–Robert Burns, Texas AgriLife Extension
Wheat highlights from the most recent Texas crop and weather report:
North: Even after rains the previous week, soil-moisture levels remained very short to short. However, the rains did raise soil moisture enough to encourage producers to continue to plant small grains and winter annual pastures. Depending upon the county, wheat was from 26 percent to 70 percent planted and 5 percent to 50 percent emerged.
Panhandle: The weather was warm and windy for most of the region with no moisture reported. Some counties reported their first freeze. Soil-moisture levels ranged from very short to adequate, with most counties reporting very short to short. Wheat growers continued planting wheat. Most dryland wheat may not make a stand. All irrigated wheat was being watered to get it established.
Rolling Plains: Recent showers greened things up somewhat, but cooler nighttime temperatures slowed grass growth. Producers were sowing wheat and oats. Some cotton producers delayed harvest to take advantage of the moisture and plant wheat. Some wheat fields that were earlier sowed into dry fields emerged and were up and appeared to be in good condition.
South: Short to very short soil moisture conditions were the rule for the region except for adequate levels reported in Atascosa and Live Oak counties. In Atascosa and Frio counties the planting of wheat was ongoing. Maverick County farmers continued planting winter crops. In Zavala County, dryland oats and wheat-emergence got a boost from rain.
South Plains: Producers were planting winter wheat, hoping to get enough rain to bring it up. The region had much cooler temperatures with highs in the 70s and 80s and lows mostly in the 40s. A few places recorded dips into the 30s.
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