March 14, 2006

COLLEGE STATION – A broken record is playing for Texas crops and weather, and the forecast doesn't call for a change in the tunes, Texas Cooperative Extension officials said.

"It's the same old song and dance – dry, windy and warm. Some of the eastern counties in the Rolling Plains received some moisture but not enough to change this old record," said Galen Chandler, Extension administrator at Vernon.

Most of the state remains critically dry and in fear over the possibility of fire. The Texas Forest Service, often the lead state agency in battling wildfires, indicated that the second week of March in the past has had some of the most extensive burns. This year was no exception.

Dr. Bob Robinson, Extension administrator in Amarillo, has observed high fire danger for weeks, and his warning played in a big way Sunday when an estimated 800,000 acres in the Panhandle burned.

The fires in five counties north and east of Amarillo were still being battled Tuesday with some 30 percent to 60 percent still burning, according to the Texas Forest Service, which set up a unified command center at the Texas Department of Public Safety office in Amarillo.

Even areas that have received rain are feeling the lingering impact of drought. Though rainfall in much of the region around Dallas has greatly improved crop conditions, the effect of prolonged drought still is felt by the livestock industry, Extension officials noted.

"Hay is still in short supply, and livestock water is still critically short," said Tony Douglas, Extension administrator in Dallas.

The following conditions were reported by Extension districts this week:

PANHANDLE: Temperatures were above average. Isolated light showers of less than a half-inch fell in eastern portions. High winds continue to cause soil erosion and increase the threat of wildfires. Some land preparation for spring planting is in progress. Soil moisture is mostly very short. Wheat is mostly very poor and continues to decline. Rangeland conditions are poor to very poor. Cattle condition is fair to good. Supplemental feeding continues.

SOUTH PLAINS: The weather has been typical - warm and windy. Wheat is in very poor condition. Some wheat fields are being irrigated, and some dryland fields never emerged. Producers are running out of time for land preparation. Tilling the hard, dry ground remains a challenge. Pastures and ranges are in poor to very poor condition. Supplemental feeding of livestock continues.

ROLLING PLAINS: Winter wheat is mostly in extremely poor condition. Cattle are continuing to get supplemental feed. Cotton producers are preparing fields for planting. Native pasture is short and improved pasture doesn't look much better. Baylor County received up to 0.9 inch of rain, but hot, windy conditions rapidly dried the ground. Grazing has begun on 4- to 10-inch-tall winter wheat in Jack County. Dwindling water supplies are a serious concern for some producers. In Parker and Throckmorton counties, wheat pastures have emerged and greened up. Other native pastures are greening up and providing limited grazing. Most cattle raisers are now out or almost out of hay. Most livestock are still in fair to good condition. Peach trees are just starting to bloom.

NORTH: Soil moisture ranges from very short to surplus, and crops and pastures are in very-poor-to-good condition. Corn is as much as 97 percent planted in parts of the region, though in some areas not much has been planted at all. About 10 percent of the area's sorghum has been planted. Much of the wheat looks very good and may produce a better crop than earlier expected. Sweet potatoes growers getting land ready.

EAST: Most of the area received rain. Most rye, clover and cool-season vegetable crops are growing well. Permanent pastures are greening up. Turf producers are beginning to sprig coastal Bermudagrass and getting seed beds ready for seeded Bermuda varieties. Cattle are in very good condition. Spring calving is under way. Cattle producers are still providing hay and supplemental feed. More rain is needed to refill stock ponds.

FAR WEST: All of the area is short to very short of moisture though there are a couple of isolated areas with adequate soil moisture. Pastures, ranges and livestock are in mostly poor to very poor condition. Oats are in poor to fair condition. Almost all of the area's winter wheat is in poor to very poor condition.

WEST CENTRAL: Very warm daytime temperatures with cool nights continued. High winds continue to dry out soil moisture. Scattered showers were reported in a few counties. Warnings for wildfires continue in most areas, and burn bans are still in effect. Winter wheat is doing better in some areas after beneficial rains. Range and pastures are showing some greening after small amounts of rainfall and warmer temperatures. Supplemental feeding continues to increase. Many operations are selling cattle and goats.

CENTRAL: Fruit trees are blooming. Dairy production is outstanding with warm weather. Hay is still in short supply. Most counties received rain, but more is needed. Producers are planting corn and sorghum.

SOUTHEAST: Rainfall has been slight but more frequent. Some areas still need rain. Very little corn and grain sorghum will be planted this year due to the price. Livestock are doing well. Hay is short in supply, but some grass is beginning to green up.

SOUTHWEST: Less than 0.2 inch of much-needed rain was received. The region remains very dry and is entering into a crisis. Unseasonably warm weather and high, dry winds are aggravating the dry spell. Irrigated corn and sorghum planting is under way. Planting under dryland conditions will be risky, unless 3 to 4 inches of slow rain is received soon. Few acres of wheat and oats will be produced this year under dryland conditions. Forage availability is well below average. Ranchers have reduced herds and are providing heavy supplemental nutrition to remaining livestock.

COASTAL BEND: No rainfall and above-normal temperatures with excessive winds continue to dry soil. Drought continues to affect South Texas agricultural enterprises. A few farmers are dry-planting corn, but most producers are awaiting rain. Pastures continue to deteriorate, and beef producers are selling cattle.

SOUTH: Soil moisture is very short. Harvest continues on winter vegetables, citrus, sugarcane, cabbage and spinach. Extreme high winds at 20 to 30 miles per hour dried conditions even more. Farmers are irrigating all crops. The severe drought has many producers waiting to plant crops in hopes of rain. Very little cotton has been planted. Range conditions remain mostly poor.