Rain is needed, and grain sorghum yields will be low, according to a Texas Cooperative Extension expert.

"This has not been a very friendly year for sorghum," said Jose Pena, Extension economist in Uvalde. "We've had a very dry spring, summer and early fall."

The crop's saving graces were rains last winter and in the early spring, Pena said.

"We've only had one-third of our regular rainfall (in South Texas)," he said.

While sorghum is grown across the state, 80 percent of the state's crop is produced in South Texas and the South Plains, Pena said.

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Cameron, Hidalgo, Nueces, San Patricio and Willacy counties account for almost 600,000 of the nearly 2 million acres planted in the state.

Jeff Dahlberg, research director of the National Grain Sorghum Producers in Lubbock, said production in the South Plains is also down from last year.

"For the state, we're looking at a slight reduction in yield," he said.

"Last year was 62 (bushels per acre), but we had really good weather here last year. This year they're predicting 56 bushel per acre, so it's down six bushels."

The decrease was not greatly significant because of last year's record rainfall, Dahlberg said.

"It didn't rain as much (this year). Around this region last year, the Lubbock area had 38 inches of rain, or something like that," he said. "It was the second highest on record."

Some parts of the state have already started to harvest. Producers in the South Plains will begin in three or four weeks, Dahlberg said.

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

PANHANDLE: Soil moisture is short to adequate. Temperatures were slightly above average, with isolated thunderstorms. Corn was 95 percent dented. Cotton is fair to good, as bolls continued to open. Bollworms and armyworms were reported. About 95 percent of sorghum had headed, and 39 percent had begun to color. Headworms were reported. Sorghum silage harvest continued. Soybeans were fair to good, and wheat was 45 percent planted. Rangeland conditions were fair; cattle were in good condition. However, flies were reported to be a problem among livestock.

SOUTH PLAINS: Soil moisture is short to adequate. Warm temperatures were reported. Cotton crop progressed well. Corn harvest began in some areas, and producers continued to plant winter wheat. Pumpkin harvest continued. Producers began harvesting the peanut crop. Pastures and rangelands were in fair to good condition. With little forage available, cattle were given supplemental feed.

ROLLING PLAINS: Soil moisture is adequate. Scattered showers and thunderstorms improved conditions, and hail damaged cotton stalks in some counties. Wheat planting began. Cattle were given supplemental feed.
Livestock were in good condition. Heavy rainfall filled stock tanks in many areas. Hay and alfalfa were baled. Pasture and rangelands were in fair to good condition. Livestock producers began weaning spring-born yearlings.

NORTH: Soil moisture is very short to short. Hot, dry conditions persisted. Corn and sorghum harvests were almost complete. Rice harvest began. Producers started to plant wheat and oats. Pasture conditions were poor, and some producers were giving supplemental feed to livestock. Stock water was low, and producers were planning to sell part of their herds.

EAST TEXAS: Soil moisture is very short. Fall pea crops were lost due to lack of rain. Stock ponds and creeks were drying up. Forages were very short, and cattle were given supplemental feed. Burn bans were in effect.

FAR WEST: Soil moisture is short to adequate. Moderate temperatures and scattered showers were reported. Farmers prepared fields for wheat planting. Rangelands and pastures were in poor to good condition, and livestock remained in good condition.

WEST CENTRAL: Soil moisture is short. Warm temperatures persisted; a few light showers fell. Cotton continued to look good, but bollworms, armyworms and beet armyworms were reported. Producers cut and baled hay.
Preparation was under way for planting wheat and harvesting pecans.
Pastures and rangelands were still very dry. Livestock conditions are fair to good, but some producers were hauling water.

CENTRAL: Soil moisture is very short. Lack of rain slowed work. Cotton yields were good. Most producers were waiting for moist conditions before planting small grains and winter pastures. Pecan weevils and shuckworms were reported.

SOUTHEAST: Soil moisture is very short. Scattered showers were reported. Many trees were lost because of dry conditions. Hay harvest slowed and pasture conditions were poor. Peanuts were in good condition.
Soybeans need rain. Ratoon rice crop looked good, and the main rice crop was harvested. Armyworms were reported. Winter food plots for wildlife were being prepared.

SOUTHWEST: Soil moisture is very short to short. Hot, dry conditions were reported. Peanuts, cabbage, carrots, spinach and other fall vegetables were progressing well under heavy irrigation. Cotton was nearly harvested, with half stored in field modules. Irrigated cotton yields were high. Forage availability was below average; winter forage production is expected to be lower than needed to maintain livestock stocking rates.

COASTAL BEND: Soil moisture is adequate. Scattered showers caused some delay in field work. Oats and wheat were planted. Hay was cut and baled.
Pasture conditions have improved with significant rainfall.

SOUTH: Soil moisture is short to adequate. Recent rains improved conditions. Producers irrigated sugarcane fields. Corn and soybean crops progressed well. Cotton fields were reported free of pests after light showers. Fall vegetable planting began; rainfall improved pastures and rangelands.