Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Receipts: 1,141; Week Ago (actual) 1,083
Comments: Packers 2.00-5.00 higher; stockers st lf 5.00 higher;
feeders steady to firm with lt. test; stocker cows & pairs
50.00-100.00 higher. Demand good with active trade. Quality not as
good as last week.

Choice stocker & feeder STEERS:
250-400 lbs. 215.00-250.00; 400-600 lbs. 175.00-220.00; 600-800
lbs. 140.00-175.00; 800 lbs. & Up ---------.

medium stocker & feeder steers:
250-400 lbs. 195.00-225.00; 400-600 lbs. 165.00-200.00; 600-800
lbs. 130.00-160.00; 800 lbs. & Up ---------.

plain stocker & feeder steers:
300-600 lbs. 110.00-135.00.

choice stocker & feeder HEIFERS:
250-400 lbs. 210.00-235.00; 400-600 lbs. 175.00-200.00; 600-800
lbs. 140.00-170.00; 800 lbs. & Up ---------.

medium stocker & feeder heifers:
250-400 lbs. 185.00-200.00; 400-600 lbs. 160.00-180.00; 600-800
lbs. 130.00-140.00; 800 lbs. & Up ---------.

plain stocker & feeder heifers:
300-600 lbs. 100.00-125.00.

longhorn & spots:
55.00-100.00.

packers:
bulls 95.00-105.00.
light bulls 85.00-95.00.

cows:
Canners/cutters 80.00-95.00.
boner/breakers 75.00-90.00.
light cows & shells 55.00-65.00.

pairs:
Choice 1350.00-1600.00.
medium 1150.00-1250.00.
aged 950.00-1050.00.

bred cows:
choice 1250.00-1400.00.
medium 900.00-1050.00.
aged 750.00-1000.00.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Receipts: 1,083; Week Ago (actual) 1,646
Comments: Packers steady to firm; stocker & feeder cattle steady
to 5.00 higher; stocker cows & pairs stronger in good demand.

Choice stocker & feeder STEERS:
250-400 lbs. 210.00-240.00; 400-600 lbs. 175.00-220.00; 600-800
lbs. 140.00-175.00; 800 lbs. & Up 135.00-145.00.

medium stocker & feeder steers:
250-400 lbs. 185.00-210.00; 400-600 lbs. 165.00-200.00; 600-800
lbs. 130.00-155.00; 800 lbs. & Up 125.00-135.00.

plain stocker & feeder steers:
300-600 lbs. 100.00-130.00.

choice stocker & feeder HEIFERS:
250-400 lbs. 200.00-225.00; 400-600 lbs. 175.00-200.00; 600-800
lbs. 140.00-170.00; 800 lbs. & Up 135.00-140.00.

medium stocker & feeder heifers:
250-400 lbs. 175.00-195.00; 400-600 lbs. 145.00-175.00; 600-800
lbs. 125.00-140.00; 800 lbs. & Up --------.

plain stocker & feeder heifers:
300-600 lbs. 100.00-120.00.

longhorn & spots:
55.00-100.00.

packers:
bulls 90.00-98.00.
light bulls 85.00-90.00.

cows:
Canners/cutters 75.00-88.00.
boner/breakers 75.00-88.00.
light cows & shells 55.00-65.00.

pairs:
Choice 1300.00-1500.00.
medium 1150.00-1300.00.
aged 900.00-1000.00.

bred cows:
choice 1150.00-1300.00.
medium 850.00-1000.00.
aged 750.00-950.00.

Recent rains greatly improved soil-moisture levels in many parts of the state, according to reports from Texas AgriLife Extension Service county agents.

However, many parts of the state remained critically dry, including the Panhandle, South Plains, Far West Texas and parts of the Rolling Plains and Coastal Bend areas, according to the reports.

The more fortunate areas experienced mild weather and timely rains – as much as 6 inches in some areas, with 1 inch to 2 inches more common. The warm weather spurred the growth of winter wheat and winter pastures. It also raised farmers’ optimism in those areas for summer grazing and the planting of spring row crops.

Two-minute MP3 Audio Texas crop, weather report for Jan. 7, 2012

For fruit growers, the mild winter may not be a great blessing due to lack of chilling hours, though that remains to be seen, according to AgriLife Extension horticulturists.

Chilling hours refers to the minimum amount of cold weather that fruit trees such as peaches need before they will blossom in the spring and produce a crop, said Keith Hansen, AgriLife Extension horticulture agent for Smith County, Tyler. The amount of chilling hours needed depends upon the variety. There are low-chilling, moderate-chilling and high-chilling varieties.

There are also different ways of calculating chilling hours, and some controversy as to which is the more reliable indicator, Hansen said.

