Weather Archives - Department of Soil and Crop Sciences

Few options to salvage late-season hay amid wet weather

19Nov

Writer: Adam Russell, 903-834-6191, adam.russell@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson, 903-834-6191, vacorriher@ag.tamu.edu

Warm-season grasses are plentiful in hay producing areas, but the rain that helped improve growing conditions following an extended period of drought is hurting their chances for more round bales, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson, AgriLife Extension forage specialist, Overton, said late-season rains created good growing conditions for warm-season grasses over the last 60 days following months of drought that left hay supplies low around the state.

She said while grasses might be abundant in pastures and hay meadows, producers are having difficulty harvesting between rains.

Puddles of water gather in low spots of a pasture west of Tyler. Rains have created soggy conditions for farmers trying to harvest warm-season grasses for hay before the first frost. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Adam Russell)

Corriher-Olson said many producers are counting on a final cutting, but weather conditions have been against them as the first freezing temperatures rapidly approach.

Producers would ideally make the final cutting now when the grass is green and before the first frost, which typically occurs Nov. 15 in East Texas, she said, but continuous rains over the last 60 days have allowed few opportunities for producers to harvest.

“Accessing the pastures with equipment was a problem, but even once the ground dried out enough to get in, producers had to consider if there was a window between rains where the hay could be cut, cured and baled before another rain,” she said. “It’s been difficult, and producers need the hay.”

Corriher-Olson said producing hay bales is heavily dependent on weather and there are risks associated with any decision when it comes to harvesting hay at this point in the season amid unfavorable weather conditions.

The best option is to move cattle onto the field for grazing if there is fencing and water is available.

“Livestock are much better harvesters than we are with machines,” she said. “But grazing isn’t an option for a lot of producers because many East Texas hay meadows don’t have fences or water.”

If hay is cut and remains on the ground when it rains, Corriher-Olson said it will begin to lose nutritive value due to leaching of non-structural carbohydrates. Rain can also shatter leaves off harvested forage and reduce both the crude protein and energy levels of the hay.

Harvesting hay after a frost is an option, she said. However, producers still need to be cautious of weather conditions.

“With cooler temperatures and cloudy days, curing hay can be even more challenging,” she said.

Extra forage can also be allowed to remain standing in the field for grazing, Corriher-Olson said. Maintaining some substantial Bermuda grass or Bahia grass stubble height could provide shade that could reduce volunteer ryegrass as well as other weed seed germination.

This might not provide 100 percent control, however competition can help reduce undesired plant growth, she said. Maintaining a higher stubble height can also be beneficial for the future growth of warm-season perennials. Higher stubble height means more substantial root structure to capture deeper soil moisture and nutrients.

“Cooler spring temperatures, drought, fall armyworms and late fall rains have added extra challenges for hay production, so late season utilization, whether harvesting, grazing or maintaining stubble, could impact forage production this year and next,” she said.

Drought, late summer rains among challenges for Texas cotton growers

25Oct

By: Adam Russell

Drought and untimely late-summer rains likely will mean a subpar 2018 growing season for many Texas cotton producers, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Dr. Gaylon Morgan, AgriLife Extension statewide cotton specialist, College Station, said Texas cotton producers dealt with a myriad of challenges in 2018, including cool spring temperatures, summer drought and late-summer rains.

Three cold fronts early in the season put cotton fields behind and caused some poor emergence and considerable replanting, Morgan said. But summer sun and high temperatures provided enough heat units, and drought actually pushed cotton maturity to initiate harvest earlier than normal in South and East Texas this year.

However, much of the dryland cotton in many parts of the state was starved for moisture due to the dry summer, Morgan said. In South and East Texas, where dryland fields did survive, cotton yields were below average or not worth harvesting.

Cotton ready to harvest has been soaked by untimely rains. (AgriLife Extension Service photo by Dr. Gaylon Morgan)

As the season progressed, hopes were renewed with scattered timely rains and plenty of heat units needed for cotton to develop in the Upper Gulf Coast, Morgan said.

“We got off to a rough start, but had a good looking crop in the Upper Gulf Coast before the rains set in in September,” he said. “Now there’s been a month of off and on wet weather at the wrong time for the remaining cotton in the Upper Gulf Coast and irrigated cotton in the Blacklands.”

