Sept. 12, 2006

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COLLEGE STATION – Rainfall was welcomed relief for producers in the South Plains region where up to 8 inches was recorded over a four-day period, Texas Cooperative Extension reported Tuesday.

Although the rain was too late for the current cotton crop, it will help small grains and pastures going into the fall, said Jett Major, district Extension administrator in Lubbock.

The rain also helped the sorghum crop, which has good size and seed amount, he said.

In the Rolling Plains, up to 4 inches of rain fell, with producers reporting stock tanks and ponds catching the runoff, said Galen Chandler, district Extension administrator in Vernon.

"There should be enough moisture to begin some early wheat planting," he said. "Dryland cotton is drought-stricken and won't benefit from the rain, but pastures and Sudan have begun to respond to the moisture. With the recent rains and cooler temperatures, most pastures have greened up some, providing much-needed forage. Livestock are in fair condition."

In East Texas, the outlook is bleak. In Anderson County, the forage crop isn't making any progress due to dry conditions, said Ramona Kellam, district Extension administrator in Overton.

"Many producers are feeding hay and supplement just trying to keep a herd intact," Kellam said. "Water is a concern for some producers with small, older stock ponds. Beavers are stopping the flow of water in many creeks."

Livestock prices continue to be strong on all classes showing quality, Kellam said.

Area reports from Extension follow:

PANHANDLE: Temperatures were below average all week. Most areas received some rain. Rain amounts varied from a trace to 2 inches. Wet fields have slowed harvest and planting. Soil moisture is rated from very short to surplus with most areas adequate. Corn harvest has been slowed by wet conditions. Cotton bolls continue to open, but warmer conditions are needed to mature the crop. Sorghum is mostly headed and turning color. Soybean and sunflower harvests are under way. Peanuts are rated mostly fair to good. Some leaf disease was reported. Wet conditions have slowed wheat planting. Range conditions continue to improve in most areas. Cattle are in good condition, but are being pestered by horn flies and mosquitoes.

SOUTH PLAINS: Rainfall amounts received across the region ranged from 2 inches to 8 inches over a four-day period. Soil moisture is adequate. Cotton has reached cutout and as soon as fields dry out, producers will be applying harvest aid material. Corn has dried out and harvest will resume as soon as fields dry. Peanuts are in fair to good condition. Peanut diseases are prevalent due to high moisture and humidity with cool temperatures. Sorghum has been aided by the rain and is headed out with good head size and seed amount. Winter wheat planting will resume when fields dry out. Pastures and ranges are in fair condition. Livestock are in mostly fair to good condition due to increased forage availability.

ROLLING PLAINS: The region continues to receive rain ranging from 1 inch to 4 inches. Producers are reporting stock tanks and ponds catching water from runoff. Daytime and nighttime temperatures have been cooler than normal. Enough moisture has been received to begin early wheat planting. Dryland cotton is too far gone to benefit from the rain, but pastures and Sudan have begun to respond. With the recent rains and cooler temperatures, most pastures have greened up, providing much-needed forage. Livestock are in fair condition. Fly populations exploded following the Labor Day rains and fire ants have become active.

NORTH: Soil moisture ranges mostly from short to very short. Corn, soybeans and sorghum are 100 percent harvested in most counties. There has been enough moisture to start planting winter annual pastures. Wheat, oats and ryegrass are now being planted. Sweet potato growers are reporting undersized potatoes with below-normal yields. Recent rains and cooler temperatures have helped relieve the immediate effects of the drought. Due to recent rains some forage producers are baling hay, but the quantity and quality are below average. Livestock producers still struggle to find enough hay to make the winter. In some cases hay is being brought in from outside sources. Some livestock, however, are faring well due to the recent rains promoting grass and growth. Range and pasture conditions are still bleak in areas, ranging from poor to very poor. Some counties reported armyworms appearing after the rain. Rainfall has been isolated. Some areas have had slight improvement following rainfall; others remain in severe drought.

EAST: Livestock producers are scrambling, cutting just about anything to make a bale of hay. Others are trying to purchase hay from other sources. Water is a concern for some producers with smaller, older stock ponds.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture ranges from very short to adequate. Hudspeth and Presidio counties are reporting surplus moisture, with the river in Presidio County overflowing its banks. Range and pasture conditions range from very poor to excellent conditions. Cotton conditions range from very poor to excellent. Mild temperatures prevailed all week. Howard County received 3.4 to 7 inches of rain, while Val Verde County received one-half to 2 inches.

WEST CENTRAL: Daytime temperatures were in the 80s F and in the 60s F at night. Most of the counties reported receiving significant rainfall. Soil moisture is improving. There was no field activity due to wet conditions. Small grain fields were being sown as fields dried or were being prepared for planting. Some late hay fields were starting to grow. Rangeland conditions are improving. Bermuda grass fields are rapidly growing and producers will get another cutting before end of growing season. More runoff is needed to fill livestock tanks. Supplemental feeding of livestock continues as well as liquidation of some herds.

SOUTHEAST: Pasture conditions remain bad. Cattle culling continues. Lack of rain has prevented winter pasture planting activities. Every possible forage -- grain stubble, roadside, native pasture -- is being baled for winter feeding. Asian soybean rust is present in all fields in Eastgate and in fields north of Dayton. Livestock were faring well. Some hay fields have been attacked by armyworms, but those have been sprayed. Some producers began preparing for winter pasture and wheat planting.

SOUTHWEST: The region remains dry, but cooler temperatures have arrived. After several livestock liquidations during the last several months, major livestock movement is again underway. There have been movements out of Texas, especially southwest Texas, into Colorado and eastern parts of the U.S. which have forage material. Fall vegetable planting continued with spinach and cabbage fields making good progress now that temperatures have cooled, but heavy irrigation was required. The peanut crop has made good progress under heavy irrigation; harvesting should start in two to three weeks.

COASTAL BEND: The drought continues. As cotton harvest and ginning wound down, field plowing continued and cotton stalks were destroyed. Pastures are very stressed, along with late-planted grain sorghum and soybeans. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued as grazing continued to decline.

SOUTH: Hot and dry weather with very short soil moisture conditions continued throughout the region. Scattered showers and light sprinkles did not do much to ease current drought. Some irrigation producers began pre-plant watering activities for oats and wheat. No activities on vegetable crops were reported. Cotton ginning was very active in some areas and harvesting and stalk destruction was nearing completion. Range and pastures remain very poor to poor. Livestock producers reported additional herd size reductions.