Fruit trees such as these peaches need a minimum amount of cold weather before they will blossom in the spring and produce a crop. (Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Robert Burns)

One method involves counting the hours between 32 and 45 degrees, Hansen said. By this method, according to weather data collected at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, the region has had 687 chilling hours.

“We’ve got a couple of weeks before bud break, but we’re in the ballpark (by that method),” he said. “It may be a little low for some of the higher-chill varieties we have.”

Another method is simpler to calculate, only taking the number of hours below 45 degrees into account, including temperatures below 32, Hansen said. By this method, the East Texas region has received 746 chilling hours.

By either method, many of the varieties grown in East Texas are in fair shape, he said.

But there is yet another way of calculating chilling hours, the Utah model, which may spell trouble for some varieties, he said. By the Utah model, the hours above about 60 degrees are subtracted from the total, Hansen said.

“I think that may be where the concern is, with the warm weather we had in January,” he said.

More information on chilling hours can be found at the Overton center weather website at http://etweather.tamu.edu/  .

More information on the current Texas drought and wildfire alerts can be found on the AgriLife Extension Agricultural Drought Task Force website at http://agrilife.tamu.edu/drought/.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries for the period of Jan. 30 through Feb. 6.

The 12 Texas AgriLife Extension Service Districts

Central:Rains filled stock ponds and lakes, and raised soil-moisture levels. Warmer-than-normal weather and sunshine brought small grains to life. Pastures and small grains that had been fertilized earlier were growing exceptionally well. Small grains and pastures were reported to look the best for this time of year since 2009. Wheat and oats were doing well after the recent rains, especially those fields that producers planted late. Ranchers who had been holding off for a rain, began receiving stocker cattle. Sunflower planting was expected to start in the next week or two, followed closely by corn planting. Some producers were concerned whether winter wheat had had enough chilling hours. Farmers were applying nitrogen fertilizer. Beef cattle producers are still struggling with the expense of supplemental feeding.

Coastal Bend: Some areas received great rains during the reporting period. Soil moisture levels improved, helping plans for row-crop planting within the next 30 days. The moisture, along with warm weather and sunshine, made excellent growing conditions for winter forages and clover. Cattlemen, however, were concerned that with the amount of clover growing there was high potential for bloat in livestock, and they were placing anti-bloat blocks in fields. In the region’s southern counties, drought conditions persisted. There was very little runoff and stock pond levels remained critical.

East: Scattered rains fell across the region. Warmer-than-normal temperatures and the recent rains improved winter forages. Some producers were able to graze cattle on pastures, helping relieve some of the stress of finding quality hay. Lake, pond and creek levels rose. Farmers continued preparing fields for spring vegetable planting. Wild pigs remained a problem, with the animals invading residential areas of larger cities.

Far West: The first week of February brought foggy, drizzly and damp mornings, but no measurable rainfall. Temperatures were above normal, with highs in the upper 60s to 70s and lows near freezing to the 40s. By the weekend, daytime highs dropped to the upper 40s, and windy conditions raised the danger of wildfire. Pastures were greening up some with cool-season forbs and grasses, but their growth was not sufficient to provide additional nutrition for livestock. Producers were still feeding cattle, both stockers and brood cows, while others were shipping livestock to feedlots. It was the middle of calving season for most herds. Ranchers were struggling to maintain the condition of cattle they hung onto throughout the drought and were providing large amounts of supplemental feed. There were reports of locoweed in Presidio County. Small grains under irrigation were in fair condition and provided some grazing. Lambing and kidding season was expected to begin soon. Farmers were preparing cotton fields for planting by applying pre-emergent herbicides and pre-watering. Fall-planted onions were coming out of dormancy. Pecans growers were pruning orchards.

North: From 2 to 5 inches of rain raised soil-moisture levels. Days were unseasonably warm, with highs in the 70s. Cattle producers were taking advantage of the warm weather to turn cattle in on winter pastures and reduce the amount of hay and supplements they were feeding. Producers were very optimistic about the upcoming hay and summer-grazing season. Warm temperatures caused trees to bud prematurely, which caused concern for some for fruit and nut crops. The heavy rains also replenished stock ponds. Most were now full for the first time in a year. Feral hogs remained a major problem.

Panhandle: Temperatures were above average for most of the reporting period, then dropped to near average. Part of the region received some moisture late in the week, with accumulations ranging from a trace to 1.5 inches. Soil-moisture levels varied from adequate to very short with most reporting short to very short. Winter wheat was in poor to very poor condition. Most rangeland and pastures were in poor to very poor condition. Cattle were reported as mostly in good condition, with a few herds on irrigated wheat experiencing bloating issues. Livestock producers continued supplemental feeding of livestock.

