Texas Crop And Weather Report

AgriCharts

Owen Taylor: Midsouth Cotton, 6-11: Agfax Midsouth Cotton: Wind, plant bugs and thrips move into the field. (Read More)

Virginia Cotton, 5-27: Summertime Conditions. (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-27: Food Security; Doha Trade Talks and The Farm Bill; Ag Production Costs. (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-23: Farm Bill Debate Wraps Up (Read More)

Gerloff On Cotton, 5-23: Grain and cotton prices fell; planting progressed (Read More)

Closing Rice, 5-23: Remains in the bottom half of $4 trading range (Read More)

Closing Cotton, 5-23: Market pushed lower fueled by poor export report and planting progress (Read More)

Closing Grain, 5-23: Wheat price vulnerable; corn little change. European Union may remove 10% set aside restriction on farmers. (Read More)

Closing Soybean, 5-23: Closed higher; favorable weather contributed to bean acres moving to corn. (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-22: Finger pointing over Bush's Farm Bill Veto heats up (Read More)

Closing Rice, 5-22: Early highs disappeared into declines (Read More)

Closing Cotton, 5-22: Market continues to seesaws highs and lows (Read More)

Closing Grain, 5-22: Wheat follows drop in crude. (Read More)

Closing Soybean, 5-22: No boost today even with strong export and crush reports. (Read More)

Mississippi: Multi-Year Drought May be Over, 5-22: From dry to soggy weather in a few months. (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Southern Grain, 5-22: AgFax Southern Grain: Too Wet in Southeast Midsouth; Too Dry in Texas (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-22: Finger pointing over Bush's Farm Bill Veto heats up (Read More)

Virginia Cotton, 5-21: Finally, First True Leaf Appears (Read More)

Closing Rice, 5-21: Rice posted solid gains. Market appears to be stabilizing. (Read More)

Closing Cotton, 5-21: Cotton turned a bit higher, but little excitement. (Read More)

Closing Grain, 5-21: Corn flirting with strong support due to high oil price, weak dollar and weather delays. (Read More)

Closing Soybean, 5-21: Soybeans posted sharp gains thanks to $130 per barrel oil, weak dollar. (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-21: "Analysis From Brussels" and "What is the CAP Health Check?" by Roger Waite, editor of AGRA FACTS (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Midsouth Cotton, 5-20: Agfax Midsouth Cotton: Heavy rains threw yet another monkey wrench into planting progress (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Midsouth/Texas Rice, 5-21: Agfax: Midsouth/Texas: We continue to hear about additional acres going into rice, and doublecropped in Texas. (Read More)

Weekly Outlook, 5-19: Hog Prices: Do you believe in miracles? (Read More)

Closing Rice, 5-20: Solid gains posted; market appears to be stabilizing. U.S. plantings likely higher than March intentions. (Read More)

Closing Cotton, 5-20: Supply situation bearish. 10 million bales of ending stocks with planting approaching 9 million acres. (Read More)

Closing Grain, 5-20: Wheat missed magic $8; corn closed in recovery. Record wheat harvest expected. Australia looks at 3rd year drought. (Read More)

Closing Soybean, 5-20: Soybeans mostly higher. USDA reports only 27 percent of the soybean crop in the ground. The 5 year average is 47 percent. (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-20: Farm Bill Cost Still Concern; Food Prices; CAP; Doha; Crop Progress (Read More)

Closing Rice, 5-19: Rice rebounded from early losses to close mixed. Market appears to be stabilizing. (Read More)

Closing Cotton, 5-19: Cotton closed well above day’s lows. Overall supply situation is bearish. (Read More)

Closing Grain, 5-19: Wheat futures sharply lower. Dry conditions reported in Australia where farmers trying to recover from two crop failure years in row. (Read More)

Mississippi: Guinea Pig Bandwagon 5-19: Dulaney brothers bump up bottom line with experiment and innovation on 4th generation farm (Read More)

Specialists Speaking, 5-19: Louisiana - Fungicide; Mississippi - Variety; Texas - Tankmix; California - Seedlings; Arkansas - Flood and Disease; Missouri - Irrigation (Read More)

Gerloff On Cotton, 5-17: If anything, prices are higher than one might expect (Read More)

Virginia Cotton, 5-19: Cotton planting is ongoing, and time to spray the fields that are up. (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-19: "Analysis From Washington"- By Dan Morgan- Farm Bill Review. (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Weekly AgUpdates, 5-19: Agfax AgUdates: This week's compilation of Extension bulletins and newsletters from http://agfax.com (Read More)