Morgan said fields in cotton-producing areas in the lower two-thirds of the state have received continuous rains and much of the Southeast and Coastal Bend is saturated, making accessing fields impossible. It’s the third year in a row that producers around the Upper Gulf Coast and Brazos Bottom regions have faced detrimental late-summer rains, including Hurricane Harvey last year.

In many of these areas, harvest is at a standstill, he said. Continuous rains are hurting fiber quality and seed quality in the field, and delays are causing problems such as cottonseed sprouting.

Morgan also said many producers in the rain-soaked parts of Texas had applied defoliant before rains set in and the delays will mean spending more money on harvest aids to bring remaining cotton in.

Harvest in the Rio Grande Valley was complete, Morgan said, and 95-98 percent of cotton in the Coastal Bend was out before the rains hindered producers. But this wet weather has also prevented destruction of post-harvest cotton stalks, which growers are required to do for continued success of the boll weevil eradication program.

In the Upper Gulf area, including Matagorda County, around 25-35 percent of the crop was still in fields, and 60-70 percent of fields in the Brazos Bottom were still awaiting harvest, he said.

Cotton fields around much of South and East Texas have received continuous late summer rains that have delayed harvest. Soggy conditions and delays are leading to problems, such as sprouting seeds and reduced fiber quality. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Dr. Gaylon Morgan)

Cotton fields in the Southern Plains and Panhandle should be ready for harvest toward the end of October, he said. Most dryland cotton in the Southern Plains and Rolling Plains was lost to drought, and producers were beginning to apply harvest aids to early maturing fields.

“We’re looking at an average irrigated crop (in the Southern Plains and Panhandle) because of the heat and irrigation limitations with little to no precipitation all summer,” he said.

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture, 25 percent of the Texas cotton crop had been harvested, 5 percent ahead of the five-year average, Morgan said. The report also rated the statewide cotton crop at 6 percent excellent; 22 percent good; 34 percent fair; 28 percent poor and 10 percent very poor.

Morgan said areas that needed to dry out in South and East Texas received additional rain this past weekend, which means continued delays and reduced fiber quality. Cottonseed production typically covers ginning costs for producers, but sprouting seeds mean farmers will incur additional ginning costs on top of decreased fiber quality.

Two years ago, somewhat similar conditions and discounts reduced farmer harvest income by 8-10 cents per pound of fiber, Morgan said. However, the cotton remaining in the fields in South and East Texas will likely see lower fiber quality than two years ago, because the extended exposure to weathering.

“All the acres that needed to be harvested were delayed more,” he said. “Everything that remains in the field will get worse until they can get it out.”

Dryland wheat crop is hanging on during drought

24Apr

Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Qingwu Xue, 806-354-5803, QXue@ag.tamu.edu

AMARILLO – The dryland wheat crop is hanging on by a thread, of sorts.

two wheat cultivars with vastly different root development

Root development on wheat plants is making a difference in this drought year in the High Plains. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Kay Ledbetter)

Thread-like roots developed last fall from the wheat seed have reached deep into the soil profile to tap moisture stored after abundant summer and fall rains, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research crop stress physiologist in Amarillo.

The root function of wheat plants is very important under dryland conditions, said Dr. Qingwu Xue. Those fall-developed roots are keeping plants alive as they await seasonal rainfall, even under extended drought conditions.

“This season has provided us a very good opportunity to evaluate the drought tolerance among wheat cultivars and dryland wheat management,” Xue said. “If you look at the dryland wheat around Bushland, you will see the plants are still alive, in spite of the fact we have not had any significant rainfall for about six months.”

He said while some plants are showing water stress, many are still looking strong above ground.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_rR4doiyok&feature=youtu.be

“But if you pull the plant up, you will not find many crown roots,” Xue said. “So you might ask, ‘How are these plants surviving with no visible roots?’ Seminal roots that developed from the seeds last fall, that’s pretty much what has kept the dryland wheat plants alive.”

He said the seminal roots can go down 3 to 4 feet deep to tap the soil water reservoir.

Dr. Qingwu Xue, Texas A&M AgriLife Research crop stress physiologist, shows the difference in root development and plant growth between wheat cultivars. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Kay Ledbetter)

“Last summer and fall we received above-average rainfall,” Xue said. “That water is still available down deep and allowing the plants to survive, even under extended long, dry conditions.”

Within the dryland wheat plots and fields, he said a difference can be seen in the root development among cultivars, and that is important in monitoring for drought resistance.

A little rain a few weeks ago provided enough of a boost for some cultivars to show growth of the crown roots once again, and that is also being reflected in the aboveground growth.