Rolling Plains: Conditions remained dry in the region’s western counties. Pastures and rangeland were in poor condition as producers fed supplements to cattle on a daily basis. Producers who had access to winter wheat have been grazing cattle on it for the past month, hoping it will hold them through winter. Without any moisture, producers may have to start selling off cattle again. Farmers have begun preparing fields for this year’s crop, but without any moisture, there is only so much they can do. As they begin to think about the new crop, the possibility of another drought year lingers in their minds and is playing an important role in how they go about preparing fields and how much money they are willing to invest in production costs. Cotton producers were reserving cottonseed, but were cautious about planting high-dollar varieties. In contrast, the eastern counties reported the recent rains left rangeland and pastures in good condition. The wheat looked great there and stock tanks were full.

South: Much of the region received rain, but with few exceptions, accumulations were not enough to improve rangeland and pastures very much. Brooks County received the most with 2 to 3 inches, while Atascosa County got about 2.5 inches. Some pastures showed signs of green-up due to warm weather. However, cattle were generally not doing well. Body condition scores have further declined from fair to poor as calving season continued, and cows needed better nutrition. The cost of hay and protein supplements continued to increase, and stock tanks on many ranches remained at very low levels or were completely dried out. Webb County reported the cost of round bales of hay at about $150 and square bales at about $13 each. In Atascosa County, oats and wheat responded very well to the rains. In Jim Wells County, field activities were on hold until more rain was received. In Zavala County, dryland oat and wheat fields were mostly in fair to good condition. Also in that area, spinach fields were nearly ready for a second cutting. In Cameron County, corn harvesting was ongoing, as well as pre-irrigation for spring planting. In Starr County, spring planting was ongoing.

Southeast: Temperatures were above average with high humidity. Many parts of the region received from 1.5 to as much as 6 inches of rain over the last couple of weeks. Stock ponds were filling up. Soil moisture conditions were improving. With rains falling in the northern Brazos valley, the Brazos River was once again flowing. Lake levels to the north also rose, which improved the outlook for rice production in the lower Brazos River Basin. However, water companies had not yet indicated that water will be available for rice for the 2012 crop. Cattle producers report that drought-killed trees were being felled by high winds and were falling on fences, causing extensive damage. Though pastures improved from the rain, they still had a long way to go to full recovery. Livestock producers continued supplemental feeding of cattle that they had kept through the drought.

Southwest: As much as 2 inches of rain fell in some areas. The rain and warm weather greatly accelerated winter pasture growth. Topsoil moisture improved. Small grain pastures seemed to be slow going and were being moderately grazed. Winter wheat made good progress.  Farmers were preparing to plant corn and sorghum. Trees were on the verge of budding. Lambing and kidding were under way. Livestock producers were maintaining herd numbers for now, and supplemental feeding of cattle continued in some areas.

South Plains: Most counties reported no precipitation, above-average temperatures and windy conditions.Winter wheat was struggling due to the drought. Farmers were performing some field preparations for spring planting where conditions allowed. Pasture and rangeland needed moisture.

West Central: Temperatures were very mild with warm days and cool nights. Farmers were preparing land for spring planting as weather permitted. Winter wheat improved with the recent moisture and warm temperatures. Some areas reported Hessian fly infestations. Rangeland and pastures continued to improve with the growth of cool-season grasses and winter weeds. Livestock owners continued supplemental feeding of cattle. Many producers who were lambing and kidding reported predator problems.

EPA Grants Emergency Use of TOPGUARD™ Fungicide

Texas cotton growers now have a new tool to control cotton root rot, a devastating disease estimated to cause direct yield losses of as much as $40 million per year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted a Section 18 emergency exemption to Texas for TOPGUARD, a Cheminova, Inc. fungicide that targets the cotton root rot fungus.

TOPGUARD, a triazole fungicide, is applied at planting and substantially reduces disease occurring later in the season, states Tom Isakeit, a Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service plant pathologist, who extensively tested its performance in field trials with his extension co-workers.  

In a bad year, cotton root rot costs Texas growers as much as $40 million in direct lost yield, in addition to decreased fiber quality and increased trash in lint, says Isakeit. In some fields the cotton root rot fungus is so prevalent, that growers won’t even consider planting cotton, he adds.

“In one of our TOPGUARD trials, we saw yield increases between 20 to 60 percent when cotton root rot was controlled,” he notes.

Typically cotton root rot shows up later in the season, as plants flower and soil temperatures rise, explains Isakeit. The fungus infects the plant’s roots, causing a rot.  Once the root rot nears the crown--where the stem and primary roots meet--the plant quickly dies. TOPGUARD prevents or delays disease.

“The ability to apply TOPGUARD at planting is extremely convenient,” he notes. “TOPGUARD remains with the plant. It will be available in the field later in the season when cotton root rot disease shows up. ”

Isakeit strongly recommends that growers follow the correct application method. “Use a T-band as opposed to an in-furrow spray directly on the seed,” he advises. “This approach minimizes the risk of phytotoxicity that could occur if it rains immediately after planting.”  

