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Summer weather aids crop progress
Texas
Summer crops progressed as hot, dry weather took hold of the State. Irrigation on corn, cotton, sorghum, and soybeans was in full swing in the Panhandle and Plains as minimal rains were received across the regions. Scattered thunderstorms were seen in the Trans Pecos, where repairs of fences, corrals, and roads continued. Hay baling was in full swing across the State as some producers in drier areas were able to cut for the first time after the rains. Some alfalfa producers were on their third cutting. In the southern regions, harvest of sorghum, corn, sunflowers and cotton was gaining momentum.
Field work resumed on Wheat ground in the Plains as harvest was complete. Wet field conditions during harvest may have had a negative effect on yields in that area. Preparations for next season's Wheat cropwere underway.
Corn was looking excellent in the Panhandle with minimal insect pressure. Irrigation was in full swing and some smut was appearing in hail damaged fields. Blacklands corn has seen smut and rust, but producers don't predict a change in yield due to the maturity of the crop. However, rust may effect corn for silage. Harvest in Central Texas and the Upper Coast drew closer and had begun on a limited basis in South Texas and the Coastal Bend. Rio Grande Valley corn harvest was in full swing. Statewide, corn condition was rated at 95 percent of normal compared with 57 percent last year.
Cotton progression continued. Plants were at all stages in the Panhandle. Some defoliant was applied in some areas to control overgrowth. Very light insect pressure was reported in the Plains. Some dryland fields in the region needed moisture desperately as some plants never emerged and some burned just after emergence. Irrigated land continued to flourish. Minimal replanting was necessary in the Plains due to hail, but less acreage than in previous years. Pests in the Blacklands were reported , although most producers were getting a handle on boll weevils and worms. Trans Pecos cotton was squaring and was being irrigated. Central and South Central regions were doing well with some limited irrigation occurring. Cotton in the Coastal Bend was nearing harvest and harvest was underway in the Rio Grande Valley. Statewide, cotton condition was rated at 76 percent of normal compared with 62 percent last year.
Sorghum: Irrigation was active in the Plains and Panhandle. Some late sorghum, planted behind failed cotton, needed moisture desperately. Sorghum in the South Plains was beginning to change colors. Blacklands sorghum was nearing harvest and a majority of the crop looked promising. Some midge spraying was going on. Combining in South Central Texas had begun. Some areas of the Coastal Bend were still too wet for harvest. Harvest was near completion in South Texas and the Lower Valley with some late planted sorghum still being irrigated. Statewide, sorghum condition was rated at 85 percent of normal compared with 68 percent last year.
Peanuts looked good overall. No problems were reported. Statewide, peanut condition was rated at 88 percent of normal compared with 86 percent last year.
Rice was in excellent condition. Some fields seemed to be maturing more rapidly than others. Some early rice fields were being drained. Statewide, rice condition was rated at 83 percent of normal, compared with 91 percent last year.
In the San Antonio-Winter Garden, Watermelon and cantaloupe harvest was complete. Case bearer monitoring in pecans continued. In the High Plains, pumpkins were looking good and making good progress. Producers were spraying fungicides. Peaches were being harvested. In the Trans-Pecos, spring onion harvest was reported. Wine grape harvest was to begin this week. Pecan nuts were developing. In East Texas, peach harvest continued. Blueberry harvest was winding down. Small vegetable crops were being harvested for canning and preserves.
Livestock were in good to excellent condition, aided by good growth of range and pastures. Haying continued across the state as dry conditions allowed producers to bale away. Several alfalfa fields in the state were on the third cutting. There is no doubt there will be an abundance of hay over the winter months. Supplemental feeding had picked up and livestock were requiring more water in several areas as the heat became an issue. Some pastures were burned by the heat. Stock pond levels were slowly deteriorating as the summer climate returned, especially in areas of the Plains and Trans Pecos. Cross Timbers range and pasture conditions still remained favorable from June rains. Livestock remained in excellent condition. East Texas cattle were seeing some heat stress as some dairy cattle had shown a decrease in milk production. Grasses in the east were still green and there were minimal problems with grasshoppers.
Date: 7/22/04
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