March 1, 2006

COLLEGE STATION – Some was only "fog and drizzle," and none was sufficient to end prolonged drought, but any moisture that fell in the state last week was welcomed by farmers and ranchers, Texas Cooperative Extension officials report.

In almost every part of the state, producers are gearing up by making furrows and, where possible, irrigating land for planting moisture-dependant crop seeds soon, Extension reports indicate.

"Rain amounts were generally less than one tenth of an inch," said Dr. Bob Robinson, Extension administrator in Amarillo. "Some land preparation for spring crops is in progress, though soil moisture is mostly very short. A few fields are being irrigated."

The Lubbock area received no significant moisture from the weekend's passing front, said Jett Majors, Extension administrator there, but "many producers are starting to irrigate to prepare land for summer crops."

In the central part of the state near Stephenville, rain fell in several areas, but burn bans remained in effect because of continued wildfires, said Ron Woolley, Extension administrator.

Still, corn planting is likely to begin in a few days because soil moisture levels have improved, he said.

Where irrigation is not possible, farmers await rainfall to provide enough moisture to plant seeds and be assured healthy sprouting, Extension officials said.

The following conditions were reported by Extension districts this week:

PANHANDLE: Temperatures were highly variable during the week. Both wheat and rangeland conditions are mostly poor to very poor. Fire danger is high. Cattle are in fair to good condition, and supplemental feeding continues.

SOUTH PLAINS: Daytime temperatures continue to be in the upper 60s F to lower 70s F, and nighttime temperatures are in the upper 40s F. Ginning of 2005 cotton is nearly complete. Wheat is in poor condition, as are pastures and ranges, with more rainfall needed. Cattle are in fair condition due to supplemental feeding.

ROLLING PLAINS: A few scattered, light showers were reported but didn't yield enough moisture to measure. Land is being prepared, and some farmers have started to prewater fields. Wheat and oat fields under pivot sprinklers are making slow progress, and cattle are heavily grazing these plots. Hay supplies are at the lowest level in several years, and producers are struggling to find alternative feed sources until spring greening occurs.

NORTH: Soil moisture is very short to surplus, and the amount of rain received across the region is directly related to crop conditions. Wheat ranged from very poor to excellent. Pastures and ranges are very poor to good. Farmers will start planting corn soon if a little more soil moisture is received. Wheat is continuing to grow but looks poor in early stages. Cold temperatures with misting rain were hard on cattle, but overall they remain in fair condition due to supplemental feed. Hay supplies are decreasing. Some sweet potato producers are plowing fields to prepare for a new crop. Enough chilling hours have been received for a peach crop. Some areas had slight freezing.

EAST: The weather has been normal as light rains increased soil moisture. Producers are preparing land for grass planting. Hay supplies are running short. Cattle are being supplemented with feed and thus remain in good condition. Lack of sunshine has increased greenhouse crop diseases caused by the fungi botrytis and powdery mildew. Vegetable growers are preparing land, and onions and potatoes are being planting. Due to freezing temperatures, fruit crops had good gains of chilling hours necessary for crop development.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture was short throughout the region, but a small area has adequate amounts. Pastures, ranges and livestock are in poor to very poor condition, though a few are reported to be in fair to good condition. Oats and winter wheat are in poor to fair condition. Some counties still have burn bans.

WEST CENTRAL: Much cooler temperatures brought scattered showers. Winter wheat and oats are in extremely poor condition. Most fields planted failed to come up or were dug up by wildlife. The small amount of rainfall received will help green up range and pastures. Livestock are in poor condition, and supplemental feeding is increasing. More producers are selling off livestock due to drought and lack of adequate hay supplies.

CENTRAL: Hay supplies are dwindling. Many producers trying to stretch hay until spring pastures can provide maintenance of livestock. Most counties received beneficial rain, but more is needed.

SOUTHEAST: Conditions are very wet. Temperatures have warmed, and more rain is expected. In some areas, kudzu is emerging from winter dormancy and is being watched for soybean rust symptoms. Wheat is doing extremely well. Bermuda is putting on green shoots. The hay supply critically short.

SOUTHWEST: Cold weather, with temperatures dipping into the low 20s F, and drought stress has significantly slowed agricultural production. Young, tender potato and onion plants were hardest hit by the low temperatures. Forage availability is below average. Ranchers have reduced herds and are providing supplemental feed for the cattle they kept. Small grain plantings are down significantly, and fields that were planted are not making much progress.

COASTAL BEND: No measurable precipitation was recorded; drought and fire hazards continue. Some farmers have planted early corn but moisture is still in short supply. Hay supplies have diminished; supplemental feeding continues. Some herds have been reduced.

SOUTH: Soil moisture conditions are very short. Temperatures were cool and humid. A hard freeze in one area caused some damage to spinach that was being cut. Some spinach producers are following the cuttings with heavy irrigation in hopes of additional growth for a second harvest. Sugarcane, citrus and vegetable harvests continue. Onions are developing well under heavy irrigation. Pastures are still very dry, and as a result, ranchers continue to supplement feed cattle or thin herds.