Texas crop, weather

Thunderstorms brought hail and high winds to Southwest Texas, but the storms missed many vegetable fields, such as these onions, which are vulnerable this time of year. COLLEGE STATION - - With a few notable exceptions, Texas agricultural producers were gifted with spring rains and sunny days, according to Texas AgriLife Extension Service personnel.

Where soils were beginning to dry, the April showers bolstered moisture levels and encouraged flushes of grass and forbs in pastures and rangeland. Row crops and small grains benefited as well. The condition of livestock improved in response to better grazing, and many producers breathed easier as their hay supplies were all but exhausted.

East Texas was one of the exceptions to rule, but there were exceptions to the exceptions. Many counties received scattered showers, but generally dry conditions and high winds did little to help thirsty warm-season grasses. Other counties received higher winds but their drying effects were generally alleviated by timely rains.

"Windy conditions lately are helping to dry out the soils," said Chad Gulley, AgriLife Extension agent in Nacogdoches County. "Storms pushed through over the weekend with many producers receiving only 0.2 inch of rain. Ryegrass and clover were growing well and many producers are beginning to prepare for their first cutting of hay this season."

The Panhandle and Southwest Texas regions were the other exceptions. The Panhandle not only got high winds along with severe storms, but tornadoes touched down in some counties.

"This week we have been in the center point of severe weather," said J.D. Ragland, AgriLife Extension agent in Randall County, south of Amarillo. "On Wednesday night, tornadoes were spotted in northwest portion of Randall County. Homes were destroyed, windows broken out and crops were lost. It is hard to estimate at this time the total amount of crop loss."