Texas crop, weather

Peanuts continued to do well, drought or no drought, as most of the crop is under irrigation in Texas, according to Dr. Todd Baughman, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agronomist. Texas AgriLife Photo COLLEGE STATION – Most of Texas received a little to a lot of rain the first week of August.

In Central Texas and parts of East Texas 2 to 3 inches was common, with isolated instances of from 8 to 10 inches, according to the National Weather Service (http://water.weather. gov/) and reports from Texas AgriLife Extension Service personnel.

In North Texas, Gene Bobo, AgriLife Extension agent for Cass County , south of Texarkana, reported from 8 to 16 inches fell, most within a 24-hour period.

"Some livestock had to locate to high ground but there were no reports of drowned animals," Bobo said.

Except for the far northeast counties, the Panhandle got relief as well, improving cotton, corn and other crops.

"First significant rainfall received since planting," said David Graf, AgriLife Extension agent for Sherman County , north of Amarillo. "Two to 5 inches across most of county, although some isolated areas received less than 0.5 inch. There were spotted areas of hail."

North of Lubbock, Hale County got more than a spot of hail, hammering cotton fields, said Scott Adair, AgriLife Extension agent.

"We have had several hail events," Adair said. "One occurred in the northeastern corner of the county and affected roughly 5,000 acres. Estimated damage may be as high as 40 percent. Two other storms occurred on consecutive days west of Hale Center. These storms affected approximately 20,000 acres and the estimated damage ranges between 40 percent and 100 percent."

"This week Mother Nature has be beneficial and at the same time hard on some producers," said J. D. Ragland, AgriLife Extension agent for Randall County . "As of late Thursday evening we had received just right at 0.7 inch for the week. Some harsh weather fell in southern Randall County near the Happy area, as high winds and large hail damaged some cotton, and there were reports of windows knocked out of homes and some turned-over pivots."

South and parts of Southeast Texas remained parched, receiving only scattered showers at best. And though parts of the Southwest did receive from 0.5 to 1.0 inch of rain, July was the hottest month on record with 23 days of 100-degree or higher temperatures.

"Range and pasture conditions continue to decline, and conditions are reaching the crisis mark even for ranchers who stock pastures at a conservative level," said Isaac J. Cavazos, AgriLife Extension agent for McMullen County , south of San Antonio. "Forage supply levels are reaching very low levels, and many stock tanks have gone dry, which limits grazing some pastures. Bodycondition scores on cattle are declining. Some ranchers are utilizing prickly pear as an emergency feed source. High temperatures and dry conditions have been brutal."

More information on drought in Texas can be found at the Web site of the Drought Joint Information Center at http://agrilife.tamu. edu/drought/.