AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

Central

Conditions varied greatly across the district. Rainfall was sporadic, and additional moisture was needed. Stock tanks were running low. The moisture resulted in some greening up. The recent freeze knocked back some Bermuda grass. Corn stands were good but freeze burn and moisture stress occurred in some areas and some fields looked uneven. Winter wheat was mostly headed out but remained short and somewhat uneven. Cotton planting began and was expected to continue over the next week. The cattle market remained steady and strong, along with sheep and goat markets. Livestock looked fair on pasture.

Rolling Plains

Recent rains brought much-needed moisture to the district, offering a timely boost to crops and forages. While rains improved topsoil moisture, subsoil levels remained below optimal for sustained crop growth. Farmers were cautiously optimistic and recognized more rain was needed. Reports indicated most winter wheat was headed out. However, producers noted that plant heights were noticeably shorter than average, and no rust was reported. Improved moisture levels benefited grazing pastures. Cattle grazed on greener, more abundant forage. There were reports of an increase in weeds, and many producers planned to apply herbicide soon.

Coastal Bend

Warming temperatures and dry, windy conditions caused moisture loss in fields and pastures. Cotton and rice producers continued planting crops following delays from recent rain and neared completion, with some replanting of cotton. Temperatures from 46-50 degrees affected emerging cotton, as well as corn and grain sorghum. Corn was in mostly fair to good condition but needed rain. Rangeland and pasture conditions were mostly fair but declined in some areas while others improved quickly and produced forage. Some cattle producers baled excess winter pasture. Cool-season forages faded, and warm-season forages lagged, which caused feeding to increase. Livestock found good forage in some areas, but livestock water ran low in others, which raised concern for some producers.

East

Warmer weather conditions had forages growing well. Spring gardening was in full swing. Pasture and rangeland conditions were good. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were adequate. Ponds, lakes and creeks remained full from recent rains. The cattle market was good overall. Livestock were in fair to good condition with very little supplementation. Wild pig activity was reported.

Southeast

Rice planting continued, aided by dry weather, though some farmers temporarily slowed planting to flush rice. Cotton seedlings and corn leaves suffered damage from cold, windy and dry conditions. Ryegrass hay cuttings began, with average to below average yields reported. Wheat was in excellent condition and heading out but was not yet mature. Oat fields were headed. Spring green-up was in full swing, with some pastures already being cut to remove winter grasses. Livestock remained in mostly good condition with some reports of poor to excellent body condition. Livestock conditions were expected to improve if more moisture became available. Pastures in Hardin County continued to struggle with overly wet conditions in low areas, delaying hay cutting and hampering spring green-up in some pastures. The crawfish outlook in some counties slightly improved due to wetter conditions. Pasture ratings were poor to excellent. Soil moisture levels ranged from short to surplus.

South Plains

The district experienced windy and dry conditions. A few farmers planted corn and sorghum. Others prepared beds for upcoming planting. Farmers across the district sprayed and fertilized for planting season. Livestock remained on supplemental feeding, but warm-season grasses began to emerge.

Panhandle

The district received about 1 inch of rain and 2-4 inches of snow. The moisture was extremely beneficial for producers as corn planting was set to begin soon. Soil moisture was very short to adequate. Cotton planting was expected to begin the first of May, and sorghum planting was planned for the latter part of May into early June. Top dress fertilizer applications were made to many small grain fields for grain and forage under both dryland and irrigated conditions. Wheat responded well to the recent moisture, especially the dryland. Wheat grew and developed at a rapid rate. Rangelands greened up. Gains in stocker cattle were excellent on graze-out wheat. Pasture and rangeland conditions were reported from poor to good. Overall crop conditions were fair to good.

North

Some parts of the district experienced scattered storms, while other counties had no significant rainfall. Temperatures were in the mid-70s to high-80s over the past week. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were short to adequate, with some reports of surplus. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to good, with a few listed as excellent. Pastures greened up in most counties across the district, while some spring pastures continued to be overgrazed. Spring vegetables and fruit trees progressed. Winter wheat was in good condition, and corn planting began. Feral hogs were very active across the district. Livestock began to gain weight and remained in good condition.

