Farm & Ranch
[AgriLife Extension] Texas crop and weather report for August 24, 2016
By: Adam Russell
Recent rains likely to boost hay production outlook
- Writer: Adam Russell, 903-834-6191, adam.russell@ag.tamu.edu
- Contact: Dr. Larry Redmon, 979-845-4008, l-redmon@tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION – Good quality cuttings of hay could be in the future for hay producers across the state following widespread rains.
Dr. Larry Redmon, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program leader, College Station, said spring and summer presented subprime conditions for hay production on both ends of the weather spectrum.
Redmon said spring rains made it difficult for hay producers to access meadows and delayed or prevented first cuttings. The delays resulted in good quantities of hay but diminished nutrient values and quality.
The spring deluge was followed by 70-75 days of summer heat, including multiple 100 degree days in much of the state, that decreased moisture levels rapidly, Redmon said.
“I’m looking at fields that looked burnt up a week ago, and now they’re green and growing,” Redmon said. “It looks like producers might get a good second or third harvest.”The lack of moisture slowed growth and in some cases led to dormancy in hay meadows. But then the rains came.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service May 1 hay stock report, Texas had its highest surplus of fall/winter hay since 2008, 2.5 million tons, or 9 percent above 2015.
Redmon said producers who fertilized hay meadows based on forecasts that delivered rain would likely benefit most and see good new growth over the next few weeks. He said the next cutting would likely produce good yields and quality as long as fields are accessible when grasses peak.
Rangeland and pasture conditions around the state also improved following the rains and should provide adequate grazing in many areas until forages go dormant, according to AgriLife Extension agent reports.
AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:
CENTRAL: Conditions were wet and rainy. The district received 0.5-13 inches of rain, and temperatures were cooler. Sorghum harvest was completed but some corn was still in the fields. Cotton fields with open bolls were damaged. Water was standing on pastures and ranges. Many pastures that were turning yellow from extremely dry conditions have recovered. Pecan crops were looking good, and many producers shook some varieties to thin excess crop. Armyworms were a major issue in hay fields. Livestock and cattle remained in good condition. Most counties reported good soil moisture. Overall range and pasture conditions were good, and overall crop conditions were fair.
ROLLING PLAINS: Cooler temperatures prevailed and slowed down cotton plant growth. The cooler temperatures were beneficial for livestock producers, and cattle were in good condition. Pastures and rangeland were in good condition as some counties received beneficial rainfall with some amounts totaling upwards of 5 inches. Some areas remained dry, and wildfires were still a threat. Wheat producers were preparing for fall planting.
COASTAL BEND: Rains were a welcomed sight for producers as conditions were extremely dry. Rain amounts ranged from 3.5-12 inches in most areas. Wet conditions brought harvests to a standstill. Cotton quality concerns increased as open bolls were exposed to rain. The delay of harvest affected cotton fiber quality with yield and seed quality losses expected. Pastures were responding well to the rainfall. Livestock were in good condition. Fall cattle work continued. Calf weights appeared to be above average for the year.
EAST: The region received much needed rainfall. Pasture and range conditions were mostly fair to good with only Marion, Gregg and Shelby counties reporting excellent conditions. Scattered showers brought rain with total amounts between 0.01-8 inches. Many counties were experiencing extreme wetness. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were adequate with a few counties reporting surplus. Forages were growing again and turned green almost overnight. Pasture forage harvests stopped due to the rainfall. Many ponds and lakes filled back up. Hay producers were expecting to make one more cutting for the year. Producers were on the lookout for armyworm infestations. Producers were starting to plant fall gardens in Marion County. Jasper County reported fall gardens were doing well. Tree and plant issues were reported in Smith County related to the hot, dry summer days. Cattle were in good shape with excellent body conditions. Polk County producers were weaning and selling market-ready calves and cull cows. Feral hogs were active.
SOUTH PLAINS: Scattered showers were received in some counties. Rain amounts ranged from 0.4-1 inch. Subsoil and topsoil moisture levels remained very low in counties missed by the rain. Cooler weather helped grain fields recover slightly from extreme heat. However, the forecast was not favorable for cotton as warm temperatures were still needed to mature fields. Cotton and sorghum continued to mature. Peanuts were in decent condition, but corn was very dry. Corn silage harvest was underway in Bailey County. Pastures and rangelands needed moisture, but cattle were in good condition. Rains helped dryland cotton, but not enough fell to restore a healthy soil moisture profile. Forecasts indicated a chance for rain. Most cotton cut out and some natural boll shed was occurring. No open bolls were observed or reported but early bolls should open soon. Producers sprayed for stink bugs in some sorghum fields and adjacent cotton field margins.
