. Overcast skies are limiting sunshine to plants. Cattle conditions are good. Pastures seem to have recovered, but weeds will be a problem once the rain stops.

EAST: Up to 7 inches of rain fell in some areas. The rain is delaying hay harvests and decreasing quality. Turfgrass problems are reported. Cattle remain in good body condition, although reports of hoof rot have been received. Blueberries, blackberries and peaches are being harvested with good yields reported.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture, crops and pastures conditions range from very short to surplus depending on rainfall. A few light scattered showers were reported across the district in amounts from 0.5 to 1.5 inches.

WEST CENTRAL: Heavy rains continued in the eastern counties. The ground is saturated, and some counties have been declared disaster areas. Cotton crops are having some problems with wet conditions, but grain sorghum is doing well. Rain has delayed the wheat harvest, and some loss has been reported. Hay fields look good but are too wet for baling. Insect problems have increased. Range and pastures continue to have good growth due to above-average rainfall and mild temperatures. Producers are repairing fences and searching for lost livestock. The outlook for pecans is good in many areas.

CENTRAL: Rainfall stopped nearly all agricultural operations. Wheat left in the field is declining in quality.

SOUTHEAST: Pastures have great amounts of forage due to the rains, but haying has been hindered. Severe scattered storms have inundated much of the area. Over-grazed pastures from earlier dry conditions are 60 percent to 80 percent infested with weeds. No disease or insect problems were reported. Livestock are doing fine.

SOUTHWEST: Uvalde's year-to-date cumulative rainfall total is about 120 percent of the long-term average. Greater accumulations were received in several areas, especially east of Uvalde, where all rivers have recently flooded. The Nueces River west of Uvalde has not flooded. The excellent moisture conditions and relatively cool weather have helped to green up the region. Forage availability is above average, but evidence of the 24-month severe drought and past overgrazing still lingers west of Uvalde. Corn and sorghum are drying down; harvest should begin in two to three weeks. Cotton is making excellent progress. Spring green beans and cantaloupe harvests are complete, and watermelon harvest continues. Peanut planting has been delayed for weeks by rains, and some erosion has occurred in planted fields. Pecans are making excellent progress with good yields expected in most orchards.

COASTAL BEND: Rains continue to saturate the area. Some harvest equipment is stranded in water-logged fields. Some farmers harvested grain sorghum early to avoid grain head sprouting. Some nutrient leaching in corn was reported. Cotton fields are suffering loss due to lack of pollination during the rainy days with minimal sunlight. Hay production has stopped, and cattle have not been able to be worked or moved due to wet conditions.

SOUTH: Continuous rains have saturated the soil. Almost 6 inches of rain was received this week. Range pastures have benefitted from this rainfall. Corn crop conditions are good with almost all of the crop maturing in the mid-region. Sorghum is also in good condition. Sorghum has headed and is coloring; about 95 percent has matured and 60 percent has been harvested. Cotton conditions are fair to good, and range pastures are very good.