Daily News Update, Nov. 21, 2007

Texas crop and weather report, 11-21-07
By Kathleen Phillips for AgNews

Texas producers and landowners are hoping the turkey's wishbone snaps in their favor later this week. Their wish will be for rain.

A soaking rain last weekend wet the southeastern part of the state, but more moisture is needed across Texas to hold fire dangers at bay, Texas Cooperative Extension officials said.

Most of the state is in a moderate fire danger, according to the Texas Forest Service, but a band that sweeps across the state from El Paso through Lubbock to the Oklahoma border and north of Amarillo has been declared in high to very high fire danger.

The forest service listed burning bans in 88 of the state's 254 counties as of Nov. 20. But that could change by Thursday, giving the state's agriculture industry a major reason to give thanks.

U.S. Department of Agriculture meteorologist Brad Rippey said a storm system developing over the southern Rockies could bring rain from the southern High Plains to the Mississippi Delta. He predicts above-normal rainfall from Texas to the southern Atlantic states.

Here are regional reports from Texas Cooperative Extension.

CENTRAL: Conditions remain dry. The pecan harvest is in full swing with a good crop expected. Small grains need rain to emerge. Livestock are in good condition.

COASTAL BEND: Warm, dry weather continues. Stalk destruction and land preparation were the major field activities. Rain is needed for winter forages. Hay baling of lower quality summer grass pastures continues but at a slower pace. Cattle are in good condition, though pasture conditions are declining.

EAST: Some small grains, ryegrass and clover have been planted, but many have not germinated due to dry conditions. Other producers are waiting for rain before planting. Hay baling is almost complete with large stockpiles. Stock pond levels are very low, and many producers are having to move cattle and feed hay. A heavy crop of acorns is causing some problems with cattle as they are eating too many.

NORTH: Soil moisture is short to adequate. The first real frost was reported in Delta County. Pastures are in fair shape, but bermudagrass is not going into dormancy. Dry conditions persist, and the winter small grains are wanting a good drink of water. The cotton harvest is 90 percent complete. An above-average crop of pecans is being harvested. Livestock are in fair to good condition and some producers have begun winter feeding their animals.

PANHANDLE: Soil moisture ranges from very short to adequate. Cotton ranges from very poor to excellent as harvest continues. Wheat ranges from very poor to excellent. Most areas need moisture. Range conditions are mostly fair. No precipitation and high winds have created a high potential for fire. Cattle are in good condition, and supplemental feeding is under way.

ROLLING PLAINS: Very dry conditions continue. What wheat was planted on sufficient moisture came up and dried out or was blown out with the high winds. Ranchers have been feeding hay and supplements to their herds in hopes of receiving rain to revive pastures. But the area has had an "almost perfect" year for cotton. The crop got a late start, but since there still has not been a killing freeze, cotton has had time to mature. Some producers are defoliating in order to harvest.

SOUTH: Conditions continue to be mild with cooler temperatures and no precipitation. In some areas, extreme dry conditions put a lot of stress on dryland wheat, oats and ryegrass. Cool-season crops are being irrigated. Sugarcane, citrus and greens harvests continue, and winter vegetable crops are progressing well. Forage availability for livestock is fair. Hay baling operations have begun to slow down. Livestock are in fair to good condition.

SOUTH PLAINS: Warm temperatures continued with no rainfall. The cotton harvest continues with good yields. Progress slowed some because of damp mornings, windy conditions and the need for a hard, conditioning freeze in southern counties. The grain sorghum harvest is almost complete with above average yields.

The peanut harvest is virtually complete. Winter wheat is in fair condition. The warm weather hurt wheat development somewhat. Some irrigated acres look good, but all wheat needs a good rain. Pastures and ranges are in fair condition. Cattle conditions are mostly good with supplemental feeding.

SOUTHEAST: Rains over the weekend provided a great relief to dry conditions.

SOUTHWEST: While the area east of San Antonio received some rain over the weekend, most of the region remains dry. Pastures, ranges and yard grasses are showing stress and going into winter dormancy early. Farmers are heavily irrigating fall crops. About 60 percent of this year's bumper cotton crop has been ginned. The peanut, cabbage, spinach, green bean and pickling cucumber harvests continue.

WEST CENTRAL: Temperatures have been cooler. Windy conditions continue to dry everything and increase fire danger. The cotton harvest is in full swing, with better than expected yields in most areas. Wheat and small grains are in poor condition due to extremely dry conditions. Some producers are waiting for rain to sow wheat. Rangeland and pastures continue to decline, turning brown and going dormant. Livestock remain in fair to good condition. The pecan harvest continues with good crops expected.