COLLEGE STATION – Rain swept across Texas this weekend, but producers have varying opinions of its benefits, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service reports.
District Extension director Scott Durham of San Angelo said rain is always welcome, but it might be too late for West Central Texas.
"The wheat crop is non-existent," he said. "And what little cotton we have planted hasn't even come up yet."
Durham said ranges and pastures are in bad shape as well.
"They are in poor condition and getting worse," he said. "They are showing no growth and continue to dry up."
Durham added that livestock is just as needy as the crops, if not more so.
"Livestock are still being culled and are on full feed," he said. "The tanks are dry, and calves and lambs are being weaned and sold early."
Durham said they received up to three inches of beneficial rain; it was just not enough to help save the needy crops or help the pastures.
Even when the weather got severe, there was little threat of damage.
"We even had some hail," he said. "But it didn't even have much of an impact since there are virtually no crops to destroy."
Extension agronomist Dr. Travis Miller of College Station said Southeast Texas had very beneficial rains over the weekend.
"This weekend's rain helped us tremendously," he said. "There was some flooding in other parts of the state, but we got the right amount here."
Miller said the weather will help the crops survive the rest of the harvest.
"All of the crops are far enough along that this weekend's rain can put them through the season," he said.
Miller said the only negative effect of this weekend's weather was the slowing of wheat production.
"The wheat harvest stopped because it was too wet," he said. "But we should probably be back on track by Wednesday or Thursday."
Rains were the determining factor for Miller's part of the state, but in other areas they just weren't enough to help significantly.
District Extension director Jett Major of Lubbock said unseasonably hot temperatures are delaying dryland planting operations in the South Plains.
"Temperatures are exceeding 100 degrees," he said. "And high winds continue to sap needed soil moisture."
Major said the hot wind is also turning the wheat at a much more rapid rate than normal.
"A cold front late last week dropped temperatures significantly," he said. "It brought scattered showers in the southern part of the district with total rainfall amounts of less than a 1/4 of an inch."
Major said the temperatures are expected to exceed 100 degrees again this week.
District Extension director Lin Wilson said most crops are making excellent growth in the Coastal Bend.
"The cotton is in good shape," he said. "With more planted than last year."
Wilson said corn is in good shape, and the stands are doing well.
"Yield potential is good with positive outlook for harvest," he said. "Mexican corn rootworm beetles are becoming a problem in some areas, though."
Fall armyworms are becoming a problem for sorghum, but other than that, the plant is doing excellent.
"Rains received this week will help out even more," he said. "Other than wheat, most fruit and crops are doing great."
The following specific livestock, crop and weather conditions were reported by district extension directors:
PANHANDLE: Soil moisture is very short to short. Corn planting almost complete; crop 80 percent emerged. Wheat is mostly headed; most is rated poor to fair. Some early cotton stands damaged by high winds and blowing sand. Cattle rated good; horn flies a problem.
SOUTH PLAINS: Soil moisture is short. Cotton, sorghum, soybean planting in full swing; dryland planting slow due to lack of soil moisture. Hot wind turning wheat at a rapid rate. Supplemental feeding remains active. Peanut planting nearly complete.
ROLLING PLAINS: Soil moisture is short. Cotton activity has increased; early planting times. Wheat harvest has begun. Peanut farmers preparing land and planting. Livestock in good condition. Average range and pasture conditions.
NORTH TEXAS: Soil moisture is very short to surplus. Pecans showing damage from drought, ice storm. Silage being harvested. Haying operations continue. Weed problems present in pastures. Livestock doing well. Insect, disease pressure on vegetables.
EAST TEXAS: Soil moisture is adequate. Warm temperatures; measurable rainfall. Good progress in summer grasses, wheat and oats. Cattle conditions good. Vegetable harvests under way. Peaches and pecans progressing; spray control measures active.
FAR WEST TEXAS: Soil moisture is very short. Irrigated planting in full swing; other producers waiting for planting rains. Pastures deteriorating. Spraying for pecan casebearers. Livestock conditions poor; some poisonous plants present due to dry weather.
WEST CENTRAL TEXAS: Soil moisture is very short to short. Hail damage reported. Cotton planting beginning. Most wheat plowed to plant sudan hay. Fields stressed from heat, wind, lack of moisture. Ranges poor. Tanks dry. Calves, lambs being weaned and sold early.
CENTRAL TEXAS: Soil moisture is very short. Pastures are extremely short. Grasshopper damage increasing. Producers still selling off beef cattle due to drought. Wheat harvest beginning.
SOUTHEAST TEXAS: Soil moisture is short to adequate. Pastures in good condition; first cutting of hay wrapping up. Corn is good. Some cotton being replanted. Rice is good; most is flooded. Oats heading out and nearly mature. Grasshoppers becoming a problem.
SOUTHWEST TEXAS: Soil moisture is short. Forage availability below normal; pastures in mid-winter dormancy. Irrigated crops making good progress. Excellent quality and yields but weak markets for cabbage, cucumbers, onions, cantaloupes and potatoes.
COASTAL BEND: Soil moisture is adequate. Hay baling and field cultivation occurring this week. Cotton making good growth. Corn stands doing well; Mexican corn rootwarm beetles a problem. Fall armyworms a problem in isolated sorghum fields.
SOUTH TEXAS: Soil moisture is short to adequate. Most fields are saturated from recent rain and progressing well. Corn fields progressing well. Rain has helped cotton. Sorghum progressing well. Harvesting of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and melons.