May 23, 2006

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COLLEGE STATION – With the exception of north central Texas and isolated small areas, most of the state remained dry to very dry most of the week. Spring seemed to have bypassed some areas, with temperatures already reaching 100 F, report Texas Cooperative Extension agents from across the state.

Southwestern Texas is suffering the worst. A large portion of the region has received only 2.4 inches of rain during the last 221 days, with the last economically significant rainfall of about 1 inch on Oct. 13, 2005. This is the driest period on record, according to Extension officials in Uvalde.

"The dry conditions continue to increase ... and add to producer inputs for those who are producing crops under irrigation," said Marcel Valdez, Extension agent Zavala County.

"Same song different week, hot and dry," said Ricke Auckerman, Extension agent in Deaf Smith County.

"The wheat crop is finishing up, with the pivots running hard to keep up with the water demands," Auckerman said. "Irrigation is the key with the above-normal temps and no rainfall in the picture. At this point dryland crops are being planted for insurance purposes only. Until next week, think rain!"

Isaac Cavazos, Extension agent in McMullen County, reported that surface water supplies continued to decline sharply with higher daily temperatures.

"Extreme shortage of forage availability is occurring on ranches that stock conservatively and employ drought strategies," Cavazos said. "It is reported by locals as being as more severe than the drought of the '50s."

"Rains from last week have helped in planting moisture,"said David Hawkins, Extension agent in Briscoe County. "Cotton planting for above the Caprock is almost over and grain sorghum planting is about to start."

"We're doing better but still need more rain," said Kyle Stewart, Extension agent in Armstrong County.

Extension officials reported the following:

PANHANDLE: Temperatures were above average most of the week. Daytime highs of 100 F were recorded throughout the area. No rain was received . Soil moisture is rated very short to adequate with most areas reporting very short. Corn planting is nearly complete. Stands are rated fair to good. Cotton planting made good progress. Stands are rated fair to good. Thrips are reported infesting seedlings. Those planting peanuts, sorghum, sunflower and soybeans continued to make progress. Wheat is mostly headed but rated poor to very poor. Range conditions improved in areas that received rain. Cattle are rated in fair to good condition. Horn flies continue to increase on area cattle.

SOUTH PLAINS: Weather was hot and dry for most of the week with temperatures near 100 F. Thunderstorms on Sunday brought high winds and up to 2 inches of rain. Some pea-sized hail was received, but damage to crops was limited since most cotton has not yet emerged. Soil moisture is short. Corn planting is nearing completion. Cotton, peanut and sorghum planting continues. Except in isolated areas where it is being dry-planted, dryland cotton will be planted if rainfall is received. Wheat continues to be harvested for hay, with some left for grain harvesting. Pastures and ranges are in poor to fair condition. More rain is needed. Cattle conditions are mostly fair to good with supplemental feeding continuing.

ROLLING PLAINS: Hot and dry weather continued during the past two weeks. Temperatures have reached 100 F with mild to gusty winds. Because of the weather, ranges sites that were in 50 percent to 60 percent green-up have declined to 40 percent to 50 percent. Wheat harvest is under way and should be very short. Yields are expected to be well below average. Cotton planting has started, but reports are mixed on moisture. Even though rains came earlier and left a little top soil moisture, conditions are still very dry. Some producers have put in hay grazer, hoping for more rain to keep it from burning up. Others are dry-planting cotton. Some dryland and irrigated alfalfa fields have been cut and baled. Grass will not last long without more rain. Livestock is in generally good condition as stockers continue to be shipped out of the counties. Fly populations are extremely high in most cattle herds where no control measures have been implemented.