Far West

Unseasonably warm temperatures were reported, with temperatures in the upper-90s. Fortunately, winds were not as intense as in recent weeks. No precipitation was reported, causing moisture losses above normal for this time of year. Melon planting was in full swing. Corn planting was completed, but not all fields emerged due to lack of moisture. Sorghum planting began. Wheat in areas that received heavier rains improved noticeably and may make it to harvest. Fieldwork increased, and growers prepared for cotton planting. Irrigating from wells was difficult in some areas, and cottonseed germination was expected to be difficult. Some producers considered not planting until rainfall improved moisture levels. Area livestock had very little to graze on, and their diets were supplemented. Producers started to shear and mark late lambs.

West Central

Cold weather and some frost occurred, accompanied by high winds. Recent rains improved conditions in some areas, but overall drought conditions continued. Temperatures remained unseasonably warm, with highs in the upper 80s. Windy days dried out the moisture from prior rains. Moisture losses were above normal for this time of year. Field preparation increased for spring forage planting. Producers continued fertilizing hay fields and implementing weed control. Wheat and oat pastures remained extremely short and were expected to be grazed out soon. Irrigated winter wheat showed signs of improvement after recent moisture, and some freeze damage was reported in a few fields. Row crop producers continued weed management. Grain and forage sorghum planting was underway. Field preparation for cotton continued, but rain was needed before May plantings get underway. Some producers planted hay grazer with rain in the forecast. Pasture and rangeland conditions remained mostly unchanged due to the lack of follow-up rain. Pecan trees slowly broke winter dormancy. Small grasshoppers were noted in some pastures. Frost damaged some trees in low-lying areas. Cattle generally looked fair to good. Cows were calving, and supplemental feeding continued. Stock tanks needed more runoff. Hay feeding increased. The cattle market was active with strong demand.

Southwest

The weather remained dry and windy, with a mix of temperatures. Some days were quite cool, while others were unseasonably warm, including temperatures that reached the mid-80s. Fire danger remained a concern. Some irrigation wells were dry while others were more productive than last season. Several producers extended their well depths by as much as 80 feet and reconditioned the pumps at the same time. Feed corn continued to emerge. Some slight wind damage was observed in exposed corn, but it was minimal. Pecan trees fully leafed out. Corn and sorghum needed rain soon. Pastures looked greener from the last rain, but some forages declined due to lack of moisture and higher temperatures. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued. Livestock were grazing, but they also sought shade. Many producers sold livestock, and many cows going to market were exceptionally thin. There was also a higher percentage of open cows in herds, likely due to body condition, but overall, livestock were in fair condition.

South

The week of April 7 was dry. Conditions remained cool with hot afternoons, as temperatures and wind gusts increased. No rain was in the extended forecast. Drought conditions persisted. Local agricultural irrigation canals remained closed due to the low water levels in Lake Amistad. Topsoil and subsoil conditions decreased due to the hot weather. Most fields dried up from the previous rain event and farmers returned for fieldwork. Crops were damaged due to standing water left in several fields from flooding in early April.Many fields had no crops, and soil erosion increased. However, the extent of the damage was still being evaluated. Crops that did not experience prolonged standing water responded well to the moisture. Pastures and citrus also benefited greatly from the rain. Row crop farmers pressed forward with planting and hoped to finish by the middle of next week, though some were still waiting to plant cotton. Producers stayed busy spraying for weeds and fertilizing crop and pastures. Growers also made fungicide, and foliar nutrient applications. Others cultivated and side-dressed fertilizer. Mesquite and weed activity increased. Wheat and oat crops continued to mature, and fields were being prepared for harvest in the coming weeks. Field activity increased as farmers began preparing for peanut planting. Hay producers cultivated fields and planted hay grazer. Vegetable farmers harvested carrots, cabbage, onions and leafy greens. Sunflower fields showed much improvement, and some fields began flowering. Some grain sorghum fields showed signs of iron chlorosis. Corn and sorghum fields continued to progress. Sesame was being planted and expected to continue for another two weeks. Rains from the previous week helped green up grass, but more rain was needed for long-term improvement in rangeland and pasture conditions. Brushy plants were fully leafed out and in various stages of bloom, and prickly pear was in full bloom. Rangeland conditions improved, but heavily stocked pastures still required supplemental feeding, and pest pressure was an issue. Supplemental feeding for cattle was expected to decrease as grass production increased. Local sale barns reported smaller numbers of sales but good prices across all classes of cattle.