Since New Year's, some Texas counties had received from 2 to 6 inches of moisture, but much of the state remains behind as far as long-term accumulations go, said Texas AgriLife Extension Service personnel.

From the Panhandle to South Texas, lack of moisture affected winter wheat and other crops and caused concern about the future success of spring plantings, according to county reports from AgriLife Extension agents.

"Producers have had a productive week in the field this week with above average temperatures but no moisture in the area," reported Rick Auckerman, AgriLife Extension agent for Deaf Smith County, west of Amarillo. "Winter wheat continues to deteriorate with the lack of moisture and extreme drying conditions in our area."

"Soil moisture is very short with no measurable rainfall since late October," said Jay Kingston, AgriLife Extension agent for Kent County, east of Lubbock. "Wheat is in poor to very poor condition along with native pastures."

"Pecos County has gone 120 days without any measurable precipitation," said Norman Fryar, AgriLife Extension agent for Pecos County, south of Odessa. "Continued winds and diverse temperature ranges are impacting the overall agricultural industry of the county."

"Conditions remain dry in Foard County. Producers are debating whether to top-dress wheat," said Seth Manney, AgriLife Extension agent for Foard County, west of Wichita Falls. "Many would like to contract wheat, but are reluctant with this weather pattern."

"It has been very cold this week, we still have not received any rain," reported Greg Gruben, AgriLife Extension agent for Scurry County, west of Abilene. "Rangeland and wheat were really struggling due to the lack of rainfall. We certainly do not have any underground moisture to start next season's crop."

"We had from 0.5 to 1.5 inches of snow Sunday and Monday with some scattered rainfall late Monday," said Rick Hirsch, AgriLife Extension agent for Henderson County, west of Tyler. "Hay supplies are rapidly depleting with increasing cold weather. Soil-moisture conditions were helped by snow and rain but it was not enough to sustain production."

"We went from a 100-percent topsoil moisture shortage to a 100-percent adequate topsoil moisture," said Larry Perez, AgriLife Extension agent for Jim Hogg County, east of Laredo. "A 1- to 2- inch rainfall event will do that in this area. Very cool temps with significant moisture and lots of clouds means no evaporation and moisture retention; lots of smiling faces in the county."

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