“These plants will have a better survival chance and will probably have a better yield under dryland conditions than those on which the crown roots have almost disappeared,” he said.

Xue said one of the AgriLife Research dryland wheat fields received less than an inch of irrigation a week ago and has demonstrated rapid development of crown roots, as well as aboveground growth.

“This just demonstrates the importance of the roots for wheat production under water-limited conditions. They help it survive until the seasonal rains come,” he said. “In the coming weeks, if we get a little bit of rain, it will help the dryland wheat to remain productive.”

Xue said he also noted a planting-date difference on wheat performance under this year’s drought conditions. Fields planted in September used up the stored soil water faster and thus are shorter and not as strong as those planted in November, which are still thriving on stored moisture in the deep profile.

“The difference in this year and previous years,” he said, “is while we have had a very long period of dry conditions on the top soil, we still have plenty of water in the deeper soil profile and this is helping the plants survive.

“If you have a very good soil-water profile to start with, you have a better chance of developing the root system critical to surviving an extended period with no seasonal rains,” Xue said.

Weather delayed cool-season forage planting

6Nov

Writer: Adam Russell, 903-834-6191, russell@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson, 903-834-6191, vacorriher@ag.tamu.edu
Dr. Monte Rouquette, 903-834-6191, monte.rouquette@ag.tamu.edu

OVERTON – Warm temperatures and dry conditions have pushed planting of cool-season forage plantings past the normal, prime window for many East Texas producers, according to Texas A&M AgriLife experts.

Producer Joel Kirby, of Overton, prepares to reload his planter with Maton rye and Nelson ryegrass seed. Kirby planted his cool-season annual seed before a recent rain event. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo Adam Russell)

Dr. Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service forage specialist, Overton, said producers ideally wanted to plant winter pastures between late-September and mid-October. But roller coaster temperatures and dry conditions have pushed many producers to plant late or consider not planting at all.

“The long-term forecast is calling for a warmer, drier winter, and if we do get significant dry spells, forages, especially in ryegrass, will be in trouble,” she said. “The investment of time, land preparation, fertilizer and the cost of seed, which in the case of ryegrass is more expensive this year, will influence whether or not producers take the risk.”

Corriher-Olson said there is also concern about widespread armyworm infestations and the additional cost of treating pastures to keep the pest at bay.

Pushing the planting date to later dates extends the timetable of forage availability later and later, she said, which could be problematic for producers who rely on winter pastures for grazing.

Dr. Monte Rouquette, AgriLife Research plant physiologist, Overton, said the decision to plant and what cool-season annual strategies producers should incorporate, be it ryegrass, clover or small grains, depends on the grazing needs of their herd.

Producers who were delayed and planted by mid-November should assume it may be late- December to mid-January for small-grain grazing, and could be late February or March before cows can access ryegrass pastures.

“Producers who planted a couple weeks ago following rain should be in good shape for winter grazing in late-December and January after the most recent rain event,” he said. “But that’s if they fertilize with Nitrogen according to soil tests, and temperatures are conducive to growth and we get timely rains. If cool-season annual forages aren’t planted by mid-to-late November, then producers might want to consider other options such as hay and protein supplementation.”

At this point, Rouquette said producers hoping to provide winter grazing should consider planting small grains, specifically cereal grain rye, because they are tolerant of acidic soils and cold weather. They grow aggressively, he said, and are the most reliable for winter grazing compared to ryegrass or clovers.

Rye typically takes 45 days to provide adequate forage for a cow herd, he said, but that is dependent on weather. Cold temperatures and a lack of rain could push development of the pasture toward 65 days.

“If you have fall-calving cows, replacement heifers or stockers that need to be carried through the winter, small grains are probably the best option,” he said. “But they need to be planted now and hope for good growing conditions.”

Texas Crop and Weather Report — Oct. 25

25Oct

Soybean yields likely to hit or miss in remaining fields

Writer: Adam Russell, 903-834-6191, adam.russell@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Clark Neely, 979-862-1412, cbneely@tamu.edu; Russell Sutton, 214-718-1602, r-sutton@tamu.edu

COLLEGE STATION – Soybean producers had a hit-or-miss growing season this year as the timing of arid conditions and rain factored heavily into yields, according to Texas A&M AgriLife experts.

Dr. Clark Neely, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service small grains and oilseed specialist, College Station, said timing was everything for soybean producers.