PANHANDLE: There were near to slightly below normal temperatures for most of the district. Moisture was received throughout most of the district. Amounts ranged from a trace to 2.25 inches. Temperatures dipped below normal where rain fell. Dallam and Hartley counties received no precipitation and normal temperatures. There were reports of strong winds and some hail but not much damage. Corn was progressing well. Yield potential varied. Some estimates were for yields to be 20-30 percent below average. July heat hurt later-planted corn and corn planted with limited irrigation. Potato defoliation and harvest was underway. Yield potential on potatoes was also expected to vary greatly because of hot weather and high psyllid numbers. Producers were making third cuttings of alfalfa hay and were making field preparations for wheat planting. Sunflowers were in bloom and looked good. Rangeland in some areas were drying out. Horn fly numbers on cattle increased. Fall calving will start soon for some producers. Cattle were in good condition. Deaf Smith County producers started silage harvest with yields down 20 percent or more. Cotton was coming along with many fields in cutout. Some cotton progress was slowed by cooler temperatures. Grain sorghum fields in some areas were just now blooming. Sugarcane aphid numbers increased, and producers were applying insecticides. Cattle on pasture looked very good. Rangeland and pastures continued to vary in ratings from very poor to excellent with most reporting good to fair.
NORTH: Topsoil and subsoil moisture was mostly adequate. Rainfall amounts ranged from 1-5 inches. Temperatures did not get above the mid-80s for most of the reporting period. Rainfall helped rangelands and pastures but came a little late for corn and grain sorghum. Most corn fields were harvested and a large percentage of the grain sorghum was harvested. Yield reports on corn ranged from about 80-100 bushels per acre on dryland and about 150-200 bushels on irrigated fields. No yield reports on grain sorghum were recorded. Some early planted soybeans were harvested and yielded 25 bushels per acre. A lot of late-planted soybeans were planted into wheat stubble. Cattle looked good. Some stocker operators were hanging on to some yearlings because of ample grass. There was plenty of forage, and the cow-calf sector was in good shape going into fall. There were some reports of livestock stress due to high humidity levels, including some cases of pneumonia. There were a few reports of armyworms. Damage was not bad, but producers were scouting.
FAR WEST: Temperatures dropped to the high 80s and low 90s. Conditions were overcast with scattered showers over most of the district. Flash flooding occurred along the Rio Grande. Rainfall under 2 inches had little effect on dry range conditions. Rangeland fires remained a concern in some counties. Cotton crops in Glasscock County were declining, and some dryland bolls started to open. Sorghum and corn harvests continued. Supplemental feeding of livestock and wildlife continued in some areas. Producers completed maintenance on equipment to prepare for fall work. Alfalfa producers were starting fourth and fifth cuttings. Pecan trees needed moisture.
WEST CENTRAL: Widespread rain fell around the district throughout the reporting period, but no measurements were recorded. Temperatures were much cooler. Stock tanks and ponds filled with some runoff occurring. Fire dangers decreased, and some burn bans were lifted. Preparations for fall planting were underway. Most small grain fields were ready and fertilized for planting. Early planted wheat was expected to be available for grazing soon due to recent moisture. The majority of sorghum and corn was harvested. A few wet fields remained standing. Hay producers expected to make a third cutting due to moisture. Farmers were optimistic about cotton yields with recent moisture. Rangeland and pasture conditions were improving. Livestock remained in fair to good condition. Cattle prices were high. Pecan crops were extremely heavy. Timely rains were expected to help pecan nuts fill out.
SOUTHEAST: Between 4-7 inches of rain fell in areas of the district. Rains prevented work in some fields. The rice harvest progressed but was delayed due to rain. Some burn bans were lifted. Rains allowed pastures to regrow after being consumed by armyworms. Soil moisture levels throughout the district ranged from adequate to surplus, with mostly adequate. Rangeland and pasture ratings varied from excellent to good, with good most common.
SOUTHWEST: Good rain arrived for most of the district with averages from 3-11 inches reported. Rains helped topsoil moisture levels. Warm-season grasses improved, and pastures responded well. Corn harvest halted due to rain, which was not benefiting cotton fields. Hay cutting halted also. Rangeland continued to show improvement. Livestock were in good condition. Weaning of sheep and goats continued.
