AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:
The district received rain. Soil moisture improved significantly, and livestock drinking sources were filling up. More rain chances were in the forecast, and optimism for cotton planting was up. Pastures began to green up, and ranchers were able to reduce their reliance on supplemental feeding. Calving season was almost complete, and spring calves looked good. Most wheat had headed out, and another rain should greatly help grain fill. Some producers were pulling feeder calves off wheat pastures, while others continued to bring in stockers. Some farmers were cutting and baling wheat for hay.
South Plains
Unseasonably warm temperatures and high winds continued to deplete subsoil and topsoil moisture and dry out grasses and cropland. Winter wheat was in desperate need of rain. Dryland producers needed rainfall soon. Some farmers were just now preparing for spring planting. Cattle were in good condition but on supplemental feed. Rangeland was expected to struggle without rain soon.
Panhandle
Some areas received light rain, which was beneficial to wheat and rangelands. Wheat fields started the boot stage. Growers began to plant corn in a few fields. Soil temperatures were being monitored in anticipation of planting cotton. Overall soil moisture was very short to adequate. Pasture and range conditions were reported from poor to good. Overall, crops were in poor to good condition.
Far West
The district continued to experience severe drought conditions. But recent rainfall amounts ranged from 0.5-3.5 inches. Rainfall provided temporary relief but was accompanied by damaging hail and strong winds. Despite the rains, the district remained in dire need of sustained precipitation to improve soil moisture and alleviate drought stress. Corn plants emerged but were growing slowly due to below-normal temperatures. Watermelon planting and ground preparations for other crops were ongoing. Some sorghum was planted. Wheat harvest for seed and hay was expected soon. Pasture weeds were beginning to green up; however, grass remained sparse, and overall pasture conditions were poor. Livestock were in fair to poor condition, with supplemental feeding necessary due to limited forage. The overall outlook remained challenging, with continued dry conditions and above-average temperatures expected.
West Central
All areas needed rainfall. Most areas received some rain, with 0.56 inches reported, but hot, dry conditions persisted in many areas. Subsoil moisture remained very short. Temperatures returned to the mid-80s, and rain was in the forecast. Pastures continued to improve but needed more rainfall to produce forage. Some hail and wind damage from thunderstorms was reported. Warm-season forages were growing slowly, and cool-season weeds were competing with grasses. Some fields were being planted to spring forages. Wheat was in poor to good condition. Wheat in fields going to grain was fully headed out. Grain yield estimates were below average, and many producers were grazing out fields while others were baling wheat. Some producers were moving cattle off wheat fields earlier than usual. Some farmers planted Sudan grass and haygrazer before the rainfall. Corn under irrigation had emerged. Some dryland sorghum that emerged needed rainfall soon. Cotton fields were being prepared for planting. Row crop producers were spraying for weeds. Pecan orchards were progressing slowly. Additional rains should improve all agricultural conditions. Livestock body conditions slowly improved as cattle continued to seek green grass. More runoff rainfall was needed to fill stock tanks. Supplemental feeding increased in some areas, while grazing was improving body condition scores in some herds. Producers were selling calves, kids and lambs amid strong markets.