State's topsoil remains dry

With few exceptions, most of the state's topsoil remained critically dry. In regions where a little rain came, strong winds followed, taking moisture with it.

Conditions were particularly severe in the Panhandle and the Southwest, reported Texas AgriLife Extension Service agents.

"Soil moisture levels are still the same, basically nonexistent," said Rick Auckerman, AgriLife Extension agent in Deaf Smith County, west of Amarillo. "Continued dry and windy conditions in the county are keeping the center pivots running and farmers looking for the next rain cloud. Irrigated wheat is surviving; the dryland producers are starting to plow down what little is left."

"Last week we received one inch. The next day the wind blew 60 mph, and the moisture was lost," said J.D. Ragland, AgriLife Extension agent in Floyd County, near Lubbock.

"Strong winds have occurred all week and have dried out all moisture received last week," said J.R. Sprague, AgriLife Extension agent in Lipscomb County, near the border with the Oklahoma Panhandle.

The following summaries were compiled by Texas AgriLife Extension district reporters this week:

CENTRAL: High winds dried out topsoil moisture between showers. Livestock and wildlife were in good condition. Cotton planting progressed in some counties. Pastures began to green up. Corn and milo crops were growing well.

SOUTH: Short to very short soil moisture conditions continued throughout the region. A western county reported 0.5 to 0.7 inches of rain. This small amount of rainfall, however, did very little to help the extreme dry conditions in that area. Producers continued to irrigate, and livestock producers were forced to continue providing supplemental feed

In the western parts of the region, onions progressed well - as did cotton and corn- with some additional water irrigations. Dryland crops suffered severe drought stress. In the midregion, the harvesting of spring onions, vegetables and citrus crops wound down.

SOUTHEAST: Rain late in the week helped with dry conditions, but pastures could use more moisture. Temperatures have been moderate with still some cool evenings. The spring and winter grasses were mature. Leaf blight was found in some wheat fields, but for the most part the crop looked good with large heads and well-filled kernels. Corn was fair. The sorghum looked good. Pasture weed control continued, and some producers have applied fertilizer. Livestock were doing well.