SOUTH: All counties, except Cameron County, received rain. Flooding was reported in some areas. Rain measurements ranged from 1-10 inches. Peanut fields were in good condition and entering the pod-fill stage. Water levels improved, and pastures and rangelands began to show signs of improvement. Conditions remained good for forage quality. Horn fly populations increased in some areas, but cattle body condition scores remained good. Lower temperatures brought relief to livestock in some areas. Livestock prices were expected to fluctuate because of improvements in grazing conditions. Overall soil moisture conditions ranged from very short in Cameron County to surplus in a few counties. Rains also improved wildlife habitat. Wildlife populations appeared to be in decent shape for upcoming hunting seasons. Cotton defoliation and harvests continued with less than 50 percent of acreage remaining in fields in most counties. Harvesting was expected to resume when fields dry. Producers were assessing fields with open bolls. Rains halted all field preparation for fall small grain plantings, as well as cabbage, onion and some early spinach, but was expected to help pecan growers during kernel development.
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By Savannah Magoteaux
Two bales can look almost identical and feed very differently. Color, smell and leafiness tell part of the story, but a forage test tells you what your cattle are actually being offered. If you buy hay by the ton or are trying to stretch winter feed, that little lab sheet can be one of the cheapest management tools on the place.
Reading the report
Start with dry matter. Hay contains water, and labs report nutrients either “as fed” or on a dry-matter basis. Feeds are easiest to compare on a dry-matter basis because it takes moisture out of the comparison. Hay that is 90 percent dry matter is about 10 percent water.
Crude protein, usually abbreviated CP, is the number most people recognize. It estimates protein from the forage’s nitrogen content. Higher isn’t automatically better. The goal is to match the hay to the animal. A dry, mature cow in mid-gestation doesn’t need the same protein as a lactating cow, a growing replacement heifer or a young calf.
Energy matters just as much. Beef cattle forage reports commonly estimate energy as total digestible nutrients, or TDN. Low-TDN hay may fill a cow up before it supplies enough energy, particularly when her requirements rise late in gestation or during lactation. That is when you may need better forage, an energy supplement or a different feeding plan.
Fiber numbers explain why some hay looks coarse and why animals may not be able to eat enough of it. Neutral detergent fiber, or NDF, is closely tied to intake. As NDF climbs, cattle generally eat less because the forage moves through the digestive tract more slowly. Acid detergent fiber, or ADF, is tied to digestibility. Higher ADF generally means lower digestibility.
Some reports also include relative feed value or relative forage quality. These indexes help compare lots of forage, particularly alfalfa and mixed hay, but they aren’t a complete ration. They don’t replace looking at protein, energy, minerals, animal class and expected intake.
Then come the numbers you hope are boring. Nitrate testing matters when drought, heavy nitrogen fertilization, cloudy weather or other conditions have stressed the forage enough to cause nitrate accumulation. Sorghum-type forages, johnsongrass, corn and some weeds deserve particular attention. Nitrates stay in hay after it is cut and baled, so a risky crop doesn’t become safe just because it dried.
Minerals deserve a look, but this is where a hay report gets harder to interpret. Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and other minerals may be listed, yet a complete mineral program depends on water, other feeds and local conditions. A high number isn’t always an advantage. Excessive potassium, for example, can interfere with magnesium use under some circumstances. If you are balancing a ration for high-risk animals, work with a nutritionist or Extension specialist rather than treating the lab sheet as a stand-alone mineral prescription.
Moisture tells another story. Hay baled too wet is at greater risk of heating and mold, and very wet hay can become a fire hazard as microbial activity raises its internal temperature. A test taken months later can’t reconstruct every storage problem, so inspect the stack, too. A musty odor, visible mold, unusual heat and dark discoloration are all reasons to investigate.
Getting a good sample
A hay test is only as good as the sample, and sampling is the step most likely to ruin a good analysis. A handful pulled from the outside of one convenient bale doesn’t represent a stack of 100 bales. Round bales aren’t uniform from the outside to the center, and one bale may not represent the whole cutting.
Texas A&M AgriLife recommends using a hay probe and collecting cores from multiple bales in a lot, then combining them into one representative sample. A coring probe reaches through the layers of the bale and gives the lab a much better cross-section. Test different cuttings, fields or hay types separately, and don’t blend samples from separate fields or cuttings to save the cost of a test if you will feed them as separate lots.
