Sunday, November 30, 1997

Ag outlook is a mixed bag during holiday season

By J.T. Smith / Abilene Reporter-News

The boom and bust weather cycles of recent weeks have had farmers and ranchers scratching their heads.

Most just roll from day to day as the weather allows outdoor work.

Going into this holiday season period, moisture was very short in Brown County as the Thanksgiving holidays arrived. Many farmers were hoping the predicted weather change would bring them some moisture relief -- especially to benefit small grain crops.

County Extension Agent (CEA) Lonnie Jenschke said some winter wheat fields are still being planted right up to December in Brown County.

Meanwhile, some oat fields that were planted early look pretty good now. A few patches of oats are not far from providing grazing, Jenschke said.

Jenschke is a bit concerned that yellow spots have begun to show up in some wheat fields.

"This could possibly be the start of green bug problems," Jenschke observed.

Jenschke adds that a lot of late fall cattle work is being done.

Tommy Antilley, CEA for Coke County, said the recent rain and snow aided the growth of some wheat and oats in the Robert Lee and Bronte areas. But more moisture was needed going into the Thanksgiving break.

Antilley estimates that about 90 percent of the wheat has been planted.

The veteran ag agent said most of the wheat has emerged, but it has been growing slowly.

Cotton harvest continues

On sunny days, area cotton growers are still attempting to gather one of the larger cotton crops in several years.

Justin Hansard, Fisher County ag agent, Roby, said that farmers in the Roby and Rotan area were plenty busy harvesting cotton during the unseasonally warm days just before Thanksgiving.

Mike Mauldin, CEA for Runnels County, reports that moisture in the Ballinger area has been short.

Of course, that has been a two-edged sword. Cotton farmers have needed sunshine to gather a big crop there.

"Harvest weather for cotton has been perfect," Mauldin noted.

But on the other side of the coin, most winter wheat -- although the seed is in the ground -- is in desperate need of rain.

Mauldin said some farmers dry-sowed their wheat seed. A rain is needed to bring wheat to emergence.

Meanwhile, the Runnels County pecan crop has been "excellent in yield and quality."

Moisture is actually pretty good down in the Goldthwaite area. Danny Long, CEA for Mills County, said recent moisture should improve the emergence of oats. Meanwhile, wheat sowing is nearing completion.

Long adds that the grain sorghum harvest is complete there.

"Production was fair to good," Long said.

Here in the immediate Abilene area, Taylor County Extension Agent Gary Bomar reports that cotton harvest is virtually complete at this time. And this has been one of the best harvests in many years for Taylor County.

But wheat is an extremely important crop in Taylor County for both grain and the winter grazing it provides stocker cattle. And the winter wheat pasture was in need of timely rain going into the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Bomar reports.

Nevertheless, some wheat pastures are providing limited amounts of grazing for livestock at this time, Bomar adds.

Bomar points out that the Taylor County pecan crop has been superb this year. In fact, the 1997 Abilene Area Pecan Show drew more than double the number of entries of last year at the Mall of Abilene this past week.