The label recommends applying TOPGUARD in a five-inch T-Band perpendicular to the row direction after the furrow is opened and the seed is placed, but before the furrow is closed. This method keeps the spray off the seed, explains Isakeit, while allowing some of the spray to enter the furrow and the rest to form a band on either side of the furrow.

TOPGUARD works by protecting the plant, not by killing the fungus in soil.  Therefore, the fungicide should be applied whenever cotton is grown, but it only needs to be applied in the portions of the field where root rot usually occurs. To prevent other diseases or pests from increasing, growers will still need to practice crop rotation.

Cotton growers should see their local dealer or go to www.cheminova-us.com to get more information.  The EPA letter and approved label can be seen atwww.texasagriculture.gov  

Cheminova, Inc., headquartered in Research Triangle Park, NC, is the United States subsidiary of Cheminova A/S, a global leader in the production, development and sale of plant-protection products. Cheminova A/S is located in Lemvig, Denmark.

TOPGUARD is a registered trademark of Cheminova, Inc.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Receipts: 1,646; Week Ago (actual) 1,626
Comments: Packers 2.00-5.00 higher; stockers & feeders
5.00-10.00 higher; stocker cows & pairs 100.00-200.00 higher.

Choice stocker & feeder STEERS:
250-400 lbs. 205.00-235.00; 400-600 lbs. 165.00-215.00 (1/2 load -
580 lbs. @ 175.00); 600-800 lbs. 140.00-165.00; 800 lbs. & Up
135.00-145.00.

medium stocker & feeder steers:
250-400 lbs. 165.00-200.00; 400-600 lbs. 145.00-180.00; 600-800
lbs. 130.00-140.00; 800 lbs. & Up 125.00-135.00.

plain stocker & feeder steers:
300-600 lbs. 95.00-125.00.

choice stocker & feeder HEIFERS:
250-400 lbs. 190.00-215.00; 400-600 lbs. 155.00-195.00; 600-800
lbs. 135.00-155.00; 800 lbs. & Up 130.00-135.00.

medium stocker & feeder heifers:
250-400 lbs. 165.00-185.00; 400-600 lbs. 140.00-165.00; 600-800
lbs. 125.00-140.00; 800 lbs. & Up --------.

plain stocker & feeder heifers:
300-600 lbs. 90.00-115.00.

longhorn & spots:
55.00-95.00.

packers:
bulls 90.00-95.00.
light bulls 75.00-85.00.
cows:
Canners/cutters 75.00-85.00.
boner/breakers 75.00-85.00.
light cows & shells 55.00-65.00.

pairs:
Choice 1400.00-1700.00.
medium 1000.00-1250.00.
aged 900.00-1000.00.

bred cows:
choice 1100.00-1300.00.
medium 850.00-1000.00.
aged 750.00-950.00.

Ironically, fears of another drought may result in fewer irrigated and more dryland cotton acres in the Texas High Plains this year, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Typically, the Texas High Plains cotton acres will be nearly evenly split between dryland and irrigated, said Mark Kelley, AgriLife Extension cotton specialist, Lubbock. This adds up to about 2 million dryland cotton acres planted, with the same number of irrigated acres.

Two-Minute Texas Crop and Weather Report for Jan. 31, 2012

“Last year, we had 4.6 million acres total, with about 55 percent being dryland,” Kelley said. “Usually our acreage would be split with about a 52/48 percent mix of dryland and irrigated. Looking ahead there’s a chance that we’ll see a little more dryland than irrigated this year.”

With the area remaining dry, fears of continued drought are the biggest issue facing producers and will be at the heart of any additional shifts in planting, he said.

“They will go ahead and plant, but if we don’t get some help from Mother Nature, a lot of the irrigated producers here have indicated they will just wait and see how things look before committing to an irrigated practice in 2012,” he said.

The “wait-and-see” game could play until July 15, which is the latest date producers can certify a crop as dryland for crop insurance purposes, he said.

The producers he has talked to have indicated they plan to plant for irrigation, which is about four plants per row foot on row spacings of 40 inches, which works out to about 52,000 plants per acre, Kelly said. “Typically, Texas High Plains cotton growers will ‘pinch back’ a little for dryland, and plant about three plants per row foot.”

Input costs are considerably higher on irrigated cotton due to pumping costs, but the potential profits are higher too, so most producers with irrigation will probably go ahead for an irrigated crop, he said.

“Then they (those planting for irrigation) will play the wait-and-see game, and as the situation develops, if there hasn’t been enough rain to fully augment their normal irrigation capacity, they will squeeze back on what they can manage with their irrigation,” Kelley said.