The soybean harvest is underway and A&M AgriLife experts say 2016 will be a hit-or-miss year for producers due to delayed planting from spring rains; arid mid-summer conditions and delayed harvests following late-August rains. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo)

Neely said soybean fields in the southeast looked good early, but struggled through hot, dry summer days in June and July before August rains arrived. Weeks of arid summer conditions did their part to inhibit plant production. Pods were plentiful and looked good on plants, but many pods did not fill, he said.

The rains came too late to help the plants produce, but arrived in time to cause more problems for producers.

For weeks, rain events prevented some producers from accessing fields that were ready for harvest and beans rotted in their pods, he said. Even soybean trials at College Station performed poorly due to the conditions.

“The timing of the rains couldn’t have been worse,” he said. “They were ready for harvest and had to sit in the fields for two weeks or more.”

Russell Sutton, Texas A&M AgriLife Research assistant research scientist, Commerce, said results varied from region to region. Planting time seemed to be the biggest factor for plants in the northern part of the state.

Some fields performed well while others failed to meet expectations, he said.

Sutton said fields planted early had time to establish and took advantage of spring rains before the summer heat arrived. Late-planted fields didn’t fare so well. He estimated some early planted fields yielded up to 40 bushels per acre while some late-planted fields struggled to make 20 bushels per acre.

“A lot of producers had high hopes for soybeans this year,” Sutton said. “But it was a challenging year for some.”

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

CENTRAL: Temperatures were above normal and no rainfall was reported. Winter grazing pastures were stressing from lack of moisture in some areas. Some producers will replant oats due to the lack of rain. Cattle remained in good condition without supplemental feeding and stock tank levels held steady. Many producers were making final cuttings of hay. Armyworms continued to be a concern. Most counties reported good soil moisture and overall rangeland and pasture conditions. Overall crop conditions were mostly fair.

ROLLING PLAINS: Conditions remained favorable for cotton farmers, with pleasant temperatures and plenty of sunshine. Farmers in one area began harvesting cotton, and the harvest was expected to soon be in full swing. Pastures and rangeland were in good condition. Some ranchers began moving cattle to ungrazed pastures. Producers expected plenty of grazing through the winter months after recent rains. Winter wheat and oats looked good, but a small number of acres were replanted due to insect pressure. Livestock were also in good condition with only a small portion of supplemental feeding.

COASTAL BEND: Weather conditions were favorable with a few light showers reported in some areas. More rain will be needed to improve soil moisture levels for spring planting. Cotton harvests were completed and ginning will continue for several weeks. Armyworms were still present. Pastures showed some color change due to drier conditions, but they were still in good shape with plenty of available forage. Calf marketing continued in spite of price declines. Cattle were in good shape. Pecan harvests continued with fair to good yields in irrigated orchards and hit and miss yields for natives.

EAST: Scattered rain fell across the region. Counties reported very dry soil. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were short to adequate. Cooler temperatures moved into the area. Winter forages looked good for those that received rain. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to good. Grass in some areas was turning brown. Marion County producers were finishing up their last cutting of hay. Volunteer ryegrass started to emerge in Cherokee County. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Cattle prices continued to decline. Producers were selling spring calves. Fall calves were being born. Wild pigs were active in some parts of Gregg County. Upshur County continued predator and pest control.

SOUTH PLAINS: Temperatures in Bailey County reached 32 degrees. However, it was a light frost and the duration was not long enough to affect crops. Corn harvests continued and cotton harvest was beginning to get underway. Average to below-average yields and low leaf grades were reported. Winter wheat was planted behind harvested crops. Floyd County experienced warm, dry weather conditions, which assisted cotton harvest efficacy, so harvesting began to roll. Area fields were about 10 percent harvested. Lubbock County experienced warm, open weather that allowed harvest operations to move into full swing. Almost half of Lubbock County cotton fields received harvest aid applications. Field activities included cotton defoliation and harvesting of cotton and grain fields. Dry conditions were not encouraging for stocker operators as they need moisture for the wheat pasture to improve. Peanuts were still in fields. Some growers began digging their fields while many others waited. Some were still irrigating peanut fields.

