July 19, 2006

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COLLEGE STATION – Limited rain gave brief respite to a few areas of the state, but most counties remain parched, reported Texas Cooperative Extension faculty and staff.

Persistent drought conditions in most parts of the state have necessitated crop irrigation and, in many areas, have led to renewed wildfire concerns, Extension agents said.

Dryland crops in most regions continue to produce lackluster yields, with many having no yields at all. Corn and cotton crops are doing well in some areas of the state, but normally only under heavy irrigation.

Even the recent rains in parts of the state brought insufficient amounts of moisture to have a positive and lasting effect, said Jose Pena, Extension economist in Uvalde

"For example, we're harvesting corn and sorghum from irrigated fields here in Southwest Texas, but the yields are disappointing," Pena said. "We're at less than 30 percent of the rain we would normally have in the long-term outlook. And the hot, dry weather in past months affected pollination, which has had a negative impact on those yields."

Cotton may have a better chance in the region, he said, but those yields also are expected to be significantly less than before.

"Last year was a good year for cotton," he said. "But the main reason for that was that we had excellent moisture conditions and warm, dry weather during the critical growing times. This year, we have hotter weather and much less moisture. Because of that, there's been a huge increase in the amount of irrigation this year."

Increased energy and irrigation costs will add significantly to the cost of crop production this year, Pena said.

Livestock producers throughout the state also continue to experience generally poor conditions. Lack of rain continues to dry up forages in many areas, while those areas receiving rain have not gotten enough to notably improve pastures and rangeland areas. As a result, supplemental feeding continues in most areas, and many cattle producers are selling off to reduce their herd size, Extension reports said.

"Forage availability in Southwest Texas is almost non-existent," Pena said. "But some ranchers are doing the best they can by deferring pasture use and some are irrigating pastures."

The following conditions were reported this week by Extension officials:

PANHANDLE: Temperatures were near average early in the week before rising to above normal by week's end. Isolated thunderstorms brought some much-needed rain to the area. Rain varied from one-quarter inch to 1-1/2 inches with isolated reports of 2 to 3 inches. Soil moisture is rated short to very short. Corn is 75 percent tasseled and rated mostly fair to good. Irrigation is heavy. Some increase in spider mite infestations have been reported. The second flight of corn borer is underway. Cotton is rated poor to good with most areas reporting fair. The crop is squaring and setting bolls. Infestations of fleahoppers and Lygus bugs are light. Peanuts are rated mostly fair to good. No cotton pest problems were reported at this time. Sorghum is rated mostly fair, but fall armyworms are causing some damage. Soybeans are reported mostly fair with no pest problems, Range conditions continue to improve in those areas that received significant rain. Fire danger remains high in many areas. Cattle are rated in fair to good condition.

SOUTH PLAINS: Scattered showers were reported in some areas, ranging from 0.5 inches to 3 inches. Temperatures were in the triple digits for several days, with hot, dry winds persisting. Crop failures are being certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency, insurance companies, and the Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation. Soil moisture is very short to short. Cotton is in fair to good condition. Irrigated cotton is starting to square heavily and beginning to bloom. Dryland cotton continues to be in very poor condition. Corn is in good to excellent condition, but irrigation is running nonstop to eliminate heat stress. Most corn is in the grain filling stage. Peanuts are in fair to good condition and are progressing well. Irrigated sorghum is in fair to good condition. Pumpkins are progressing well and irrigation continues. Pastures and ranges are in very poor to poor condition. Cattle conditions are mostly fair to good. Supplemental feeding is still required for grazed livestock.

ROLLING PLAINS: Drought conditions continue to plague the region. Water tanks are dry and many natural springs are showing signs of drying up as water tables continue to fall. Hay production is slowed due to lack of rainfall. Cattle are supplemented heavily and being sold as grass runs out in pastures. Cotton crops are dying and many are not coming up at all. Soil moisture is almost gone so rangeland is losing grasses, and insect invaders are starting to come in. Rangeland and pastures are so dry that cracks up to 2 inches wide are forming in places. The grass and trees are dry and wildfires are a real possibility. Producers are taking extreme caution.

