Lubbock, Texas
June 21, 2005
Dry Texas summers may mean disaster for some
crops, but for irrigated watermelons it's just what the producer
ordered, Texas
Cooperative Extension reports.
"Dry is what watermelon producers wish for," said Dr. Juan
Anciso of Weslaco, Extension horticulturalist. "Most watermelons
are irrigated, so if you can control the water, you'll have a
good-quality melon."
Rain falling at the wrong time could lower the crop's sugar
level, he said.
"You don't want water late in the season," Anciso said.
Rain also creates conditions favorable for disease, most notably
downy mildew, said Tony Anderson, owner of Anderson Produce of
Edinburg.
"Thanks to a nice, warm, dry spring, our [fungicide] spray bill
is considerably lower than it was last year," he said. "Last
year was a hard year to grow watermelons because we had a lot of
rain and were combating disease all the time. Warm dry weather
and drip irrigation are a good combination for producers."
The absence of disease means a higher quality crop is likely
this year, said Dr. Larry Stein of Uvalde, Extension
horticulturist.
"The quality of this year's crop is outstanding due to the dry
conditions," he said.
Quantity is up too, Anderson said. Production for his company
has reached near-record yield numbers.
"I have one spot of land that increased from an average of
31,000 pounds [of watermelon] per acre to over 55,000 pounds per
acre," he said.
Watermelons are grown all over the state, said Stein, and are
being harvested for the fresh market this month.
"Harvest is complete in the Rio Grande Valley, but the producers
to the north of us are harvesting right now," Anciso said.
Texas led the nation for watermelon production in 2003 (the most
recent available data) with 770 million pounds, according to the
National Watermelon Promotion Board,
www.watermelon.org.
"Growing conditions have been good, but you don't know what will
happen in the next part of the season," he said.
Texas watermelons are available now in the produce sections of
grocery stores.
The following livestock, crop and weather conditions were
reported by Extension districts:
PANHANDLE: Soil moisture is very short to surplus with
most areas reporting adequate to surplus. Temperatures were
below average, but warmed to above normal by the week's end.
Except for the southeast portion, the entire region received
heavy rains and some hail. Corn is rated mostly good; no pest
problems have been reported. Cotton suffered from cool, cloudy
weather and hail, as well as wind and thrips. Cotton is rated
mostly fair to good. Peanuts are rated mostly good with no major
insect or disease problems. Sorghum planting is about 80 percent
complete; planting has been postponed until fields dry. Soybeans
are rated mostly good.
Sunflower planting continues. Wheat harvest made progress in
drier areas; yield and test weights are good. Hail caused some
losses in isolated areas. Rangelands are rated fair to
excellent. Rain was beneficial for grass growth. Cattle are in
good body condition; horn fly populations continue to increase.
SOUTH PLAINS: Soil moisture is short. Temperatures
ranging from 100 F to 103 F. Up to 1 inch of rain fell in some
areas. Cotton is in fair to good condition and continues to
recover from recent weather. Corn is in good condition and
continues to grow rapidly with hot weather and irrigation. Wheat
harvest is under way. A large number of pumpkins were lost due
to the June 9 storm. Some acres will be replanted with pumpkins
and some will not. Peanuts are in good condition. Pasture and
rangeland are in fair to good condition. Cattle are in good
condition.
ROLLING PLAINS: Soil moisture is adequate. Some scattered
rains have been reported. Cotton planting is complete. In
Wilbarger, stock tanks are running low. In Stonewall, up to 1
inch of rain was reported. High winds and heavy rainfall damaged
some cotton. In Wise County dry conditions have contributed to
low hay yields and concerns that forage won't last through the
summer. Wheat yields are average to above average. Fall-born
calves are being shipped. Most cattle conceptions are running 90
percent or more.
Cattle are in good condition. Horse breeding is nearing
completion. Insect and fungus damage on landscape ornamentals
and trees have increased.
NORTH: Soil moisture is very short to adequate. The
drought is becoming severe. Corn is in poor to good condition;
some is showing signs of moisture stress. Sorghum and soybeans
need rain. Wheat harvest is nearing completion; yields vary
widely. Pasture and rangelands are in very poor to good
condition. Pastures are short, and not much hay is being
produced.
Producers are waiting for rain before committing to pasture and
hay meadow fertilization. Some producers are still feeding
forage. Livestock are stressed.
EAST TEXAS: Soil moisture is short. Overall dry
conditions and cool nights are hindering growth of all spring
plantings and pastures. Some hay fields were fertilized but with
caution due to little rain in the forecast. Commercial
vegetables are being planted; problems with diseased tomatoes
are reported. Fly populations on cattle are increasing. Cattle
are in good body condition; the market is steady with strong
prices.
FAR WEST: Soil moisture is short to adequate. Pastures
are in fair to good condition. Cotton planting is nearing
completion; what little has emerged looks good. Most areas are
experiencing high temperatures with some wind and intermittent
rain showers. Livestock conditions remain good with prices
holding steady.
WEST CENTRAL: Soil moisture is adequate. Temperatures are
in the upper 90s F to 100 F. It was hot and humid all week,
drying out fields. Sorghum fields are growing rapidly with heads
appearing in half the acreage.
Cutting, baling and late planting of hay continues. Some
producers are baling forage sorghum and improved grasses. The
winter wheat harvest is ending. Range and pastureland are in
good condition. Warm season grasses are growing well. Pastures
are starting to show the effects of high temperatures and low
moisture. Livestock remain in good to excellent condition. Pecan
orchards are being irrigated in higher numbers. The pecan crop
is excellent.
CENTRAL: Soil moisture is short. Some counties received
rain but more is needed. Improved pastures and crops are showing
moisture stress. Hay harvest is under way. Sorghum midge numbers
continue to rise. Fruits and vegetables are suffering from
fungus. Fleahoppers and over-wintering boll weevils continue to
be a concern in early squaring cotton. Cattle condition remains
good.
SOUTHEAST: Soil moisture is short. Hot and dry conditions
continue.
Crops and pastures are beginning to show stress. Rain is needed.
Some field and sweet corn is being fresh harvested for roasting
ears.
Watermelons are ready to pick. The pecan crops will need rain to
keep heavy loads of nuts. Hay baling is the No. 1 activity in
some counties.
Rice borer problems are under control. Livestock are in good
condition despite high temperatures.
SOUTHWEST: Soil moisture is short. The region remains
very dry with less than ½ inch of rain since mid-May. High
temperatures and winds are aggravating the problems. Pasture and
range grasses are under stress and showing some signs of going
into mid-summer dormancy early. Corn is starting to dent.
Sorghum is maturing faster than corn due to dry weather.
Cotton and peanuts are making good progress under heavy
irrigation.
Cabbage, onion and potato harvests are nearing completion. Green
beans, beets and cucumbers for pickling are being harvested;
excellent yields and quality are reported.
COASTAL BEND: Soil moisture is short. Very hot and dry
conditions are reported. Some crop fields have improved due to
recent rainfall, but more is needed. Cotton conditions are
beginning to deteriorate. Soybeans need more rain to reach full
potential. Rice is progressing well. Pasture grasses are
wilting. Hay is being cut. Some livestock are stressing.
SOUTH: Soil moisture is very short. Extremely hot, dry
weather continues. Rain is needed everywhere. Producers continue
to irrigate corn, cotton, sorghum, watermelons and other crops.
Grain sorghum harvest is under way. Watermelon harvest continues
and is past the peak. Supplemented feeding continues.
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