“I would highly recommend that they stay in conversation with their crop insurance agent, and make sure everything they’re doing is communicated, so that can be insured properly,” he added. “They need to stay in contact with their insurance agent throughout the process. We don’t want anyone getting to the point where their crop is uninsurable.”

More information on the current Texas drought and wildfire alerts can be found on the AgriLife Extension Agricultural Drought Task Force website at http://agrilife.tamu.edu/drought/ .

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

Map of the 12 Texas AgriLIfe Extension Service Districts

Central:The region received from 1.3 to 2.5 inches of rain. Runoff filled most stock tanks. Thanks to timely rains throughout January, small grains continued to do well. Winter wheat and winter grasses were also thriving and were being heavily grazed. Soil preparation and fertilizing for row crops was delayed because of wet conditions. Some wheat growers reported thinner stands, while other fields were in more advanced growth stages than normal.

Coastal Bend: The region had light rains, but they were not enough to raise soil-moisture levels for the upcoming crop season. Most farmers were waiting on heavier rains before fertilizing pastures. Producers continued supplemental feeding of livestock with hay and protein. The shortage of hay was a concern to many.

East: As much as 4 inches of rain fell in some parts of the region. Other areas received only scattered showers. Lake, pond and creek levels rose from runoff. Winter forages continued to improve. Producers were preparing fields for spring planting. Calving continued. Feral hog damage continued to be a major problem in many areas.

Far West: With a few exceptions, most counties received a trace to 0.6 inch of a slow rain. The exceptions were Glasscock County with 1 inch and Brewster County reporting as much as 2 inches. Temperatures were moderate, with lows from the 30s to 40s and highs between the upper 60s and lower 70s. Conditions were windy, which raised the danger of wildfire in some areas. Presidio County reported gusts up to 60 mph. The moisture helped green up some winter weeds. Unfortunately, a large portion were toxic varieties, bitterweed and locoweed. Livestock producers continued to feed their way through the winter, but hay was getting harder to find and very expensive when it could be found. Rangeland conditions remained poor. Areas that burned in the summer still showed charred ground with little to no regrowth. Cotton producers applied pre-emergent herbicides in preparation for the planting season. Fields were also being cultivated for chili pepper planting. Wheat looked fair.

North: The region had widespread, heavy rains, with most counties receiving 3 to 6 inches. Most ponds and small lakes were filled to normal levels. Soil-moisture levels were also replenished. The moisture benefited small grains, pastures and land planned for corn planting this spring. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Producers continued heavy supplemental feeding of livestock, with hay prices still very high. Feral hogs continue to be a problem.

Panhandle: The region was mostly dry and windy. Temperatures varied from seasonally normal to above normal. The high winds depleted what little moisture was received from rain and snow in previous weeks. Soil moisture was mostly very short to short. Winter wheat was in good to very poor condition, with most counties reporting poor to very poor. Farmers were preparing fields for planting. Rangeland and pastures continue to be in poor to very poor condition. Producers continued supplemental feeding of livestock.

Rolling Plains: The western part of the district received only light rain, while the eastern counties got from 1 inch to 5 inches. The rain benefited rangeland and pastures, and raised levels of stock-water tanks, filling up many to overflowing. Wheat benefited as well, and was in good shape, with growth taking off. Cattle were in good condition. In the western counties, farmers were preparing fields for spring cotton planting. Livestock producers in that area were still providing heavy supplemental feed to livestock on pastures. Hay was in short supply, and some producers were still shipping it in from out of state. Wheat producers in the western counties were holding off top-dressing and applying weed control until moisture conditions improved. Parker County reported growers were pruning peach trees.

South: Nights were cool and days mild throughout the region. A few counties received light rain. Atascosa County received the most, about 2 inches in areas west of Charlotte and the north part of the county. Rangeland and pastures remained mostly in poor condition. In McMullen County, livestock producers continued to feed prickly pear as hay was expensive and in short supply. Cattle body condition scores were poor to fair, with most herds in poor condition. With stock tanks still low or completely dry, and feed costs rising, ranchers were expecting to further cull herds. Frio County potato producers continued planting, hoping to wind down the first week of February. There was minimal field activity in Jim Wells County. In Zavala County, dryland oat and wheat producers welcomed scattered showers as their crops were in great need of moisture. Spinach and cabbage producers in that area resumed harvesting as soon as fields dried out. In Hidalgo County, farmers continued harvesting vegetables, citrus and sugarcane. The Texas Department of Agriculture set a 5-mile quarantine on the movement of citrus nursery stock in the Hidalgo County area due to citrus greening disease being confirmed there. Spring-planting preparations continued in the Starr County area.

