From: Heath Lusty [mailto:rhlusty@ag.tamu.edu] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 11:41 AM
To: Heath Lusty
Subject: Texas Crop, Weather


Texas Crop, Weather
Continued cold temps affect crops, livestock
January 13, 2010

Writer(s):
Robert Burns, 903-834-6191,rd-burns@tamu.edu 
COLLEGE STATION -- The cold and dry weather in many parts of the state
led to stressed crops and the need to continue to provide supplemental
feed to livestock. 

Prolonged cold damaged waterlines, and freezing rain and snow in many
areas made it difficult to work fields. At the same time, for some areas
of the state, the dryer weather provided some relief by allowing farmers
to continue or complete harvesting.

Farmers in West Texas and the Rolling Plains have either completed or
nearly completed their cotton harvest. Some crops in extreme West Texas
have gone dormant due to prolonged cold weather. In the Panhandle, wheat
crops were stressed, with irrigated wheat reported to be in better
condition than dryland wheat. Wheat pastures in both this region and in
the Rolling Plains need of warmer weather and a greater amount of
moisture.

In South Texas, growers were concerned over the possible effects of
recent freezes on young/tender fields of cabbage and spinach crops.
Farmers in Southwest Texas saw an interruption their spinach, cabbage,
broccoli, lettuce and carrot harvests during this reporting period.

Generally, the colder weather continues to plague pasture and rangeland
areas, providing limited food for livestock, but in some locations
recent rainfalls helped such area rebound a little.

Throughout northern and western counties of Texas, cattle were stressed
by the colder weather. In the South Plains producers were particularly
worried about the possible stress effect recent extreme cold
temperatures and wind chill will have on area livestock. Throughout the
state, producers continued to increase the amount of supplemental
feeding to cattle, and some were concerned they may not have enough hay
to last the winter. 

The following regional reports were compiled by Texas ArgiLife
Extension Service personnel: 

Central
Unusually cold temperatures led to supplemental feeding of livestock
and made it necessary to break ice on water troughs and stock ponds.
Some field producers still need to plow, but wet conditions have
prevented it. Some counties are preparing fields for spring planting of
corn and sorghum.

Coastal Bend
A hard freeze covered over most of the region this weekend, with
temperatures as low as 17 degrees. There was a light rainfall -- from
0.01 to 0.3 inch -- and temperatures were consistently well below
normal. Some spring wheat was planted if soils were dry enough, while
other producers continued to wait for soil to dry. Extreme cold
conditions late in the week increased the need for supplemental feeding
of livestock. It also caused some damage to waterlines and piping. 

East
Below-average temperatures caused problems for the region. Winter
pastures were set back by the freezing weather. Livestock have been
consuming more hay and producers are worried they may not have enough to
last the winter. They also upped the amount of supplemental feed they
have been giving to cattle. Livestock were in fair to good condition.
Feral hog activity and damage has increased.

Far West
Pecan nut harvest is behind because of rains and snow present during
the last week of December. Fall planted onions are at two-leaf stage and
dormant. Alfalfa is dormant. Winter wheat is also dormant and at 4-5
leaf stage. Temperatures were below normal, in the high 20's low 50's,
and freezing rain and snow hindered most farmers from working in the
fields. There was no further precipitation during the first days of the
new year. The cotton harvest was completed and winter wheat was doing
well in most locations.

Panhandle
Temperatures across the entire area were very cold and dry. Some nights
reached the teens and single digits. Soil moisture was short to very
short. The cotton harvest was nearly complete, but below-average
temperatures and dry conditions continued to stress the wheat crop.
Wheat was in poor to fair condition, with irrigated wheat looking better
than dryland wheat. Some field work was being done for the upcoming
spring crop. Rangeland areas were in poor condition. Cattle were
stressed, and with colder temperatures lasting several days, their
supplementation was increased.

Rolling Plains
Temperatures in single digits in the Rolling Plains were hard on
livestock, but most producers were able to get plenty hay and supplement
out prior to the cold. Although it has been extremely cold, very little
moisture has fallen and given farmers a chance to harvest the last bit
of this year's cotton crop. Severe temperatures have made things
difficult on remaining cotton in the field and livestock. The cotton
harvest was 99% complete and yields were average on both dryland and
irrigated fields. Livestock producers are feeding hay and breaking ice.
Heavy supplemental feeding is being done to livestock. Wheat pastures
are only fair but furnishing some grazing. Livestock are in fair to good
condition for this time of year. Pastures and rangeland are in fair
condition due to the previous moisture that was received. Wheat pastures
are in need of some warmer days to promote growth.

South
Cold, below-normal freezing temperatures and no rainfall occurred
throughout the region this past week. Soil moisture conditions remain
adequate. High winds and the hard freeze have taken moisture off top
soil just about everywhere, causing a decrease on forage quality and an
increase on supplemental feeding. Cattle body condition scores remain in
fair condition. Potato planting has begun, and peanut harvesting was
completed. Winter oats and wheat for grazing look very good in the
northern parts of the region. In the eastern parts of the region,
minimal field activity occurred due to the cold and wet conditions which
put a halt on the 2010 planting season in that area. Cabbage and spinach
growers in the western parts of the region are worried about how
drastically low temperatures will affect young and tender fields of
these crops. Producers are waiting to assess any possible effects from
the hard freeze in that area. In the meantime, existing cabbage and
spinach harvesting is planned to resume early next week. Crop conditions
in the southern parts of the region are generally fair, but damage to
sugarcane, citrus and vegetables as a result of temperatures dipping in
to the 20's will be assessed in the weeks to come. With tomatoes on
the ground, tomato growers in that area prepared early in the week for a
hard freeze. 

South Plains
Temperatures at the beginning of the week were mild with highs in the
mid 50's. Toward the end of the week, temperatures dropped with the lows
in the single digits and the highs in the mid 20's. Soil moisture was
short to adequate. Most of the cotton gins completed ginning this week,
and several more are only days away from being finished. Winter wheat is
in fair to good condition. Pastures and ranges are in fair to good
condition and have improved with the recent moisture received. The big
concern for this week will be the effect of the extreme cold
temperatures and wind chill factor to area livestock. Livestock
producers are working this week to bust ice and keep water available to
livestock. Supplemental feeding continues.

Southwest
North winds ushered in low temperatures in the mid teens during the
latter part of last week, causing some damage. The cold weather briefly
interrupted the harvesting of spinach, cabbage, broccoli, lettuce and
carrots. Commercial landscape nurseries incurred labor and material
expenses to protect plumbing and container-grown plants from the cold.
Most pastures and ranges entered mid-winter dormancy after the late
November 2009 hard freeze, but forage availability remains above-average
for this time of the year, primarily as a result of excellent rains
during the last four months of 2009. The hunting season will remain open
until around January 27, 2010, but hunting activities were reduced
substantially by the cold weather. 

West Central
An arctic front passed through most of the region, with areas reporting
good soil moisture. Wheat producers are optimistic for potential of
normal to above wheat yields this spring. Supplemental feeding of
livestock continues.

Heath Lusty
Jack County Extension Agent
Agriculture & Natural Resources
940-567-2132 office
817-584-6628 cell