From: Heath Lusty [mailto:rhlusty@ag.tamu.edu] 
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 10:35 AM
To: Heath Lusty
Subject: Texas crop, weather

Texas crop, weather
Cold weather could spell death knell for boll weevil
January 20, 2010

Writer(s):
Robert Burns, 903-834-6191,rd-burns@tamu.edu 
COLLEGE STATION - - The recent cold weather could yield the best chance
in a decade to eradicate the boll weevil in South Texas according to a
Texas AgriLife Extension Service ( http://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/ )
expert. 

"It's really the best opportunity to bring about the death knell
for the weevil," said Dr. Noel Troxclair (
http://grovesite.com/page.asp?o=tamu&s=sd&p=338460 ),
AgriLife Extension entomologist. "That's the way I envision it."

The region was making strides in eradicating the boll weevil until some
major setbacks a few years ago, said Troxclair, who is based at the
Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde (
http://uvalde.tamu.edu/ ).

In 2007, for example, a protracted rainy period meant entomology scouts
couldn't check traps, delaying aerial applications. The rain also
washed off insecticides when they were applied.

This year, the area had wet weather leading up to the freeze. Uvalde
and surrounding counties had highs of about 16 degrees and lows of about
10 degrees. In some areas, the low reached about zero degrees.

"Because it was kind of damp before the freeze, it should have an
adverse effect on the boll weevil - a direct effect," Troxclair
said.

In addition to directly affecting boll weevil, the winter freeze will
also effect over-wintering and food sources for the weevil, he said. A
wet fall resulted in a lot of cotton seed in the soil that germinated,
but were killed by the freeze. There were a lot mature volunteer plants
that were a year old, and the freeze killed them too.

Troxclair said the effect the freeze had on the weevil won't be known
for certain until the growing season and the results from traps are
collected.

"And I don't mean we'll eradicate it this year," Troxclair
said. "But we could get it to the point that they won't recover."

The following summaries were compiled by AgriLife Extension district
reporters:

CENTRAL:  ( http://stephenville.tamu.edu/~TAEX/ )Temperatures became
more moderate after a week of extreme cold. Some oats were damaged from
the freeze. The amount of damage depended upon the variety planted, the
elevation of the field and other variables. The freeze also
significantly set back other small grains, but growers expected the
crops to recover as soil moisture levels were high. Livestock producers
continued to provide supplemental feed to livestock.

COASTAL BEND:  ( http://agfacts.tamu.edu/ )Heavy rain saturated soils.
Producers got some spring wheat planted before the rain came. Winter
grasses were growing. In most areas, beef producers continued to feed
livestock hay and protein supplements.

EAST:  ( http://overton.tamu.edu/ )Colder-than-normal temperatures
halted winter forage growth then caused decline. Pastures began to
recover later in the reporting period with rain and warmer temperatures.
Livestock were in fair to good condition with supplemental feeding. Some
producers had to break through ice to allow livestock access to water.
Feral hog activity increased, and deer/car accident reports increased as
well.

FAR WEST:  ( http://ftstockton.tamu.edu/ )Milder temperatures came to
the region. Though there was a light snowfall, conditions remained very
dry. Pasture quality diminished. The cotton harvest ended with better
yields than expected. Wheat and oats progressed at a steady rate and
were expected to produce average yields.

NORTH:  ( http://dallas.tamu.edu/ )The cold weather put most farming
activity on hold. Below-normal temperatures, cloudy days, and wet
conditions slowed small grain growth. Many pastures were extremely
soggy. Fields began to dry somewhat but were still too wet for land
preparation for spring planting. Soil moisture ranged from adequate to
surplus. Cattle producers were trying to rebound from below-average
conditions by providing extra energy supplements and additional hay.
Winter grazing on small grains and winter pastures was very short with
the recent cold weather and rain. Hay supplies were becoming short and
prices were rising. Water supply problems arose with the freezing of
ponds and water tanks. The pecan and cotton harvests were complete. Much
winter wheat was lost to armyworms, but what survived was in fair to
good condition.