Owen Taylor: California Cotton, 5-19: Agfax San Joaquin Valley Cotton: A few worm treatments went out while a huge crop of almonds could make for a lot of mites this year. (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Southeast Cotton, 5-19: Agfax Southeast Cotton: Adequate moisture expected and moderate temperatures should help keep the ball rolling. (Read More)

Owen Taylor: PeanutFax, 5-19: Agfax Peanut Report: Southeast growers caught moisture in late April and started planting at a fast pace. (Read More)

Closing Rice, 5-16: Rice got a strong bounce, but market gave back a portion and closed near the bottom. (Read More)

Closing Cotton, 5-16: Cotton was energized today (Read More)

Closing Grain, 5-16: Wheat futures higher following soybeans, but the trend is still down. (Read More)

Closing Soybean, 5-16: Soybeans ended with good gains; corn closed lower. (Read More)

Texas: Weekly Rice Progress Report, 5-16: High prices affect the planted acreage totals. (Read More)

Tennessee: Economics of Late Planting, 5-16: B. Goodman looks at the numbers involved in making a replant decision. (Read More)

Tennessee: Soybean Replant Decisions, 5-16: Two Field Methods guide replant decisions (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-16: Farm Bill 81-15, Food Prices (Read More)

Extension provides ‘ballpark’ haying expenses figures: Number crunching tells the story of increased fuel prices. (Read More)

North Carolina:: Wheat head scab alert (Read More)

Mississippi Farmweek On the Air: Farmweek, a half hour weekly series, has been on the air for 31 years. (Read More)

Closing Rice, 5-15: Lower today; USDA put ’08 U.S. production at just 197 million cwt; virtually unchanged from 07. (Read More)

Closing Cotton, 5-15: Cotton ended unchanged. Weekly export sales within trade expectations but too low to meet USDA’s annual estimates. (Read More)

Closing Soybean, 5-15: Soybeans ended lower. But futures are well above USDA’s average price projection (Read More)

Closing Grain, 5-15: A move up in wheat futures is more than likely just a corrective bounce. (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Southern Grain, 5-15: AgFax Southern Grain: Midsouth sees too much rain; Southeast too little. Stinkbugs are showing up. (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-15: House 318-106, House Passes Farm Bill Conference Agreement (Read More)

Closing Rice, 5-14: Rice gapped lower today but still remains strong. (Read More)

Closing Cotton, 5-14: Cotton was lower again today as overall fundamentals remain negative. (Read More)

Closing Grain, 5-14: Wheat future lower across the board. (Read More)

Closing Soybean, 5-14: Today’s high close could bring resistance. (Read More)

Texas Agriculture Production Sets Record, 5-14: Higher crop and livestock prices topped out ag production at $21.8 billion (Read More)

Texas Crop and Weather, 5-14: Drought in one area while rain pours down on another (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Midsouth Cotton, 5-14: Agfax Midsouth Cotton: Tornadoes, more rain and river levee seepage continue to delay planting. (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Midsouth/Texas Rice, 5-14: Agfax: Midsouth/Texas: Tornadoes, too much rain and is water seeding an option to get rice planted? (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-14: Farm Bill Conference Report Vote (Read More)

The Trickiest Call: Cotton Farming, May 2008 (Read More)

Closing Rice, 5-13: Rice followed corn and wheat lower The overall fundamental picture remains tight. (Read More)

Closing Cotton, 5-13: Cotton hanging low. Last week’s supply demand report limits upside potential, even with smaller crop. (Read More)

Closing Soybean, 5-13: Today’s higher close could bring resistance. (Read More)

Closing Grain, 5-13: Wheat future lower across the board. (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-13: Farm Bill; Crop Progress/Production; Doha (Read More)

Texas sweet onion harvest soured, 5-13: Big harvest on top of too much old crop still in storage (Read More)

Closing Rice, 5-12: Values improved later in the day. Little room for crop problems with World production estimates at 432 million metric tones. (Read More)

Closing Cotton, 5-12: Heavy carryover stocks pressure price. But projected 6 million bale drop in world stocks in 08-09 is light in the tunnel. (Read More)

Closing Grain, 5-12: Wheat stocks are low this year, but expectation of current bumper crop is keeping lid on the market. (Read More)

Closing Soybean, 5-12: Soybeans stalled below April 15 high of $13.15 ½ .Slow corn planting puts pressure on soybean seed. (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-12: Farm Bill Focus; WASDE Analysis; Food Prices (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Weekly AgUpdates, 5-12: Agfax AgUdates: This week's compilation of Extension bulletins and newsletters from http://agfax.com (Read More)