NORTH: Scattered light rains have not alleviated severe drought conditions. Crops are in very poor to poor condition. Corn harvest has begun, but yields will be almost non-existent. Some producers are just baling up corn stalks for hay. Nitrate, prussic acid and aflatoxin are big worries. Pastures for livestock are very short and hay prices continue to escalate due to short supply. Stock tanks are very low or dry. Producers are having to cull livestock or sell out, which will have a big economic impact on agricultural businesses. Grasshoppers continue to be a major concern.

EAST: Extremely hot temperatures and lack of rainfall contribute to drought conditions. Pasture and forage conditions are declining due to lack of moisture and heat stress. Grasshoppers have been reported in some areas of Anderson County. Wood County reported a 90 percent decrease in bermudagrass production. Hay harvesting has had very low yields and has nearly ceased. Cattle conditions remain fair to good, but some producers are culling herds to help offset shortages in forages and hay. Livestock are being fed protein and energy supplements. Cotton and watermelon crops are looking good in Anderson County, along with good yields in peas. Tyler County has received rains during the past two weeks, and that has boosted forage production.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture ranges from very short to adequate, and range and pastures are in very poor to good condition. Cotton is in good to fair condition. High daily temperatures are in the triple digits, with widely scattered showers occurring across the district but little or no accumulation. Wildfires are a threat due to lack of rain. Producers continue supplemental feeding and continue to sell off their livestock.

WEST CENTRAL: Weather conditions remain hot and dry. Temperatures were in the upper 90s F to 100s F. Lows have stayed in the mid-70s F. A few counties have reported scattered showers and some relief. Grass fires are causing considerable damage. All crops are showing moisture stress. Wheat and oat harvest has been knocked out by the drought. Irrigated cotton is doing well with much of it approaching bloom. Sorghum and improved grass fields are being baled with below-average yields. Production has decreased by 50 percent. Range and pasture conditions continue to decline. Lack of rainfall has decreased forages and stock tanks are drying up. Hay is in short supply. Producers are culling livestock. Cattle prices are down. The pecan crop is at about 20 percent on improved varieties, and the native pecan crop is non-existent.

CENTRAL: Soil moisture ranges from short to very short. Fire danger is still high in pastures and crop areas. Grasshopper pressure remains high. Hay prices are very high. The pecan crop is almost zero in most places.

SOUTHEAST: No report available.

SOUTHWEST: The region continued to be hot and dry with isolated areas receiving 1 or more inches of rainfall. Year-to-date cumulative rainfall is still less than 30 percent of the long-term average. Except for local areas which received some rain in June and July, forage is still quite limited. Forage and hay producers in areas receiving rainfall, or where irrigation has been applied, are watching for fall armyworm infestations. Cotton and peanuts are continuing to progress with heavy irrigation. Spidermite populations appear to be increasing slightly in cotton crops, but are expected to continue to increase as the hot and dry weather continues. Fall armyworms have been observed in a few peanut fields near Pearsall. The corn and sorghum harvests are under way in most areas. Irrigated sorghum yields are respectable in some cases but disappointing in others. Watermelon and cantaloupe harvests are rapidly approaching completion. Pecan orchards show signs of drought stress and are dropping pecans. Low numbers of pecan scorch mites have been observed in the Quemado area. Yellow pecan aphid numbers are building in a number of orchards, and low levels of black pecan aphids are still around in a few areas.

COASTAL BEND: Hot and mostly dry weather continues. Some locations are having spotty showers, but most areas need rain to fill stock ponds. Grain sorghum harvest is under way. Pastures are improving gradually from previous rains.

SOUTH: Soil moisture was short and dry conditions continued. No measurable rain fell this week. Corn harvest continues. Cotton made good progress due to good growing conditions. Cotton defoliation continues. Onion, watermelon and cantaloupe harvests have been completed. Supplemental feeding continues, with range and pasture conditions improving in areas that received good rains recently.