Putting the numbers to work
The most useful way to read the report is backward from the cattle. What class of animal will eat this hay, at what stage of production, and how much is she likely to eat? Once you answer those questions, the lab numbers start to mean something.
A mature dry cow in good body condition can often use lower-quality forage than a first-calf heifer nursing a calf. Young cattle need nutrients for growth on top of maintenance, and cold stress raises energy demand. A hay test becomes valuable when you pair it with those real-world differences.
Remember that price per bale isn’t the same as price per unit of nutrition. A cheap bale with very low energy and protein may require expensive supplementation, and better hay can turn out to be the lower-cost feed once you count waste and supplements.
Before buying, try putting two hay reports side by side. Compare dry matter, crude protein, TDN and fiber first. Then add delivered cost and likely feeding waste. A heavier, denser bale isn’t automatically more economical, and a greener bale isn’t automatically more nutritious. The numbers make the comparison fair.
Testing is especially valuable after a hard weather year. Drought hay may be lower in yield and higher in nitrate risk. Mature, rain-damaged hay may test lower in protein and energy than it looks. Hay cut from a fertilized field after stress may deserve a safety screen before it ever reaches a feeder.
A forage test won’t make poor hay better. It shows you where the gaps are before your cattle show them through lost condition or lower performance. One report can’t answer every feeding question, but it replaces several guesses with measurements, and that makes winter nutrition planning much more accurate.
By Savannah Magoteaux
A heavy crop of acorns under an oak tree usually looks more like a sign of fall than a livestock problem. For most cattle in most years, that is all it is. Trouble starts when acorns stop being an occasional bite and become a meaningful part of the diet.
Oak leaves, buds and acorns contain tannins that can damage the digestive tract and kidneys when cattle eat enough of them. Green acorns are generally considered more toxic than mature brown ones, but either can cause problems if cattle eat too many.
The risk climbs when forage is short and cattle go looking for something else to eat. Drought, overgrazed pastures or simply a heavy acorn crop can set up that situation.
Cattle aren’t equally interested in acorns. A few animals in a herd may eat far more than the rest, which helps explain why cases can appear scattered.
Early signs can be vague. Affected cattle may go off feed, look depressed or become constipated. As the damage progresses, you may see dark or bloody manure, abdominal pain, frequent urination followed by reduced urine output, dehydration and weakness. Kidney failure is the most serious concern.
You can’t remove every acorn from a wooded pasture, so prevention comes down to keeping cattle from relying on them. Adequate forage and supplementation take away the incentive to eat large amounts.
You can also fence cattle away from heavily producing oaks for a while, especially when pasture conditions are poor. If several animals seem to be seeking out acorns, take a close look at the rest of the ration instead of assuming they will quit on their own.
If you suspect oak poisoning, call a veterinarian early. Treatment is supportive and does much more good before severe kidney damage sets in. Moving unaffected cattle away from the source and providing good-quality feed and water may prevent more cases.
Acorns are an important fall food for deer, squirrels and other wildlife, and a few acorns generally don’t spell disaster for cattle. The concern is quantity. A pasture full of oaks becomes a different management problem when grass is short, cattle are hungry and the ground is covered with something they are willing to eat.
Oak toxicity comes up most often in cattle, but other livestock can be affected, too. And the risk isn’t limited to acorns. Oak buds and young leaves also contain tannins, so spring can occasionally bring problems as well. In fall, though, the obvious temptation is lying on the ground where cattle can eat it quickly.
Watch where your cattle spend their time. If cows that normally graze open grass start camping under oaks and hunting acorns, that behavior tells you something.
Walk the pasture, estimate how much usable forage is left and check whether a few dominant animals are eating more than the rest. Hay or supplemental feed may help, but place it where all the cattle can reach it rather than assuming one feeder will solve the problem.
Oak poisoning can look like other illnesses, and no one can diagnose kidney damage from pasture observation alone. A veterinarian may use history, clinical signs and lab work to separate it from dehydration, digestive disease or other toxicities. That is another reason to mention a heavy acorn crop when you call. A detail that seems like an ordinary part of fall can be an important part of the history.
Your pasture plan doesn’t have to be complicated. If one wooded trap has a much heavier acorn crop than the rest, use another pasture while you still have the choice.
If you can’t move the herd, make sure hay and supplement are adequate before the animals get hungry enough to seek out acorns aggressively. Salt or mineral by itself won’t make up for a shortage of forage.