South Plains: Temperatures were mild, but topsoil moisture continued to drop because of dry, windy weather. Pastures and rangeland needed moisture, and winter wheat was struggling. There were reports of flocks of geese damaging young wheat stands. Blowing sand was a problem for some wheat fields as well. Moisture was needed to hold the soil in place. Garza County received a trace of rain, about 0.3 inch. Scurry County received from 0.2 to 0.3 inch. Rangeland was in mostly poor to fair condition. Livestock were in mostly fair to good condition, with supplemental feeding continuing. Producers were preparing fields for spring planting.

Southeast: Many areas received rain, 2 to 4 inches in some cases, filling creeks, ponds and stock tanks. The rain promoted further winter-pasture growth. Producers continued supplemental feeding of livestock, and, along with slightly better pasture conditions, the condition of cattle improved. Farmers began preparation of cropland for spring plantings.

Southwest: Eastern counties received from 5 to 7 inches of rain, while the western part of the district reported 0.5 inch to 1.5 inches. Where the rains were heavy, soil-moisture levels were greatly increased and stock ponds were filled. Oats and winter weeds greened back up. Several varieties of trees broke buds.

West Central: The region had very mild temperatures and much needed rain in nearly all 16 counties. The slow, soaking rains boosted growth of cool-season grasses and forages. Wheat pastures continued to do very well and were providing grazing for livestock. The rains and warm weather also helped other small-grain crops. Farmers were preparing land for spring planting as weather permitted. Rangeland and pasture conditions were very good. Stock tanks were in good shape for this time of year. Producers continued supplemental feeding of livestock.

Thanks to rains, more of Texas transitioned from exceptional to extreme drought, or from severe to moderate, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

But weekly on-the-ground reports from Texas AgriLife Extension Service agents still paint a mixed picture of the general agricultural situation.

In Deaf Smith County, the Panhandle, Rick Auckerman, AgriLife Extension agent, reported that producers are revisiting planting grain sorghum instead of corn. Cotton plans are mixed, but generally plantings are expected to be up this year, but a lot will depend upon whether the area gets spring rains before planting.

“Where’s the rain?” asked Kevin Brendle, AgriLife Extension agent Dickens County, east of Lubbock. “We had drier, windy and warmer conditions most of the week. Cotton land is being prepared and readied for spring planting.”

Two-minute MP3 Texas crop, weather for Jan. 24, 2012

“Livestock producers have been feeding hay and cutting herd numbers for about 15 months,” said Steven Sparkman, AgriLife Extension agent for Hardeman County, northwest of Wichita Falls. “Most hope the cost of hay is cheaper than replacing cattle sold during drought conditions. Some cattle are grazing wheat, with most livestock producers feeding hay.”

“Wow, 76 degrees on Jan. 19!” said David Winkler AgriLife Extension agent for Bosque County, southwest of Fort Worth. “The winter annual grasses and forbs are growing like gangbusters. The warm winter is a lifesaver for the average cattleman in Bosque County.”

“The county received nearly 3 inches of rain two weeks ago,” said Ralph Davis, AgriLife Extension agent for Kaufman County, east of Dallas. “Winter pastures look fairly good, but there is very little growth, with most ryegrass about 2 to 3 inches tall. Some producers see this as a good sign and are turning stock into graze.”

“Conditions are extremely dry, and the drought continues,” said Randy Reeves, AgriLife Extension agent for Harrison County, northeast of Longview. “The recent rainfall a few weeks ago has done little to relieve the drought. Supplemental feeding continues, and producers continue to search for sources of fairly good-quality hay; it remains hard to find.”

“Range and pasture conditions remain mostly in poor shape,” said Isaac Cavazos, AgriLife Extension agent for McMullen County, south of San Antonio. “Some winter annual forb production is taking place, which will benefit the wildlife, but it is not going to do much for cattle herds at the present time. Most ranchers are providing hay or utilizing prickly pear as an emergency feed source.”

More information on the current Texas drought and wildfire alerts can be found on the AgriLife Extension Agricultural Drought Task Force website at http://agrilife.tamu.edu/drought/ .

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

The 12 Texas AgriLife Extension Service districts.

Central:The region did not see any substantial precipitation, but significant rain was forecast for the week of Jan. 23-27, which, if it arrives, is expected to keep small grains viable and enhance winter forage. Livestock producers continued feeding cattle though not to the extent that they were a few months ago. Peach trees needed more chilling hours to produce a crop.

Coastal Bend: The region did not receive any rain.Temperatures were above normal, and drought conditions continued. Soil-moisture levels were too low for planting and very little fertilizer was been applied for the same reason. Hay was scarce and prices were very high.

East: The region did not receive any measurable moisture, but winter pastures made good growth with previous rains. Farmers were doing very little fertilization due to its cost. Many producers were still providing supplemental feed to livestock and were purchasing hay from out of state when available. Feral hog damage continued to increase. Calving season was in progress.

