Texas Ag Report

Staff Writer
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Conditions across the state were mostly hot and dry during the past week. Isolated areas along the coast, the Northern High Plains, and southern Texas received up to 3.0 inches of rain. However, most of the state received no precipitation or only trace amounts. Triple digit temperatures continued to be reported across the state. There were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork.

Row crops: Dryland cotton suffered throughout the Plains due to lack of moisture, while irrigated cotton continued to progress. Cotton was blooming in the Trans-Pecos, Coastal Bend and the Lower Valley. Irrigation was in full swing in South Texas and the Lower Valley. Corn was starting to silk in the Northern High Plains. Spider mites were reported on some corn crops located in the Northern High Plains. Corn and sorghum harvest was active in South Central Texas, the Coastal Bend, the Upper Coast, South Texas and the Lower Valley. Dryland sorghum was struggling in the Edwards Plateau. Peanuts in the Southern High Plains continued to progress but blooms were less robust due to dry conditions. Rice continued to progress in areas of the Upper Coast as most producers were anticipating harvest beginning soon.

Fruit, vegetable and specialty crops: Pecan trees continued to progress in the Trans-Pecos and South Texas, however pecan trees in the Cross Timbers were in need of moisture. Watermelon harvest continued in North East and South Texas. Peach and blueberry harvest was underway in areas of North East Texas.

Livestock, range and pasture: Supplemental feeding increased due to dry conditions in areas of the Edwards Plateau, South Central Texas and South Texas. Pastureland across most of the state continued to dry out due to hot conditions. Increasing numbers of flies and grasshoppers continued to disturb livestock and crops inside areas of the Blacklands. Feral hog damage continued in areas of North Texas. Pasture and range condition were mostly rated fair to poor.

Milk production: Milk production in Texas during the April-June quarter totaled 3,652 million pounds, down 2% from the January-March quarter, but up 4% from last year's quarter. The average number of milk cows in Texas during the quarter totaled 590,000 head, up 26,000 head from the same quarter in 2019. Milk production in the United States during the April-June quarter totaled 55.9 billion pounds, up 0.4% from the same quarter last year. The average number of milk cows in the United States during the quarter was 9.36 million head, down 12,000 head from the January-March quarter, but up 31,000 head from the same period last year.

– Texas Department of Agriculture