Writers: Edith Chenault, (979) 845-2886,e-chenault1@tamu.edu,
Blair Fannin, (979) 845-2259,b-fannin@tamu.edu
Contacts: Dr. Carl Anderson, (979) 845-8011,canderson@tamu.edu
Dr. Travis Miller, (979) 845-4008,td-miller@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION – A dry spring has made the next few weeks a critical period for grain and cotton crops and livestock in much of Texas, according to Texas Cooperative Extension.
“We’ve hit an exceptional dry period in the last three months,” said Dr. Travis Miller, Extension program leader for soil and crop sciences. “Here (last month) in College Station, we had 2 percent of normal rainfall. We’ve seen most of the rainfall in Oklahoma and Missouri. Normally that weather comes through Texas, but instead it’s been going north of Texas. The high probability of rainfall for Texas is April and May. We’ve just missed it.”
Miller said statewide, the drought effects vary depending on the area.
“Central Texas is about as dry as any,” he said. “The average rainfall has been less than 50 percent. But North Texas is in pretty good shape. They’ve gotten some good rain showers, though they are behind normal precipitation, they are not stressed like the rest of the state.”
Only 33 percent of the state’s cotton crop had been planted as of May 11, Miller said, with much of the cotton in West Texas planted in May and June not affected by the dry weather.
“The story on cotton is still out,” he said.
Dr. Carl Anderson, Extension economist, said cotton’s later planting dates and some timely rains helped that crop to germinate in Central and South Texas. Still, it needs additional moisture to build the root systems and, later in the season, adult plants to produce fiber, Anderson said.
“It is very important that we get rain by the first week of June,” he said.
In Central and South Texas, grain crops are already showing signs of drought and heat stress, Anderson said. The weather’s “going to affect yields pretty quickly,” he said.
Miller added, “On the eastern side of the state, the corn crop is pretty variable. Here in Central Texas, we’re seeing lot of leaves rolling up about mid-day.”
He noted seeing a lot of “skippy stands” of corn, where a lot of moisture had accumulated right up until planting time as farmers were forced to plant in mud and “it never rained again.”
In the Gulf Coast region, Miller said a lot of corn was planted late, “so it’s set up for severe moisture stress,” he said.
Many livestock producers are getting in their first hay cuttings of the season, Miller noted, but they are coming in with lower than expected yields.
“They are definitely not making the hay they should because of the dry weather in April and May,” he said. “The only place that’s in a real hurt is Far West Texas. They had some annual grasses with some rains they had during the winter time. Those are drying out and dying. There are very little perennial grasses.”
Another concern is high irrigation costs for vegetable producers. With fuel prices for diesel and natural gas soaring over the past six months, “with dry weather like this, they will have to pump a lot more water.”
In the Rolling Plains, Galen Chandler of Vernon, district Extension director, said range and pasture conditions are declining quickly in light of no significant rainfall amounts.
“Warm season grasses are in need of rainfall to make it through the summer with good grazing value,” Chandler said. “Cool season annuals are beginning to mature and are furnishing little grazing.”
Scott Durham of San Angelo, district Extension director for the West Central region, said dry conditions have delayed cotton planting. The small grain crop yields will be less, and most oats were baled for hay. Grain and forage sorghum also are stressed due to lack of moisture.
“Wild fires are breaking out in some regions,” Durham said.
In Central Texas, Ron Woolley, district Extension director, reported corn is only three to four feet high when it should be more than five feet tall.
“The corn roots are less than half their normal size,” Woolley said.
Jose Pena, Extension economist in Uvalde, said Southwest Texas remains dry, with the last economically significant rainfall having fallen in January.
The year-to-date rainfall of 2.1 inches is less than one-fourth of the long-term average for the same period, he said.
A dust haze prevails in the afternoon, and soils are cracking from the lack of moisture, Pena said.
The following specific livestock, crop and weather conditions were reported by district Extension directors:
PANHANDLE: soil moisture short to very short. Area had above-normal temperatures and high winds. Thunderstorms late last week brought some welcome rain, but the southern and southwestern regions still remain very dry. Tornados and straight-line winds damaged some center pivot irrigation systems. Dryland wheat continues to decline, and irrigated wheat is fair to good. Cattle condition is fair to good, but horn flies are increasing.
SOUTH PLAINS: soil moisture short to very short. The hot, windy and dry weather continues to deplete soil moisture. Ranges and pastures are in poor to fair condition, and supplemental of cattle continues. Corn is in fair to good condition, with early-planted corn at the 3-6 leaf stage. Peanut planting nearing completion in southern counties.
ROLLING PLAINS: soil moisture short to very short. A cool front brought thunderstorms, but little measurable rainfall. Cotton planting has begun, but most producers are waiting for a few more days in hopes of further rainfall. The wheat harvest began in Baylor County, and most of the rest of the district should begin harvesting in the next two weeks. Livestock are still in good body condition, but stocker cattle continue to be shipped off to wheat pastures and to feedlots.
NORTH TEXAS: soil moisture short to adequate. All of the corn has been planted, and fields range from fair to excellent condition. Most of the cotton has been planted, and about 40 percent of the peanuts have been planted. Wheat harvest has begun. Rye grass is being baled, with good yields. Livestock are in good condition.
EAST TEXAS: soil moisture improved with measurable rainfall. Ryegrass and clover hay harvest in progress. Pasture grass has improved with rainfall. Livestock condition is good. Vegetables growing well.
FAR WEST TEXAS: soil moisture very short. No rain received in the past week. Everything is deteriorating rapidly with no moisture. Record high temperatures reported last week. Some producers are planting cotton, but most are waiting for rain.
WEST CENTRAL TEXAS: soil moisture short. Severe thunderstorms brought hail, heavy rains and high winds in some areas. Record temperatures in most areas continue to dry up soil moisture. Small grain crop will be less than normal; most oats were baled for hay. Wheat fields are ready for the first cutting. Livestock feeding has increased, and stock tanks and reservoir water levels are dropping.
CENTRAL TEXAS: soil moisture short. Cracks in the soil are now more than an inch wide in most of the crop land. Corn is in the ninth to 12th leaf stage, but only three or four feet high when it should be more than five feet by now. Wheat is drying down rapidly, and harvest will begin on a limited basis next week. Horn flies are at damaging levels on livestock.
SOUTHEAST TEXAS: soil moisture short. Row crops are beginning to show stress from lack of moisture, and pastures need rainfall. Harris County reported some producers are irrigated when they normally don’t this early. Rice is being flooded with irrigation water just to get it to emerge. Livestock are in fair to good condition.
SOUTHWEST TEXAS: soil moisture short. The region remains dry, with the last economically significant rainfall received in January. The year-to-date rainfall of 2.1 inches is less than one-fourth of the long-term average for the same period. A dust haze prevails in the afternoon, and soils are cracking from the lack of moisture. Pastures, rangeland and yard grasses are turning brown and going into dormancy. The cabbage, carrot, onion and potato harvest continues.
COASTAL BEND: soil moisture short. Area remains hot, dry and windy, with most crops showing signs of stress due to lack of rainfall. Rice crop planted and has emerged, and the crop is in good condition. Cattle are in good condition. Hay pastures have been fertilized, but need rain.
SOUTH TEXAS: soil moisture short. Conditions hot and dry, with the hottest May on record being reported. Carrots, cabbage, greens, onions, melons and sugarcane harvest is continuing. Supplemental feeding of livestock continuing.
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