Great weather has created a high quality, large volume onion crop in the state this year, Texas Cooperative Extension experts report.

"A generally mild, open winter with excellent fall [and] winter rain and a dry, late winter [to] spring period created an overall, favorable growing environment as the onion crop bulbed," said Jose Pena, Extension economist in Uvalde.

He defined open weather as, "sunshine, no clouds."

Dr. Juan Anciso, Extension vegetable specialist in Weslaco, said recent dry weather was excellent for harvest and caused crop quality to be high.

Marcel Valdez, Extension agent in Zavala County, said producers reported higher yields than last year and excellent quality. About 32,000 pounds of onions per acre were harvested.

The crop is usually harvested from March through May in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, with April being the peak month, Anciso said.

"Onion harvest typically begins the first week in May in Zavala County," Valdez said.

Yellow onions are the main variety grown in Texas. These onions, which are marketed fresh, are much milder than the onions stored and consumed during the winter months, Anciso said.

In Zavala County, yellow colossal, super colossal, Cimarron, white and other yellow varieties are grown. The colossal and super colossal onions are grown and used for "blooming onion" food items in restaurants, Valdez said. Other varieties are sold fresh or used for onion rings in Texas.

Last year, a large portion of the onion crop in the Winter Garden in Southwest Texas was lost to excessive June rains. This year's impressive forecast is also due to a higher ratio of harvested acres and increased yields than historically recorded, Pena said. However, a higher percentage of smaller onions was grown.

In the Winter Garden and Laredo area, nearly 123.5 million pounds of spring onions will be produced. That is about 26 percent of the 469 million pounds of spring onions produced in Texas, Pena said. The state's crop accounts for 38.9 percent of the 1.2 billion pounds estimated in the United States' spring onion crop.

In South Texas, soil moisture is short, and the drought is worsening, harming crop yields, said Bertha Garza, district Extension administrator in Weslaco.

Irrigation is active on row crops, Garza said, and most of the sorghum will not make harvest. "Cotton is in desperate need for water," she said.

Due to very poor range conditions producers are providing cattle with supplemental feed, she said.

In the South Plains, high wind damaged several center pivots, and hail knocked out windows in vehicles, said Jett Major, district Extension administrator in Lubbock. A tornado touched down in Crosby County and damaged center pivots and barns, he said. One house was destroyed. Corn planting continues; some of the corn that was previously planted received hail damage, he said.

The following livestock, crop and weather conditions were reported by Extension districts:

PANHANDLE: Soil moisture is adequate. Temperatures were above average but returned to normal by the week's end. Thunderstorms brought rain and hail. The reports of the heaviest rain were in the southern portion of the district; some hail was reported. Corn planting continues, but is slowing down due to wet and cold soil. Corn is about 60 percent planted. Emergence is slow and stands are rated fair. Cotton planting is about 35 percent complete. Cool temperatures and wet conditions have slowed planting. Wheat is rated fair to good. Stripe rust was slowed by warmer temperatures but continues to be a major concern. Rangeland conditions continued to improve and were rated mostly fair to good. Cattle are in good condition. Horn flies are increasing.

SOUTH PLAINS: Soil moisture is short to adequate. Severe thunderstorms with high winds and hail were reported in the northeastern counties. High wind damaged several center pivots, and hail damaged vehicles and knocked out windows. A tornado in Crosby County damaged center pivots and barns. One house was destroyed. Corn planting continues; some of the corn that was previously planted received hail damage. Winter wheat is in fair to good condition. Wheat is surviving against rust pressure. Producers are irrigating their best fields. Cotton and peanut planting occurred in some counties. Pasture and rangeland are in fair to good condition and need rain. Cattle are in good condition.

ROLLING PLAINS: Soil moisture is adequate to surplus. Rain and high winds were reported across the district. Temperatures are warming up. Forage has increased thanks to moisture. Wheat fields are beginning to mature. Livestock are in good condition. Producers will begin planting cotton and peanuts as soon as soil moisture allows. Very little insect pressure has been reported. Livestock are in good body condition.

NORTH: Soil moisture is very short to adequate. Corn is rated fair to excellent. Top soil moisture is beginning to be an issue. Pasture and rangeland are rated poor to good and are in need of moisture. Many producers are cutting their first hay crop this week. Clover has done very well this season. Livestock are in excellent body condition. The cattle market is active. Flies and bugs are emerging. Pecan trees are suffering from worms.

EAST TEXAS: Soil moisture is short. Light rain fell in some areas; high winds damaged fences, barns and homes. Onions, squash, beans and potatoes are being harvested. The cattle market is strong with high demand. Cool season grasses are playing out rapidly, but warm season grasses are growing well. Hay is being fertilized in some areas.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture is short. Most counties in the district received rain, high winds and hail, but with little accumulation. Range conditions continue to deteriorate with increasing temperatures and drying winds. Cotton planting has started. Livestock conditions remain good; prices are constant.

WEST CENTRAL: Soil moisture is short. Moisture is needed for most spring planting to begin. Some storms were reported late in the week. Field preparations continue. Producers are cutting and baling wheat or oat hay in some fields. Wheat harvest is good. Sorghum planting is winding down. Corn is planted and is beginning to emerge. Some cotton producers are starting to plant where soil moisture is adequate. Cotton that has been planted and irrigated is in excellent condition. Most range and pastures are in growing well due to rain. Cattle prices remain high. Livestock conditions remain good to excellent. Insect problems have been noted in pecan trees and gardens. Bees are a major concern for homeowners.

CENTRAL: Soil moisture is short. Some rain was reported, but more is needed for dryland crops. Melons are doing well with dry weather. Ryegrass, oats and wheat are being harvested for hay. Cattle are in good condition. The first cuttings of coastal grass are expected to be poor quality. Insects are being found in grain sorghum.

SOUTHEAST: Soil moisture is adequate. Some parts of the district received 5 inches of rain. Warmer temperatures were reported. Crops and pastures are making a great recovery. Ponds and small lakes are full. Winter annuals are reaching maturity. The pecan crop is in good condition; no casebearer eggs have been found. Producers are fertilizing pastures and cutting hay. Soybean planting continued in Liberty County. Rice planting is complete.

SOUTHWEST: Soil moisture adequate. After about 73 dry days, the district received much-needed rain. In addition, temperatures cooled down and created an excellent growing environment. The rain came too late to help wheat and oats, but will benefit corn, cotton, sorghum, sesame, sunflowers, peanuts and spring vegetables. The rain will also help pasture and rangeland. Cabbage and onion harvests have been postponed due to wet conditions. The rain will save thousands of acres of crops, but more is needed to sustain growth.

COASTAL BEND: Soil moisture is short to adequate. Scattered rainfall helped moisture-stressed crops. Hail damaged about 3,000 acres of cotton in Nueces County. Some late soybeans are being planted. Cattle prices continue to be good.

SOUTH: Soil moisture is short. Drought stress on row crops is increasing and potential yields are decreasing. Citrus harvest is complete. Vegetable harvests are winding down. The majority of sorghum will not be harvested. Cotton is in desperate need of water. Due to very poor range conditions producers are providing cattle with supplemental feed.