Contact: Edith Chenault, (979) 845-2886,e-chenault1@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION – Cattle producers are giving thanks for recent rains which brought green pastures and some growth, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service reports.
Extension Livestock Specialist Dr. Rick Machen of Uvalde said cattle conditions are excellent in Southwest Texas.
“It has been raining on and off for the past 30 days,” he said. “Forage conditions have recovered very nicely from the drought that we experienced during the summer. The pastures, particularly wheat, oats and rye grass, are well on their way to providing some excellent grazing for winter cattle.”
Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Dr. Stephen Hammack of Stephenville said that even though conditions vary, the outlook is also improving in Central Texas.
“We are in much better shape, in general, than we were a couple of months ago,” he said. “If for no other reason, we have some surface water and we grew some grass.”
Hammack said current cattle conditions are dependent on how cattle were managed during dry weather.
“It varies tremendously depending pretty much on how people were stocked during this drought period – whether they sold off or whether they fed to keep cattle in condition,” he said. “Those who had the courage to plant small grains when it was so dry are in good shape now.”
Extension Livestock Specialist Dr. Todd Thrift of Overton said pastures in East Texas are responding well to recent rains.
“We have recently had a light frost in much of East Texas that will end most of that growth in summer grasses before too long,” he said. “But the winter pastures are coming on strong.”
Extension Entomologist Dr. Carl Patrick of Amarillo said the rain was welcomed in the Panhandle, and pastures did “green up.”
“But, naturally, there was not much growth with current temperatures 10 degrees below normal for this time,” he said. “The moisture we are building now will be most beneficial in the spring.”
Machen said herd numbers remain reduced across the state. He said herds in Southwest Texas have been below traditional carrying capacity since the drought in 1993.
Thrift said these reduced stocking rates are necessary to ensure that producers will eventually be able to recover from the drought.
“In East Texas, they are still understocked from the previous three years,” he said. “Many are reduced 25 percent from the normal carrying capacity, and that’s probably where a lot of them need to stay until we are sure that we’re looking at a little better outlook.”
Hammack said with all things considered, the winter outlook is positive for Texas cattle producers.
“We’ll be in fairly good shape, but there will have to be a good bit of supplemental feeding,” he said. “I’m thankful for a good corn crop that has kept the feeding prospects good in the feed yards and kept the price of supplemental feeding low for cow herds.”
District Extension Director Scott Durham of San Angelo said low temperatures and rains continued in West Central Texas.
“Cotton harvest continues as fields dry out,” he said. “Yields and quality will be low due to heavy rains.”
Durham said pastures conditions are good, however.
“Cool season grasses are doing well,” he said. “The freeze took out some vegetation, but livestock are doing well with supplemental feeding.”
Durham said the pecan harvest was slowed by the moisture.
“Problems with sprouting have occurred,” he said. “The crop will be very light with production fair to poor.”
District Extension Director Jett Major in Lubbock said the weather remained open last week, allowing the cotton, peanut and sorghum harvests to progress more rapidly.
“Cotton and peanut yields and quality are low to due the damage from the summer drought and wet fall,” he said. “Grain sorghum yields are also well below average.”
Major said stocker cattle are being turned out on most of the early-planted irrigated wheat. He said ranges and pastures are in fair condition, despite a freeze that stopped growth of native grasses.
The following specific livestock, crop and weather conditions were reported by district Extension directors:
PANHANDLE: soil moisture is short to adequate. Some wheat remains to be planted. Stands are rated poor to good. A few fields of sunflower and soybeans remain to be harvested. Cattle are in good condition. Supplemental feeding continues. Peanut harvest resumes.
SOUTH PLAINS: soil moisture is adequate to surplus. Rain turning to snow late in the week halted all field operations. Stocker cattle are being turned out on most of the early planted irrigated wheat. Ranges and pastures are in fair condition and livestock are fair to good.
ROLLING PLAINS: soil moisture is adequate. Several acres of cotton stripped as fields dry. Wheat responding well to soil moisture; early sown fields look good. Some peanuts damaged by freeze. Range and pasture conditions improves. Supplemental feeding increased.
NORTH TEXAS: no information available.
EAST TEXAS: soil moisture is adequate. Measurable rainfall with heavy frost and light freeze. Winter pastures improving. Cattle conditions good with markets steady. Hay feeding under way. Fall vegetable harvests light with pecan yields poor to fair.
FAR WEST TEXAS: soil moisture is adequate. Some onions have been planted. Chili harvest nearing completion and tomato farm in full production. Range land is looking much better due to rains. Pecan’s shucks split, mostly all ripe. Most cattle work winding down.
WEST CENTRAL TEXAS: soil moisture is short to surplus. Colder temperatures this week with continued rains. Freeze and heavy frost reported in some areas. Cotton harvest continues as fields dry out. Stock tanks are filling up with recent rains. Peach trees experiencing leaf drop.
CENTRAL TEXAS: no information available.
SOUTHEAST TEXAS: soil moisture is adequate to surplus. Rye grass emerging and providing forage in some pastures. Cattle in good condition; prices remain steady. Fall gardens may have flooded out. Armyworms a severe problem in some hay meadows and winter pastures.
SOUTHWEST TEXAS: soil moisture is good. Conditions continue to improve after the summer dry spell. Three cold spells have slowed range and pasture forage growth. The harvesting of greens, cabbage and spinach is under way. Peanut harvest continues to lag behind.
COASTAL BEND: soil moisture is adequate. Field activities limited due to wet soil conditions. Herbicide applied to cotton to control seedling regrowth. Wheat planting delayed by rain. Recent moisture improving forage; some fall grass planting.
SOUTH TEXAS: soil moisture is short. Pasture and range conditions fair to poor; irrigated pastures progressing well. Livestock in fair condition. Honeydew melons are being harvested. Onion crop progressing well. Early orange harvest under way.
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