PANHANDLE: Above-average temperatures continued for the district. Soil moisture was adequate. Deaf Smith County producers were wrapping up corn harvests with just a few late fields yet to be harvested. Hansford County reported 210-245 bushels of corn per acre. Producers worked on sunflowers with average yields reported so far. Grain sorghum was harvested, and sugarcane aphids were still causing problems in area fields. Warm temperatures let sugarcane aphids continue to populate and create massive amounts of honeydew on the sorghum plants. Wheat fields were coming along, and early plantings emerged. Heat and dry conditions stressed some wheat fields. Armyworms and wire worms caused problems in wheat fields. A local aerial applicator has already applied insecticide to more than 10,000 acres of wheat in an attempt to control armyworms. The cotton crop was coming along nicely, and the first application of harvest aids were applied to many acres. Cattle and pastures were in good condition. Peanut harvests were in full swing. Soybean harvests were coming to an end with most fields making 50-60 bushels per acre. Milo harvests started. Recent hot weather and windy conditions dried things out. Cattle were put on irrigated winter-wheat. Ranchers continued weaning calves.

NORTH: Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels varied from adequate to short and were decreasing. A cool front brought a small amount of rain with cooler temperatures. The rain received was not enough to help dry soil conditions or decreasing pond levels. Bermudagrass pastures continued to decline due to shorter days, cooler nights and dry conditions. Stockpiled grass supplies were diminishing. Cotton harvests were in full swing. Some winter wheat was planted, but some producers were waiting due to the threat of armyworms. Weather fluctuations caused some stress on livestock, but overall they were in good condition. Feral hog activity increased.

FAR WEST: Temperature highs were in the low 90s with lows in the 50s. No significant rain occurred. Rangeland grasses showed stress and were yellowing. Cotton harvests were in full swing. Producers began to strip irrigated acres. Cotton yields were better than expected so far. Wheat for grazing was planted and emerged. Fall armyworms continued to be a problem, and a large percentage of fields were treated. Pumpkins and peppers were harvested. Many producers continued fall cattle work. Weaning weights were very good on calves and bred cows and good on young and middle aged cows. Ranchers continued to ship spring calves. Supplemental feeding continued for livestock and wildlife.

WEST CENTRAL: Days were warm and nights were cool. Conditions were beginning to dry out. Cotton bolls were opening, and farmers began applying harvest aids. Stock tanks were still full, and pastures remained green. Producers were busy planting wheat and oat fields. Armyworms were terrible this year, and farmers were fighting to control them. Cattle prices were not very encouraging, but the sheep and goat market seemed good.

SOUTHEAST: Conditions were dry and moisture was needed. A cold front hit Lee and Waller counties and scattered showers brought needed rain to Lee and Jefferson counties. Insurance claims on cotton resulted in some crop destruction. Final hay cuttings were put up. Ryegrass and other cool-season forages were planted and waiting on moisture. Late-planted cotton was all that remained in fields. Winter annual planting was at a standstill due to hot, dry conditions. Weather forecasts looked good. Plantings were expected to proceed. A few last fields were baled for hay and the standing hay crop was being grazed in many fields. Livestock were in good condition. Soil-moisture levels throughout the district ranged from adequate to short, with most ratings in the short range.

SOUTHWEST: Weather conditions remained dry and soil continued to dry out. Wheat preparations continued, and hay was still being made. Cooler temperatures slowed grass growth. Pastures and livestock were in good condition.

SOUTH: Good to fair weather conditions continued with the arrival of cooler temperatures and scattered light rain showers. Conditions were very dry in some areas. Soil moisture levels declined substantially in some areas. Rangelands and pastures remained mostly brown or were dormant. Some pastures remained in good grazing condition, but forage quality was declining. Some peanut fields were harvested while others remained under irrigation. Wheat and oat planting continued, but at a slow pace due to reports of armyworms in the area. Fall cattle roundups and weaning continued. Cattle body condition scores remained good. Wildlife populations remained healthy and stable. Dove season continued in the special white wing zone. A lot of white-winged doves, quail, turkey and deer were seen throughout the district. Row crop farmers were busy preparing fields for winter, with only a few producers intending on planting wheat. Local beef markets continued to experience increases in volume and a drop in prices, including 500-pound feeder steers averaging 94 cents per pound down from $1.65 a pound at the start of the year. In Zavala County, dry conditions kept producers busy applying irrigation to cabbage, wheat, spinach, onions and some oat fields. Some cabbage harvesting was expected to begin soon in some areas, and spinach made good progress due to cooler temperatures. Pecan harvests began and should continue as weather permits. Hay baling continued on improved pastures in some areas. Fall planting on irrigated pastures continued.