NORTH: Most counties in the region still need rain, but some areas have received substantial rain during the last two weeks. Corn condition is fair to excellent with 30 percent silked. Most grain crops have emerged. Soybean and sorghum conditions are fair to good. Wheat condition is very poor to good with harvesting getting under way. About 75 percent of rice has been planted and condition is good. Weeds are increasing. Pastures are doing well, and hay baling is in full swing. Livestock is in good condition, but some supplemental feeding of livestock continues. Weather is hot and dry with no rain in the forecast. Violent weather rolled through Collin County last week with a tornado touching down, destroying several houses and killing three people. Some crops, primarily corn and wheat, were damaged.

EAST: Drier weather caused low soil moisture to become lower. Harvest of ryegrass and coastal grass is under way. Cooler temperatures are slowing growth of warm season grasses. Fertilization of summer grasses continued. Livestock were in good condition. Weaning of fall calves is under way. Demand and prices were stronger than last week on all cattle classes. Vegetable crops look good; green beans, onions and potatoes harvests are beginning. Blackberry and blueberry harvests are also beginning. Some fungus has been reported on melons.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture ranged from very short to adequate, and crops and pastures were in very poor to good condition. Winter wheat was in very poor to poor condition, with as much as 100 percent headed with 50 percent harvested (grain). Cotton is as much as 20 percent planted. Sorghum is as much as 30 percent planted. Oats are in very poor to poor condition, up to 100 percent headed and up to 90 percent harvested. Some producers continue to downsize herds in anticipation of a prolonged drought. Hay prices remain at an all-time high. Feral hogs ravaged pecan orchards and melon plantings in the farming areas.

WEST CENTRAL: Temperatures continued in the upper 90s F all week with no moisture reported. Extremely warm dry temperatures have depleted soil moisture. Producers continued to prepare fields for planting and harvesting wheat. Cotton planting was underway. Moisture conditions are good for planting. Some early hay cutting has begun in coastal fields. Winter wheat has been grazed out. Range and pasture conditions continue to improve since recent rains helped with spring green-up. With rapid new growth following extremely dry conditions, plant toxicity problems are claiming the lives of a few head of livestock. Most livestock remain in fair to good condition. Pecan crop looks light this spring. Spraying for case-bearer continues.

CENTRAL: Soil moisture beginning to run short. Rain is needed very badly. The wheat and oat harvests are well underway with low yields. Milo and corn are tasseling and heading. Stock water supplies are a major concern for many livestock producers. Livestock are in fair to good condition.

SOUTHEAST: No crop diseases reported this week. An uncommon insect was found in Liberty County rice. The insect is undergoing identification. The number of Mexican rice borer moths caught in traps in the county continues to be high for the second week in a row. Livestock are faring well. Pecan nutlets are setting. Melons are setting; sweet corn is setting ears. Grasshoppers are a problem for gardeners. Flies and mosquitoes are a problem for livestock. Grazing conditions have decreased some with rain shortage.

SOUTHWEST: The region remains very dry. Some areas received some rain two weeks ago, but nearly 80 percent of the region -- especially the more southwestern portion -- has only received about 2.2 inches this year. That's only 28 percent of theaverage of about 7.7 inches for the same period. Most pastures and ranges remain brown. Lawn grasses survive only with frequent irrigations. Forage is nearly gone in most areas. Ranchers have thinned herds and are providing heavy supplementation to remaining livestock. Recreation income potential is in jeopardy with low river flows and wildlife under stress. The cabbage harvest is winding down. The green bean, potato and onion harvests are gaining momentum. Very little oats and wheat will be harvested this season. Corn, sorghum, cotton, peanuts, pecans, cantaloupes and watermelons are making good progress under heavy irrigation. Crops under dryland conditions are not making progress.

COASTAL BEND: Some isolated rain fell but was not enough to help the drought situation. Range conditions continue to be very poor. Forage is very limited; livestock continues to be sold.

SOUTH: Soil moisture conditions are short to very short. The continual drought in some areas has had a severe affect on crops and pastures. Corn, cotton and irrigated sorghum made good progress this week, as well as both onion and watermelon harvesting. Previous scattered rain showers may have helped improve some poor pasture conditions but were not as beneficial to most row crops.