Wheat and oats heading out in some areas

Weather was mostly cool and windy throughout Texas for the week ending April 15, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Southern Plains Regional Field Office, Texas. The Northern Plains and some other areas in the state experienced freezing temperatures. East Texas, the Upper Coast, the Coastal Bend, South Central Texas and areas of the Blacklands received between 0.5 to 2.0 inches of rain. The rest of the state remained very dry, intensifying the drought in the Northern Plains and the Southern Low Plains up to the point of reaching exceptional drought levels according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. There were 6.2 days suitable for fieldwork.

Wheat irrigation remained active in the Northern High Plains, helping improve crop condition. Wheat and oats were heading out in the Low Plains, the Cross Timbers and the Blacklands. Freezing temperatures caused concerns for producers in the High and Low Plains as small grain crops were susceptible to freeze damage.

Cotton planting started in the Blacklands and continued in South East Texas, the Trans-Pecos, the Upper Coast and South Texas. Thrips were seen in cotton fields in the Upper Coast. Corn and sorghum continued to make good progress in the Blacklands, South Central Texas, the Upper Coast and the Lower Valley. Corn fields were being irrigated in South Texas. Early planted rice emerged in the Upper Coast while planting continued.