July 26, 2005

COLLEGE STATION — The word "hot" is used routinely during Texas summers. But the words "burning hot" are being heard more as wildfires are being reported across the state, Texas Cooperative Extension reports.

"As of Friday, July 22, Texas Forest Service and federal land management agency crews have responded to 766 fires that have burned a combined 56,910 acres," said Mahlon Hammetter of Lufkin, Texas Forest Service fire prevention specialist.

Hammetter believes the actual number of fires could be higher than reported as the figure does not include wildfires controlled by fire departments across the state.

"If an accurate total of volunteer fire department (-fought) fires and acres were included, the statewide fire and acreage totals would undoubtedly be considerably higher," he said.

The increased fire hazard is a result of hot, dry weather and excess vegetation from above-normal rainfall received early this year and during 2004, Hammetter said. Moisture kept vegetation green, growing and damp, which prevented it from catching fire, he explained. However, once the rain stopped, the excess vegetation dried out and became flammable.

"Baked by almost unrelenting summer heat, vegetation quickly became stressed for moisture," he said. "In many areas, grasses and weeds became cured and fire-prone."

Wildfires can occur almost anywhere, from dried-out pasture land to Texas forests, although dry grasses ignite most easily, he said.

The increase in wildfire activity started during April and May when the state entered a weather pattern more typical to mid-to-late summer conditions - hot and dry with only isolated "spotty" showers, he said.

Although this year's wildfire activity has proven higher than last year's, Hammetter said the number of fires is less than in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Texans have a chance to keep those numbers lower by preventing wildfires from occurring. "Most wildfires are caused by people and their actions," he said.

Safety and a watchful eye are needed to keep fire numbers manageable, Hammetter said. Texans can help by obeying burn bans, practicing good outdoor fire safety and by watching out for equipment-caused fires.

"Most (wildfires) are preventable if everyone will do their part to keep fire safety as a top priority," he said.

The following livestock, crop and weather conditions were reported by Extension districts:

PANHANDLE: Soil moisture is short to adequate. Weather was hot and dry. Temperatures were above average and no rain was reported. Corn was rated fair to good; irrigation was heavy. Corn borers were active. Western bean cutworm infestations were reported. Bank's grass mite infestations increased. Cotton was rated fair to good. Dryland cotton was wilting under the hot, dry conditions. Sorghum was rated fair to good. Some fields began to head. No pest problems were reported. Peanuts were rated fair to good. Dryland peanuts were wilting. Soybeans were rated fair to good with no major pest problems reported. Rangelands were rated fair to good. Grasses were very dry. Cattle were in good condition. Horn fly problems continued to be reported.

SOUTH PLAINS: Soil moisture is short. Hot windy days and no moisture were reported. Excellent growing conditions for cotton and good pollination conditions for corn are reported. Rainfall is needed to recharge depleted soil moisture at this critical growth stage for many crops. Irrigation is the main farm activity. Land preparation for wheat planting is under way. Irrigated corn, cotton, sorghum, peanuts and specialty crops are progressing well. Light insect pressure has been reported in most crops. Cattle conditions are good.

ROLLING PLAINS: Soil moisture is short. Blistering heat waves were reported. Dirt tanks went dry. Producers began to haul water and run irrigation wells. Dry conditions stressed rangelands and pastures. Prescribed burns should begin soon. Cows increased body condition after pulling off and shipping calves; weaned calves averaged around 700 pounds. Horse breeding neared completion. Wheat ground was plowed for weed control. Alfalfa was baled and sold. Cotton needed moisture.

NORTH: Soil moisture was very short to adequate. Corn and cotton were rated very poor to good. Peanuts were in poor to fair condition. Rice was rated fair and 15 percent headed. Sorghum was rated poor to excellent. Soybeans, pastures and rangelands were in very poor to good condition. Pastures and hay meadows improved. Livestock were in good condition.

EAST TEXAS: Soil moisture is short. Much needed rain fell in many areas of the district. Pastures have greened up and many producers are cutting hay. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Producers weaned calves. Cotton looked good; aphid populations declined due to beneficial insects. Some spider mites and armyworms were reported. Watermelons neared harvest.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture is very short to adequate. No moisture was reported. Pastures, rangelands and livestock were rated poor to good. Pastures continued to dry out. Livestock were in good condition; supplemental feeding continued. Alfalfa was cut for the third and fourth times. Fire hazard was high. Cotton was setting bolls and in fair to good condition. Grape harvest began in Pecos County.

WEST CENTRAL: Soil moisture is very short. Hot temperatures and a few scattered showers were reported. Fire danger remains very high. Cotton did well; some producers sprayed for worms. Hay cutting and baling continued; most operations were at a standstill due to dry conditions. All crops showed signs of drought stress. Sorghum harvest was expected to begin soon. Most corn fields were harvested as green silage. Rangelands and pastures burned up from heat and lack of moisture. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Cattle prices dropped. Pecan orchard irrigation continued.

CENTRAL: Soil moisture is short. Dry conditions continued. Cattle were in good condition. Some producers fed hay to beef cattle. Pecan growers irrigated continually. Corn and sorghum silage yields were below average. Aphids and boll weevil pressure was reported.

SOUTHEAST: Soil moisture is short to adequate. Moderate temperatures and up to six inches of rain were reported due to Hurricane Emily. Armyworms were reported. Pastures and peanuts benefited from rain. Corn was in late dent to mature stages. Harvest was predicted to begin soon. Milo needed another several weeks before harvest could begin. Pecans benefited from summer rain. Some early planted rice was ready for dry-down; rains kept fields saturated.

SOUTHWEST: Soil moisture is very short. Drought conditions became critical. Cooler temperatures helped restore conditions. Pastures, rangelands and yard grasses entered mid-summer dormancy. Forage availability was below normal. Corn, sorghum, cantaloupe, watermelon and pickling cucumber harvest continued. Peanuts and cotton made good progress under heavy irrigation. Crops on dryland fields were under heavy stress. Pecans set a huge crop last spring, but experienced a large pecan drop.

COASTAL BEND: Soil moisture is short. Scattered showers were reported. Harvest slowed due to rain. Rangelands, pastures, soybeans and cotton benefited from rain. Wildlife managers evaluated population numbers and developed marketing plans. Cattle were in fair to good condition.

SOUTH: Soil moisture is short. Hurricane Emily brought up to eight inches of rain to the area. No hurricane-force winds were reported. Much cotton will be lost due to the storm. Cotton that was ready for harvest was most damaged. Lint was knocked from the plant by wind and rain. Some ready-for-harvest corn was also blown down. Sugarcane received wind damage, but benefited from the rain. Overall damage was minimal.