PANHANDLE:  ( http://amarillo.tamu.edu/ )Soil moisture levels were
short to very short throughout the region. Conditions allowed producers
to increase irrigation on small grains and pre-watering corn ground in
preparation for spring planting. The conditions of wheat declined daily.
Rangeland was in poor condition and wheat fields were unable to support
continued grazing. Livestock producers continued to provide supplemental
feed to livestock.

ROLLING PLAINS:  ( http://vernon.tamu.edu/ )Average conditions returned
after nearly three weeks of below-normal temperatures and several days
of blizzard-like conditions. Showers and milder weather helped wheat
pastures and cool-season grasses in some areas. Area producers were
hoping to make it through spring with existing hay supplies and wheat
pastures. Cattle were generally in decent condition, and most producers
believe they can survive another 60 days if there is not another extreme
cold spell. Lack of moisture caused pastures and rangeland grass quality
to decline. Most cotton has been harvested, though modules remained
waiting to be hauled to the gins. Producers were shredding stalks,
plowing, and prepping their land for winter wheat planting. Cattle on
wheat looked good. Warmer weather is needed to boost small-grain forage
production and improve grazing.

SOUTH:  ( http://southtexas.tamu.edu/ )The entire region had adequate
to surplus soil moisture. Temperatures were still cooler and damper than
average throughout most of the region, which put a halt to most
fieldwork. The northern parts of the region received from 1 inch to 5
inches of rain. Some low-lying areas had flooding. Wheat producers in
the eastern part of the region were able to plant some spring wheat, but
drizzling rain slowed them down. Rain late in the week provided much
needed moisture for dryland wheat and oat producers. The rain also
helped cabbage, carrot, onion and spinach producers save on irrigation
costs. No damage to cabbage and spinach was reported after the extremely
cold weather from two weeks ago, but an estimated 45 acres of tomatoes
were lost in the southern part of the region. Forage quality and
quantity declined, and livestock were in marginal condition. Many beef
producers were supplying large amounts of supplemental feed to offset
the stress caused by cold and wet weather. Hay supplies were minimal,
and stock water tank levels were increasing but still low.

SOUTH PLAINS:  ( http://lubbock.tamu.edu/ )Warmer weather came to the
region. The short-term forecast was for warm, dry and breezy weather.
Soil moisture was short to adequate. It was hoped the warmer weather
will allow for field operations such as shredding of stalks and other
land preparation. Winter wheat was in fair to good condition and
continued to mature. Pastures and rangeland were in fair to good
condition. Rain was needed for cool-season grasses. Livestock were
mostly in fair to good condition, and producers slowed supplemental
feeding.

SOUTHEAST:  ( http://bryan.tamu.edu/ )The ponds were full and topsoil
moisture levels were high. Colder temperatures set back cool-season
pastures. Producers were still trying to get fields prepared for the
upcoming spring planting. Pasture conditions remained about the same.
Beef producers were using large amounts of bagged feed and molasses lick
tubs because hay was in short supply.

SOUTHWEST:  ( http://uvalde.tamu.edu/ )Though temperatures dropped into
the mid-teens, it appeared vegetable crops suffered only minor damage.
Texas AgriLife experts theorized damage was probably limited because the
cold weather did not last very long and the vegetables had been
acclimatized by a previous cold spell. The cold temperatures and rain
only temporarily interrupted the harvesting of spinach, cabbage, carrots
and lettuce. Soil moisture levels were significantly higher compared to
last year at this time, making early spring planting possible. Wheat,
oats and vegetable crops made excellent progress. Forage availability
improved.

WEST CENTRAL:  ( http://sanangelo.tamu.edu/ )A warming trend followed
very cold temperatures early in the reporting period. Scattered showers
came to many areas. The cotton harvest was completed in most areas with
average yields reported. Other field activity was slowed by the wet,
cold weather. Winter wheat growth was off to a slow start but was
expected pick up with warmer temperatures. Producers were making
fertilizer and weed control decisions. The extreme cold took its toll on
livestock and pastures, which forced beef producers to increase
supplemental feeding of livestock. Some producers culled herds to save
on feed. Stock water tank levels continued to drop.

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