Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending July 27, 2014.
Summary
Scattered showers occurred in South Texas and the Lower Valley, stretching across the Coastal Bend and into the Blacklands. The majority of the state averaged no more than half an inch in rainfall, though North East Texas and the Upper Coast received up to two inches in some areas. Other areas of Texas experienced hot and dry temperatures with minimal moisture.
Small Grains: Winter wheat harvest for this season reached completion statewide. Wheat fields were currently being worked for the early planting season in the Northern High Plains and the Cross-Timbers.
Row Crops: Corn continued to mature in the Blacklands, with some producers preparing for harvest in South East and South Central Texas. In South Texas, peanuts continued in the pegging stage. Sorghum progress slowed in the Southern Low Plains due to intense heat conditions.
In areas of the Blacklands, various producers reported sugarcane aphid infestations in sorghum fields. In the Northern Low Plains, cotton producers were spraying fields for weeds. Cotton fields were blooming and setting bolls in the Trans-Pecos, Edwards Plateau, and the Upper Coast. Sunflower harvest progressed in the Blacklands and South Central Texas
Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crops: In the Edwards Plateau, pecans were progressing well, while some orchards in South Texas required irrigation due to dry conditions last week. Potatoes were nearing harvest in areas of the Northern High Plains. Producers in South Texas virtually concluded watermelon harvest.
Livestock, Range and Pasture: Pasture and range land continued to green across the state, though a few producers in South Central Texas and the Trans-Pecos reported deteriorating conditions due to a lack of rainfall. Cattle were in good condition statewide, while producers in the Edwards Plateau and Lower Valley continued to provide supplemental feed.
