Little to no rainfall received

The state received little to no rainfall for the week ending March 25, with the highest measurable precipitation being under 0.5 of an inch in the Trans-Pecos, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Southern Plains Regional Field Office, Texas. Extreme drought continued in the Plains, while many areas of the western, southern and central parts of the state were between moderate to severe drought conditions. There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork.

Wheat conditions have improved in the Plains due to continued irrigation and some scattered rainfall. Non-irrigated wheat across the state was in need of moisture due to the warm weather and dry soils. Some farmers in the Blacklands took advantage of dry conditions to control weeds and apply fertilizer. Irrigated wheat and oat fields in South Texas were in the heading stage.

Lack of moisture in the Plains slowed fieldwork in preparation for planting cotton. Meanwhile, cotton planting continued in South Texas, the Lower Valley, the Upper Coast, and the Coastal Bend. Corn planting continued in areas where conditions allowed. Emergence of sorghum was delayed in areas of the Upper Coast due to lack of moisture.