Texas cool-season vegetable growers navigate weather, market challenges
Texas Crop and Weather Report
Harvests continue for South Texas vegetable growers as irrigation shortages and persistent drought impact cool-season crop production, said Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts.
Weather and the lack of water continue to be the story for producers in the Rio Grande Valley who grow a wide variety of cool-season horticultural crops, from herbs to kale, spinach and other leafy greens to carrots, cabbage and onions, said Juan Anciso, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension vegetable specialist, professor and associate head of the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences.
The region’s growing season provides more than 300 frost-free days, which makes it one of the most ideal locations in the U.S. for cool-season vegetable production.
Anciso said acreage for vegetable crops in the Valley dipped slightly due to irrigation concerns. The region’s crops depend on irrigation flows from reservoirs along the Rio Grande River, and those water sources are at critical levels due to long-term drought.
Dry conditions can also benefit crop production, he said, as rainfall can delay production management and harvest. There have also been very few insect problems in vegetable fields, and disease outbreaks have been limited, with a few reports of downy mildew on leafy crops following a string of foggy mornings.
Anciso said vegetable fields in the Valley avoided damage during the recent cold fronts. Temperatures neared freezing but never reached concerning levels.
“It’s been a really dry winter, but everything is coming along fine,” he said. “Just steady progress on cool-season vegetable harvests, and the onion harvest should start soon.”
Winter Garden region faces post-freeze recovery
Larry Stein, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulture specialist and professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Uvalde, said recent freezing temperatures did reach the Winter Garden growing region situated between San Antonio and Laredo. The region boasts some of the state’s best growing conditions for spinach, cabbage and onions.
Stein said temperatures swung from 80-degree highs to 17-degree lows in some areas. Spinach fields that were near harvest were damaged but should recover well. Younger spinach and onions appear to have come through the cold unscathed. Stein said it will be a few more weeks before growers can fully assess cabbage fields, some of which were being harvested before the cold fronts.
“We’re having a good season so far, but that makes the fifth year that we’ve had a cold snap in January,” he said. “It looks like most of the crops took it OK, but there is always some concern when temperatures go from one extreme to the other.”
Growers around the Winter Garden region continue to endure extreme drought conditions. Most irrigation for production comes from the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer, and some wells were not producing water.
Valley growers watch water supplies and produce prices
In the Rio Grande Valley, onions continue to be the primary cool-season crop and are nearing harvest. Around 7,000 of the region’s 15,000-18,000 horticultural crop acres were planted with onions – mostly mild yellow, white and red varieties.
Produce grown in the Rio Grande Valley generates $285.6 million in annual production value, according to a 2023 economic impact study by AgriLife Extension’s Center for North American Studies in the Department of Agricultural Economics.
Anciso said vegetable growers in the Valley continue to express concerns about irrigation allotments that will be necessary for warm-season vegetable and fruit crops, including citrus orchards.
Water levels at the Amistad and Falcon reservoirs — key sources of irrigation for Rio Grande Valley crops — remain critically low. Additionally, Anciso said the expected 202,000 acre‑feet water delivery from Mexico on Dec. 15 has still not been received.
Beyond water, Anciso said overall vegetable prices in the Valley have been lower than in previous years.
“Prices are on the low side across the board with the exception of beets, maybe,” he said. “It would be nice if the growers could catch a break on prices and water, and sooner than later.”
AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:
Panhandle
Overall soil moisture levels were very short to short. Conditions were favorable for the development and growth of small grains and other cool-season crops. Livestock grazing on fields planted to small grains were in good condition. Growers continued to operate pivot irrigation systems for supplemental watering on small-grains fields. Pasture and range conditions were very poor to fair, and winter wheat was in poor to fair condition.
South Plains
Temperatures were mild, and conditions continued to dry following the snow and ice. Subsoil and topsoil moisture levels were adequate. Good stands of winter wheat were showing freeze damage following the snow, and producers were monitoring their recovery. Livestock were in good condition and on supplemental feed. Producers were preparing for planting.
Rolling Plains
Topsoil moisture improved slightly as the snow and ice melted under warmer-than-normal temperatures. The moisture helped winter pastures and allowed some late-planted wheat to sprout. The moisture was expected to dry out quickly without additional rainfall that was urgently needed. Producers were concerned about the outlook for remaining wheat and oat crops. Winter wheat continued to show signs of prolonged drought, with poor growth limiting grazing potential. Many stocker cattle remained on wheat but were receiving heavy hay and supplemental feeding, while some were moved to feedlots. Calving continued, with some livestock losses reported during the recent winter storm. Cattle producers were preparing for spring working, and some larger calves were being marketed to take advantage of strong prices.
North
The subsoil and topsoil moisture levels were short to adequate. Melted ice helped moisture levels, but conditions remained drier than normal. Drought conditions persisted, and pond levels continued to decline. Temperatures were significantly higher than in previous weeks, with daytime highs in the 70s and 80s. Pastures and rangelands were in fair to good condition. Vegetable growers planted seeds for late-winter and early-spring crops. Oats and winter wheat were in fair condition. Some winter wheat experienced slight freeze burn in spots but was expected to recover. Oat fields sustained some freeze damage. Some wheat fields were fertilized. Livestock were in fair and good condition. Some livestock losses occurred due to frigid conditions. Hay feeding continued. Several small grass fires occurred in Bowie County. Aphid numbers were on the rise.