Owen Taylor: California Cotton, 5-12: Agfax San Joaquin Valley Cotton: Pests are showing up but not yet treatable. Temperature still delaying factor. (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Southern Grain, 5-12: AgFax Southern Grain: Corn planting delays pushed soybean planting, but seed supplies tight. (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-11: A bullish commodity market moves food prices up, and may have dire consequences for import-dependent nations. (Read More)

Mississippi: Cotton holds promise, just on fewer acres: Higher prices promise good profits for 2008. (Read More)

Gerloff On Cotton, 5-12: After latest USDA report, exports remain the key. (Read More)

National Weekly Cotton Summary, 5-9: Planting well under way but severe weather kept things interesting in the South. (Read More)

USDA: Tennessee Has Largest Wheat Crop since 1982: Tennessee farmers seeded 620,000 acres last fall, up 47 percent from the previous year. But hay stocks are short. (Read More)

Rice: FDA Approves Heart, Cancer Health Claim for Brown Rice, 5-8: Consumers will be able to easily identify brown rice as a food to increase whole grain consumption. (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Midsouth Cotton, 5-7: AgFax Midsouth Cotton: How much is the crop running behind? We hear 2 weeks or more in some locations. (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Midsouth/Texas Rice, 5-7: Agfax: Midsouth/Texas: There’s no telling how much rice would have been planted this spring if everyone had gotten about half as many showers as they did. (Read More)

Keith Good Farm Policy, 5-8: Agreement on Farm Bill- Details Expected Today; Biofuels Hearing (Senate); Doha (Read More)

Virginia Cotton 5-5: Favorable Weather Forecast. (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Weekly AgUpdates, 5-5: Agfax AgUdates: This week's compilation of Extension bulletins and newsletters from http://agfax.com (Read More)

Owen Taylor: California Cotton, 5-5: Agfax San Joaquin Valley Cotton: Cooler conditions in April slowed plant development in much of the San Joaquin Valley. (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Southern Grain, 5-5: AgFax Southern Grain: Georgia and Louisiana early wheat ready for mid-May harvest. Corn up and growing in most locations. Soybean planters wide open where weather allows. (Read More)

Owen Taylor: Midsouth/Texas Rice, 4-30: Ricefax Report: Midsouth growers scramble to plant rice and other crops, especially in Arkansas and the upper Delta where thunderstorms delayed field work and seeding. (Read More)

Arkansas late-planted corn: Coping in a year when you're behind schedule. (Read More)

Plants Text Message Farmers When Thirsty: SmartCrop system based on USDA research in Texas. (Read More)

Virginia cotton planting looks favorable: Seeds will go into warm, moist soils - mostly in May. (Read More)

Arkansas farmers should brace for flood of insects: High water and planting delays complicate pest prospects for 2008. (Read More)

Cotton Commentary

Texas:

Crop and Weather

By Robert Burns 

College Station (May 14, 2008)  Drought continued to plague some regions, while others received some relief with rain, report Texas AgriLife Extension Service agents from across the state.

In some areas, the rain was light, as in the Coastal Bend region. In the Rolling Plains , producers saw a slow, soaking rain.

"What a difference one week makes when it finally does start to rain," said J.D. Ragland, AgriLife Extension agent in Floyd County, near Lubbock.

And the timing could not have been better, Ragland said.

"Cotton producers were just getting geared up to get into full swing with cotton planting starting this week and next."

"With the receiving of 2 to 4 inches of rainfall this past week everyone will be planting cotton and sorghum furiously next week," said Kyle Kight, AgriLife Extension agent in Crosby County, east of Lubbock.

"Nacogdoches County received much needed rainfall this week, with some receiving 1.25 inches," said Chad Gulley, AgriLife Extension agent. "We could use more rainfall. High winds continue and are drying our soils out."

The following summaries were compiled by AgriLife Extension district reporters this week:

CENTRAL: Coastal Bermuda grass fields were doing well, and winter grasses were providing good grazing. Stocker operators were shipping cattle. Cool, moist conditions caused problems for cotton producers, and many considered replanting. Producers were fertilizing but at reduced rates because of high nitrogen prices.

COASTAL BEND: The southern part of the region had little rainfall, but it did provide a little drought relief. Severe heat and winds continued to magnify the effects of the drought. Some crops have been filed as a total loss for crop insurance. The northern part of the region received more rainfall than the southern counties. Soybeans were blooming, and some corn was tasseling. Pastures were in fair to good condition. Pecan producers began to spray for casebearers.

EAST: Some rain was received, but windy conditions depleted moisture levels. In drier counties, producers waited to fertilize, but will do so at reduced rates because of the high cost of nitrogen. Winter pastures were cut in many areas. Although warm-season grasses began to green up, cooler nighttime temperatures slowed the rate of growth. Many producers were applying weed herbicides on pastures. Cattle conditions were good. There were some reports of diseases such as fire blight on ornamentals, trees and shrubs. Blueberries and blackberries were in very good condition.