Far West: The weather was windy, with mild temperatures with highs ranging from the mid 50s to upper 80s and lows in the mid 20s to 40s.The region did not receive any moisture in the last week. Winter weeds did benefit from a snow earlier in January, but rangeland conditions did not. Fall-planted onions and alfalfa remained dormant. Some producers were preparing land for planting cotton. Pecan growers were hedging and pruning. Livestock producers continued feeding cattle, horses and goats. Stocker cattle appeared to be doing well, but herds were smaller than normal in most areas due to the drought and last year’s wildfires. Many cows with calves were losing body condition due to nutritional needs of lactation and poor rangeland condition. Fears loomed of a locoweed crop due to the light snow.

North: Recent rain improved winter pastures. Producers were grazing cattle on the pastures where soil conditions were dry enough, which reduced the amount of hay that had to be fed. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Small grains continued to do well with recent rains and warmer weather. Spider mites were extremely widespread. Feral hog activity increased.

Panhandle: Soil-moisture levels varied from very short to adequate, with most counties reporting very short to short. Winter wheat was in very poor to good condition, with most counties reporting very poor to poor. Some farmers were preparing land for summer crops. Most rangeland and pastures continued to be in poor to very poor condition. Livestock producers continued supplemental feeding of livestock on pasture.

Rolling Plains: The winter roller coaster continued, with daytime highs fluctuating day-to-day from 70 degrees to the low 40s. Rains benefited rangeland and pastures in the eastern part of the district. The rains meant winter grasses were emerging and in fair condition, stock-water tanks being up and livestock condition improving. It was a different story in the western part of the district, as winds continued to wreak havoc, blowing out some winter wheat fields and causing dangerous driving conditions. Winter grasses and forbs emerged in the western counties but needed moisture to grow. Livestock were in fair condition with continued supplemental feeding on a daily basis. Some livestock producers have been feeding hay and cutting herd numbers for more than a year. Producers that planted winter wheat and got a good stand turned cattle out to graze. The hope is the wheat will hold cattle through the winter until enough moisture is received to replenish pastures and water supplies. Cotton farmers began preparing fields for planting.

South: Most of the region continued to be dry with mild temperatures. Winter weed growth began to slow down. Winter forage had some growth, but was not enough to help feed cattle. Rangeland and pastures were in poor to very poor condition, and soil moisture was short to very short. Ranchers continued supplemental feeding of livestock, trying to keep their best cattle. Others were selling off many cattle as the price of supplemental feed continued to rise. In Atascosa and Frio counties, cattle were being grazed on wheat and oats, field activity increased and potato planting continued. In Zavala County, farmers were irrigating cabbage, spinach, onions wheat and oats, and harvesting of earlier planted spinach was very active. Harvesting of cabbage in the county was expected to resume early next week. In Cameron and Hidalgo counties, the pre-irrigation of sorghum, cotton and corn crops continued, and sugarcane, citrus and vegetables were being harvested. Fall onions were doing well in Starr County. In Willacy County, farmers delayed planting until fields dried out.

Southeast: In some areas, above-average temperatures allowed for good growth of winter annuals. Winter weeds were becoming a problem, but there was enough forage growth to reduce the demand on hay supplies.

Southwest: Dry, warm conditions continued, which dried out soils. The warmer weather has helped with some green-up of winter grasses, but more rain was needed. Livestock producers continued supplemental feeding of livestock where hay was available. Small grains made good progress. Farmers were preparing fields for corn and milo plantings.

South Plains: There was no moisture received during the reporting period. Daytime temperatures were mild with winds gusting up to 60 mph during the weekend, which depleted any soil moisture received in the last two months. Farmers were doing some field preparation, including listing and stalk cutting. There was also some deep breaking (subsoil ploughing) where producers reported the soil to be very dry. Winter wheat was suffering from drought and high winds. Livestock producers continued supplemental feeding of livestock as rangeland and pasture suffered from lack of moisture too. Cattle were in fair condition, but producers were worried about how the poor grazing conditions will affect breeding.

West Central: The region had mild weather with warm days and cool nights. Most counties remained dry. Small grains were in fair condition, but needed more rain to sustain growth. Farmers were preparing fields for spring planting, as weather permitted. Hessian fly infestations caused considerable damage to wheat fields in some areas. Where moisture was received earlier, rangeland and pastures continued to improve with winter grasses and forbs greening up. Livestock producers continued heavy supplemental feeding of livestock. Hay remained in very short supply.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Receipts: ; Week Ago (actual) 2,781
Comments: Packers 2.00-5.00 higher; stockers & feeders 2.00-5.00
higher; stocker cows & pairs 50.00-100.00 higher.