East
Counties were recovering from the recent arctic blast. Ice and snow helped soil moisture levels in some areas, while most counties remained very dry. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were adequate to short. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair overall. Cattle markets remained strong. Livestock were in fair to good condition with supplemental feeding taking place. Gregg County producers were managing for gophers and moles. Feral hogs were active.
Far West
Crop and livestock conditions improved compared to the previous week as temperatures steadily warmed following the recent cold snap. Daytime highs were in the 60s and 70s. Subsoil moisture was short. Conditions remained dry with little to no additional precipitation received. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels were very short to short. Producers increased their field activity. Younger winter wheat stands experienced some cold stress, while more established wheat held up well. Alfalfa appeared to be performing well. Onions were beginning to emerge, and field preparation continued for row crops and potential alfalfa plantings. Pecan harvest concluded after running late due to freezing conditions. Producers were cleaning up orchards, and pecan-cleaning plants were expected to continue operating into early March. Pasture conditions improved slightly where recent moisture soaked in, but forage remained limited and supplemental feeding of livestock continued. Livestock conditions were generally fair with minimal losses reported, though cold weather temporarily increased stress. Lambing began and was expected to ramp up over the coming weeks. Feral hog numbers and activity increased. Pasture and rangeland conditions were mostly very poor to poor across the district. Livestock conditions were poor to fair, depending on feed availability and moisture conditions.
West Central
Temperatures fluctuated significantly with cool days, cold nights, freezing temperatures and brief warming periods. Conditions remained dry, though some areas benefited from snow and ice melts. Any additional soil moisture was drying quickly with warmer temperatures and wind. Wildfires were a concern due to dry conditions. Stock tanks remained at fair-to-good levels. Wheat and oats greened up some, while freeze damage was reported in some areas. Some oat fields were expected to be lost. Fieldwork slowed. Pasture and rangeland conditions improved in some areas but remained poor in drier locations. Cattle were in fair to good condition, and calves were gaining weight. There were reports of respiratory disease in cattle due to extreme temperature fluctuations. Livestock markets remained strong and active with higher prices reported across all classes.
Central
Conditions were warm and extremely dry. Soil moisture improved slightly due to melting snow and ice. Winter pastures improved with warmer temperatures and moisture. Freeze damage was reported in wheat and oats. Growers were beginning to plan for spring planting. Livestock were in fair to good condition on hay and other feed supplements. Cattle prices remained strong. The dry conditions have created abundant fuel, increasing the risk of wildfires. Water supplies were stable.
Southeast
Counties experienced mild temperatures. Some areas received rainfall. Soil moisture levels were short to adequate. Pastures retained moisture from earlier rainfall, which allowed winter ryegrass to continue growing well. Wheat and oat conditions were fair. Hay supplies were adequate as supplemental feeding continued, and winter forages recovered from the ice storm. Livestock respiratory illnesses increased due to extreme temperature swings. Cattle remained in fair to excellent condition. Additional counties were placed under burn bans, and multiple fires were reported over recent weeks. Pond levels were low and declining.
Southwest
After record-breaking cold and wet conditions, temperatures rose into the 80s during the latter part of the week. No measurable precipitation was received, and drought conditions persisted. Wheat and oats showed a few signs of recovery; however, fields were not expected to provide any grazing this season. Rain was needed for corn and sorghum planting to begin. Irrigated crops showed some freeze damage. Rangeland and pasture conditions were generally holding steady despite drought. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued, and overall livestock conditions remained good. Wildlife showed signs of stress due to limited browse. Producers continued to reduce herd sizes, and some may graze out winter crops rather than harvest fields. Ranches were conducting prescribed burns where burn bans were lifted. Chances of rain were in the forecast.
Coastal Bend
Drought conditions persisted with no chance of rain in the forecast. Soil moisture levels were very short. Most row crop farmers need rain to plant. Cover crops were dwindling due to lack of soil moisture. Rangeland and pasture conditions were poor to very poor. Winter pastures were performing poorly, and volunteer winter grazing was limited, though some areas that received rain were in fair to good shape. Supplemental feeding of cattle continued, and hay inventories were declining quickly. Stock tanks were low to very low, forcing some producers to haul water or rely on wells. Livestock conditions were holding steady, but cattle numbers were decreasing. Cattle markets remained strong.
South
Conditions were very dry across the district. There was no moisture received, and none is in the forecast for the coming weeks. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels remained very short to short. Drought was taking a toll on forage production. Daily high temperatures were in the 60s-80s range, and lows dropped into the 30s-50s range. Temperatures were warmer than usual at the end of the week. Irrigated oat and wheat fields were surviving, but dryland fields looked sparse. Strawberry production was mixed, and freezing temperatures slowed production in some areas. Producers reported cold damage in spinach, arugula, broccoli, onions and cabbage. The onion crop continued to progress, and harvest should begin in a few weeks for some producers. Some row crop producers began planting corn. Corn and sorghum planting should continue over the next few weeks, though many producers were waiting for soil moisture conditions to improve. Citrus and vegetable harvest activities were steady. Rangeland and pasture conditions remained in poor condition, and the recent frost burned the tops of available grass. Livestock producers were providing supplemental feed, and hay supplies were tightening and increasingly difficult to source. Cattle body condition was generally fair but was being monitored closely due to limited forage availability. Many producers continued deeper culls of their herds.
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