Texas

Most areas remained warm and dry for most of the week ending Oct. 23, and temperatures began to cool by week's end, and scattered showers brought trace to half inch rains to much of the northern portions of the state, according to the Texas Agricultural Statistics Service, Oct. 24.

Although the moisture received was welcome, many producers reported that pastures and small grains continued to suffer as winter approaches. Harvest of corn, sorghum, peanuts, soybeans, sunflowers and cotton moved ahead with a few delays due to cool, wet mornings. Producers were busy applying pre-harvest aids for cotton in most areas. Seeding of small grains and winter pastures continued under mostly dry conditions. Stockers were being moved onto small grain pastures and corn and sorghum stalks, and hay production was winding down in most areas. Pasture conditions improved in areas where moisture was received, but overall continued to decline. Weaning of calves and supplemental feeding continued to be necessary in most areas. Hay supplies were short in many areas.

Producers continued to seed Wheat and oats under mostly dry conditions in hopes of receiving moisture to assist in germination. Germination of Wheat and oats have suffered due to lack of moisture, and armyworms are becoming more of a problem. In drier areas, small grain fields were drying out, and producers were reluctant to begin irrigation due to high fuel costs. Some producers are opting to forgo planting for winter grazing due to insufficient soil moisture. Moisture supplies have been sufficient in the Plains to improve Wheat and oat pastures, and producers were busy moving stockers onto fields for fall and winter grazing. Late week, cooler temperatures and light rains were beneficial to Wheat and oat pastures, but more moisture was still needed. Statewide, Wheat condition was rated at 59 percent of normal, compared with 90 percent last year.

Application of cotton pre-harvest aids continued across the Plains and Edwards Plateau. Harvest was in full swing in most areas, and beginning in the Northern High Plains by week's end. Cool, damp mornings slowed harvest, but activity picked up as warmer temperatures returned during the day. Some problems with boll worms were reported in the Low Plains and treatments were made as needed. Stalk destruction activities continued following harvest in other locations. Statewide, cotton condition was rated 72 percent of normal compared with 76 percent last year.

Corn harvest made rapid progress across the High Plains as weather remained favorable during the week.

Sorghum harvest was wrapping up in South Central areas. In the High Plains, harvest was underway for grain and seed as producers could reach the mature crop.

Peanut digging progressed across the Plains, Edwards Plateau, and South Texas. Threshing moved ahead as the dug peanuts dried. Harvest was nearly complete in the Cross Timbers. Statewide, peanut condition was rated at 86 percent of normal compared with 84 percent last year.

Soybean harvest continued in the Northern Plains and was nearly complete along the Upper Coast.

Rice harvest of the ratoon crop proceeded along the Upper Coast with good yields reported.

In the Rio Grande Valley, mostly dry conditions prevailed during the week. Planting of spinach, cabbage and onions resumed after the previous week's rain. Harvest of peppers, melons and watermelons continued. Sugarcane harvest continued in the Lower Valley, and citrus harvest began. In the San Antonio - Winter Garden, planting of spinach and other fall vegetables was underway. Cooler temperatures were good for the vegetables planted earlier. In the High Plains, pumpkin, gourd, and melon harvest was nearing completion, with some problems reported due to rats and mice in pumpkin and melon fields. In the Trans Pecos, harvest of grapes and shrimp was underway.

Pecan harvest began or continued across areas of Central Texas, East Texas, along the Upper Coast, and in South Texas. Nut drop due to dry conditions continued. The dry conditions over the summer have resulted in some areas seeing a lighter than normal crop. Heavy rains in some areas of South Texas have halted pecan harvest until orchards dry down.

Pasture conditions continued to deteriorate in most areas as rainfall remained short to nonexistent during most of the week. Cooler temperatures did reduce stress on pastures, but supplemental feeding remained necessary and hay supplies were reported short in several areas. Stock water supplies continue to drop in areas where rainfall has been scarce. Stocker cattle continued to move onto small grain fields in the Plains where temperatures have been somewhat cooler and moisture supplies have provided for adequate forage growth. Small grain pastures in some other areas began to die off due to lack of moisture. Cattle producers were busy with weaning and marketing calves, and fall calving continued. Cattle body conditions remained mostly good, but were becoming harder to maintain as forage and hay supplies dwindled. Armyworms continued to be a problem in North East Texas.