FAR WEST: Conditions across the region were extremely dry. High winds accompanied from 0.1 to 1 inch of rain. Thunderstorms sparked wildfires. Range and pastures were in poor to very poor condition. Corn was in fair to good condition. Sorghum was in fair condition. Winter wheat was in very poor to good condition. Oats were in poor to good condition. Wine- grape production showed promise, having avoided the late season freeze two weeks ago. Pecan production and cotton planting were on schedule, with long green chiles, melons, corn, sunflowers and sorghum doing well.

NORTH: The soil moisture profile was in good shape. The weather conditions were mild to cool with some scattered showers. Cool nights slowed down summer forage growth. All crops were doing well. Wheat was headed and started to turn, with no reports of insect, disease or weather-related damage. The same holds true for oats. All corn was planted, emerged and progressed well. It was estimated that about 75 percent of grain sorghum and soybeans has been planted. Many ranchers started to bale early-season hay, and many are planting new Bermuda grass pastures. Hay yields were down dramatically this year at 2 and 2.25 tons per acre. Existing Bermuda grass stands are coming on a little late this year and need some warm temperatures. Having reserves, some producers may not bale hay this year due to high fuel and fertilizer prices. Ryegrass was nearly finished. Weeds were beginning to emerge, and producers have started praying. Range and pasture conditions were good. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Strawberries and peaches looked good.

PANHANDLE: Temperatures were slightly above average until a cool front brought them back to normal. Most of the area received some much-needed rain. Rain amounts ranged from a trace to 3 inches with most of the Panhandle reporting 0.5 to 1.5 inches. Soil moisture was rated from short to adequate with most areas reporting very short. Corn planting was in full swing, with about 75 percent planted. Stands were rated fair to good. Wheat was rated very poor to good, with most areas reporting very poor. The rain came too late for many wheat fields. Some disease was reported in irrigated wheat. Range conditions were rated mostly poor. Cattle condition was rated fair to good.

ROLLING PLAINS: The district received a much-needed slow, soaking rain – nearly 4 inches in certain areas. Nighttime temperatures were cool. Wheat matured and began to turn color. Cotton farmers were preparing to plant. Peanut producers were nearly finished planting. Pastures looked good. Cattle were in good condition. Spring calving slowed, and calf working continued. Some producers were still trying to plant grass before it gets too late. Fly populations continued to increase in most cattle herds where control measures were not in place. There appeared to be a good fruit crop set in small orchards and home fruit trees.

SOUTH: The region's weather was mild with no precipitation, and soil moisture remained very short. Producers in the mid-parts of the region continued to irrigate corn, sugar cane, cotton and sorghum. Spring onion harvesting continued, and the citrus harvest was completed. The melon, cabbage and wheat harvests continued, and sorghum was heading. Livestock producers were anxiously awaiting rainfall for their native range and pastures as they were still forced to provide supplemental feed.

SOUTH PLAINS: From 1 to 5 inches rain came May 6-7, which should permit planting. Some early planted corn began to emerge. Only a few cotton fields were planted prior to the rain events. Winter wheat was in poor to fair condition, but was expected to respond well to the rain, as were pastures and range. Cattle were in good condition and continue to be supplemented.

SOUTHEAST: Rainfall varied from 2 to 6 inches, with little runoff. Some producers began baling hay to clean up pastures for summer growth.

SOUTHWEST: The region remained dry with only insignificant rain showers at isolated locations. The year-to-date rainfall total is1.06 inches at Uvalde, compared to a long-term average of nearly 8 inches. Record high temperatures and dry winds are aggravating the drought. Forage availability remained below average, forcing deer to browse in irrigated fields and home landscapes. Corn, sorghum, spring vegetables, sunflowers and cotton made good progress under irrigation. Dryland small grains have failed due to the drought. The cabbage and carrot harvest was almost finished. The potato, onion and pickling cucumber harvest slowly gained momentum. Pecans, sod, grapes, cantaloupes and watermelons made good progress under heavy irrigation.

WEST CENTRAL: Light scattered showers fell mid-week, with an accumulation from 0.2 to 0.5 inches. With warmer weather, the showers caused spring and summer grasses to start growing. Livestock were in good shape with very little supplemental feeding. Coke County reported very few fields of wheat harvested, some for seed. Most wheat and oats were being grazed out and some baled. Mason County reported light freeze damage to oats. Forage was fair at best, and high fuel prices made harvesting hay too costly. San Saba reported the pecan crop showed more promise than earlier expected.