The problem usually fades as cattle eat through the crop or the acorns weather or get covered. Don’t return cattle that have already shown signs as soon as they look better, though. Kidney injury can be serious. Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations and reassess the pasture before turning recovered animals back out.
By Jared Groce
Late summer has been brutal on our livestock, our grass and the rural land market in North Texas. We currently have an astounding 42 months of inventory on hand in our report area, and the only properties selling are the ones priced right. Overpriced properties aren’t even getting looked at, much less receiving offers, so pricing your property correctly matters more than ever right now.
Many sellers are still picturing the daily price increases we saw in 2020 to 2023, but those days are behind us, and agents need to be more realistic with listing prices to get any activity for their clients. Hopefully the rains will come soon and bring more land buyers with them this fall, but right now it is still very much a buyer’s market. No one knows how long this dry spell will last, but it will likely take a flood to end it. The same is true of the weather!
They say the best time to plant a tree, or buy land, was 20 years ago, and the second-best time is today.
| County | Area | Acres | $/Acre | List Price | Sold Price | Sale/List | DOM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay | Henrietta | 120.07 | $5,150 | $714,000 | $618,309 | 86.60% | 434 |
| Clay | Bellevue | 159.44 | $6,184 | $981,000 | $985,959 | 100.50% | 48 |
| Clay | Henrietta | 293 | $4,982 | $1,538,250 | $1,459,600 | 94.90% | 212 |
| Clay | Average | 190.84 | $5,438 | $1,077,750 | $1,021,289 | 94.00% | 231 |
| Collin | Anna | 11.08 | $84,356 | $1,200,000 | $935,000 | 77.90% | 634 |
| Collin | Average | 11.08 | $84,356 | $1,200,000 | $935,000 | 77.90% | 634 |
| Cooke | Muenster | 11 | $18,000 | $209,000 | $198,000 | 94.70% | 250 |
| Cooke | Gainesville | 19.3 | $16,580 | $345,000 | $320,000 | 92.80% | 541 |
| Cooke | Valley View | 96.23 | $15,500 | $1,679,215 | $1,491,565 | 88.80% | 194 |
| Cooke | Average | 42.18 | $16,693 | $744,405 | $669,855 | 92.10% | 328 |
| Denton | Sanger | 16.46 | $39,422 | $649,000 | $649,000 | 100.00% | 47 |
| Denton | Cross Roads | 10.35 | $97,575 | $1,200,000 | $1,010,000 | 84.20% | 40 |
| Denton | Sanger | 300 | $14,000 | $4,999,999 | $4,200,000 | 84.00% | 1,327 |
| Denton | Aubrey | 74.09 | $57,684 | $4,815,525 | $4,273,550 | 88.70% | 302 |
| Denton | Average | 100.22 | $52,170 | $2,916,131 | $2,533,138 | 89.20% | 429 |
| Grayson | Collinsville | 11.61 | $46,516 | $600,000 | $540,000 | 90.00% | 280 |
| Grayson | Van Alstyne | 18.8 | $58,511 | $1,175,000 | $1,100,000 | 93.60% | 280 |
| Grayson | Whitesboro | 30 | $37,984 | $1,170,000 | $1,139,506 | 97.40% | 277 |
| Grayson | Average | 20.14 | $47,670 | $981,667 | $926,502 | 93.70% | 237 |
| Jack | No sales reported | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Montague | Montague | 485 | N/A | $5,566,000 | N/A | N/A | 333 |
| Montague | Bowie | 26 | $12,244 | $323,500 | $318,352 | 98.40% | 743 |
| Montague | Montague | 37.3 | $10,327 | $428,950 | $385,195 | 89.80% | 1 |
| Montague | Saint Jo | 1,185 | $7,764 | $10,000,000 | $9,199,829 | 92.00% | 19 |
| Montague | Average | 433.33 | $10,112 | $4,079,613 | $3,301,125 | 93.40% | 274 |
| Wise | Sunset | 12 | $19,027 | $234,000 | $228,320 | 97.60% | 16 |
| Wise | Sunset | 12 | $19,027 | $234,000 | $228,320 | 97.60% | 14 |
| Wise | Chico | 11.44 | $24,476 | $299,000 | $280,000 | 93.60% | 24 |
| Wise | Chico | 10.25 | $29,265 | $315,000 | $300,000 | 95.20% | 12 |
| Wise | Average | 11.42 | $22,949 | $270,000 | $259,160 | 96.00% | 17 |
DOM = days on market
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