May 10, 2006

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COLLEGE STATION – Cooler temperatures brought relief to West Central Texas last week.

Scott Durham, district Extension administrator in San Angelo, said significant rain fell in many counties.

"Slight hail damage to small grains occurred in some areas," he said. "The hail just added another layer of problems to a wheat crop that has been plagued with hardship all season. What's left is starting to mature and producers hope to salvage what they can.

"On a brighter note, range and pastures are improving rapidly where it did rain and spring green-up is in full swing,"he said.

District Extension officials reported the following:

PANHANDLE: Temperatures were above average the first half of the week and below average the second half. Light showers over several days brought moisture to the area. Rain varied from 0.1 to 1.5 inches with the heaviest rainfall in the Southeast. Land preparation continues for summer crops. Soil moisture is rated short to very short. Corn planting is about 80 percent complete. Stands are fair to good. No pest problems have been reported. Cotton is about 10 percent planted. Planting should rapidly increase over the next few weeks. Sunflowers, peanuts and soybeans are being planted. Winter wheat is about 70 percent headed and is rated poor to very poor. Wheat streak mosaic virus and High Plains virus are being diagnosed in many irrigated fields. Range conditions are poor to very poor. Fire danger is high. Cattle condition is rated fair to good.

SOUTH PLAINS: Temperatures were cooler than normal this week and more rain fell. Amounts ranged from 0.25 to 2.50. High winds and hail hit the southern counties damaging crops. Soil moisture is short to adequate. Corn planting continues, and cotton planting began. Peanut planting continues. Wheat is in poor condition and much of the wheat is being cut for hay. Pastures and ranges are in poor to fair condition, but should improve with the rains. Livestock condition remain fair to good with some supplemental feeding.

ROLLING PLAINS: The region's 24 counties are split down the middle with the western counties receiving between 0.5 to 1.8 inches and the eastern counties getting up to5 inches. Isolated evening showers have helped relieve some of the moisture stress in the west. The rain will help pastures and the milo, haygrazer, and cotton. Most stocker cattle have run out of grazing and are being shipped out in higher than normal numbers. More than 5 inches of rain on the eastern counties filled stock tanks and added soil moisture. Warm season permanent pastures are starting to grow. Livestock are in fair to excellent condition with most still in the fair to good range. The peach crop is benefitting from the recent rains and pecan growers are checking for casebearer eggs, which are about two weeks early this year.

NORTH: Soil moisture ranges from short to adequate. Corn is planted and sprouted. Most crops are doing well with the recent rains. Rainfall varied from 1.6 inches to 6 inches. Some houses and barns were damaged by high winds. Livestock are in fair to good condition. Insect populations are increasing. Land preparation continues for sweet potato planting.

EAST: Soil moisture is improving in most areas, with 3 inches of rain reported in some areas. However, most areas are still below normal. Warmer temperatures and sun provided good growing conditions for all agricultural crops. Cattle are in good condition; hornflies continue to be a problem. Prices are starting to fall on all classes with the exception of quality replacement cattle. Drought is thinning some pasture grass stands. Producers are sprigging grasses and fertilizing hay meadows and pastures. Many producers are cutting back on the amount of fertilizer they are applying because of high costs. Truck farmers are harvesting onions and potatoes, and planting peas, melons and other crops.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture ranges from very short to adequate and ranges and pastures are in very poor to good condition. Cotton is as much as 100 percent planted and as much as 80 percent squared. Winter wheat ranges from very poor to fair and is mostly headed. Oats are in very poor to poor condition and all headed. Widely scattered showers across the district resulted in little or no accumulation. Livestock are being moved and shipped.

WEST CENTRAL: Much cooler temperatures prevailed this week with significant rain falling in many counties. Slight hail damage to small grains occurred in some areas. Some burn bans have been lifted. Wheat continues to fail from lack of rainfall. Producers are salvaging what they can. Small grains are maturing. Planted cotton and other crops are doing well with recent moisture. Hay fields are being sown as fields dry out and fertilizers are being applied. Early planted hay is emerging. Range and pastures are improving rapidly. Spring green-up is in full swing. Summer forages are responding to recent rains. Runoff has helped fill stock tanks. Livestock are in fair to good condition. Supplemental feeding has decreased, but does continue. Pecan orchards are being sprayed for casebearers.

CENTRAL: Report is unavailable.

SOUTHEAST: It was hot, dry and very windy all week. Any showers were light and very scattered. Cotton is up but looks poor due to dry weather. Sorghum has responded well to recent moisture. Corn looks bad. Pastures are poor to fair. Ninety-five percent of the wheat was harvested this week in spite of rains at the end of last week. Forage is still short. Ranchers are producing hay. Grasshoppers have hit some pastures and fields in the county. Flies are a major livestock concern.

SOUTHWEST: Widely scattered rain from turbulent weather, dropped 0.5-1.0 inches of much needed rainfall, but the region remains very dry. This rainfall brings this year's total to 2.2 inches; considerably short of the 8-inch-average for the same period. Strong winds and hail concentrated around Bexar County, causing flooding and knocking down trees and limbs. Damage to agriculture appeared minimal. Drought continues to be the biggest threat to agriculture. Crops continue to make good progress under heavy irrigation. Peanut planting continues. Dryland crops are not making progress. Forage is short. Irrigated wheat and oat harvest should start soon. The cabbage harvest continues but is winding down. The green bean harvest is gaining momentum and some onions are almost ready for harvest.

COASTAL BEND: The upper portion of the reporting area received rains from 0.25 to more than 2 inches. The remainder remains hot and dry as the drought continues. Crop conditions continue to decline. Ranges and pastures continue to decline. Herds are being thinned to alleviate high feed costs.

SOUTH: Report is unavailable.