Choice stocker & feeder STEERS:
250-400 lbs. 195.00-225.00; 400-600 lbs. 160.00-200.00 (1/2 load -
40 hd - 500 lbs. @ 184.00 fancy); 600-800 lbs. 135.00-160.00 (1 load
- 81 hd - 600 lbs. @ 172.00 fancy); 800 lbs. & Up 130.00-135.00.

medium stocker & feeder steers:
250-400 lbs. 155.00-190.00; 400-600 lbs. 140.00-170.00; 600-800
lbs. 125.00-135.00; 800 lbs. & Up 120.00-130.00.

plain stocker & feeder steers:
300-600 lbs. 90.00-120.00

choice stocker & feeder HEIFERS:
250-400 lbs. 175.00-215.00; 400-600 lbs. 145.00-175.00; 600-800
lbs. 135.00-145.00; 800 lbs. & Up 125.00-135.00.

medium stocker & feeder heifers:
250-400 lbs. 150.00-165.00; 400-600 lbs. 135.00-155.00; 600-800
lbs. 120.00-130.00; 800 lbs. & Up 115.00-120.00.

plain stocker & feeder heifers:
300-600 lbs. 90.00-110.00.

longhorn & spots:
55.00-95.00.

packers:
bulls 90.00-95.00.
light bulls 75.00-85.00.

cows:
Canners/cutters 70.00-80.00.
boner/breakers 70.00-80.00.
light cows & shells 55.00-65.00.
pairs:
Choice 1250.00-1550.00.
medium 950.00-1250.00.
aged 800.00-950.00.

bred cows:
choice 1050.00-1250.00.
medium 750.00-950.00.
aged 750.00-950.00.

COLEMAN COUNTY FARM SERVICE AGENCY

JANUARY 2012 NEWSLETTER

County Committee Election Results

Congratulations to Jerald Wilson for being elected to represent farmers from LAA 1 on the county committee. The election results for Local Administrative Area 1 are:   Jerald Wilson — Elected to the County Committee (COC) and Rodger Thate — 1^st alternate to COC.

FSA appreciates all of the voters for taking the time to complete the election ballot. The county committee system works only because of your participation.

Address Change

Our mailing address has changed. Please be sure to use the following address when sending us mail:

            Coleman County FSA Office

            118 North Concho Street

            Coleman, Texas 76834

FSA Adopting GovDelivery

The USDA Farm Service Agency offices are moving toward a paperless operation. 

Producers are asked to enroll in the new GovDelivery system which will provide notices, newsletters, and electronic reminders instead of a hard copy through the mail.  

FSA, like many other organizations, is trying to work smarter and be more efficient. Moving to electronic notifications via email will help conserve resources and save taxpayer dollars. County Committee ballots will still be mailed to all eligible producers. 

Producers can subscribe to receive free e-mail updates by going to http://www.fsa.usda.gov/subscribe.

Click below for complete newletter

Read more: COLEMAN COUNTY FARM SERVICE AGENCY JANUARY 2012 NEWSLETTER

Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Receipts: 2,781; Week Ago (actual) 1,232
Comments: Packers steady; stockers & feeders steady to firm;
stocker cows & pairs stronger with good demand.

Choice stocker & feeder STEERS:
250-400 lbs. 190.00-220.00; 400-600 lbs. 155.00-200.00; 600-800
lbs. 130.00-155.00; 800 lbs. & Up 125.00-135.00.

medium stocker & feeder steers:
250-400 lbs. 150.00-190.00; 400-600 lbs. 140.00-155.00; 600-800
lbs. 125.00-135.00; 800 lbs. & Up 115.00-125.00.

plain stocker & feeder steers:
300-600 lbs. 85.00-100.00.

choice stocker & feeder HEIFERS:
250-400 lbs. 165.00-210.00; 400-600 lbs. 145.00-170.00; 600-800
lbs. 130.00-145.00; 800 lbs. & Up 125.00-130.00.

medium stocker & feeder heifers:
250-400 lbs. 145.00-165.00; 400-600 lbs. 130.00-145.00; 600-800
lbs. 115.00-130.00; 800 lbs. & Up 115.00-120.00.

plain stocker & feeder heifers:
300-600 lbs. 70.00-100.00.

longhorn & spots:
55.00-80.00.

packers:
bulls 90.00-95.00.
light bulls 70.00-80.00.

cows:
Canners/cutters 60.00-75.00.
boner/breakers 65.00-80.00.
light cows & shells 50.00-60.00.

pairs:
Choice 1250.00-1500.00.
medium 950.00-1250.00.
aged 800.00-950.00.

bred cows:
choice 1000.00-1200.00.
medium 750.00-950.00.
aged 600.00-800.00.