Corn, sorghum crops fare well in areas with moisture; prices looking up
By Kay Ledbetter
Texas Crop and Weather Report
As in most years, crop conditions depend on the weather. The spring months and planting time have taken a turn from drought and freeze damage on early planted corn to large parts of Central Texas receiving rain.
A dry start throughout South and South Central Texas put many producers behind schedule, said Ronnie Schnell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension state cropping system specialist and professor, Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station.
“We’ll see what the weather does moving forward; we seem to have a favorable forecast in the next few weeks, so things should continue to improve,” Schnell said. “The young crops are hanging in there.”
Central Texas production fields picked up some rain, and progressing crops are looking better in those areas. In the High Plains, where planting is just getting underway for many, the ongoing dry spell continues.
“The whole state is waiting to see a change in the weather pattern,” Schnell said. “We might see smaller plants and skinnier leaves initially, but there’s still room to capture yield potential if the beneficial moisture falls.”
Another positive note, he said, is there are no major insect or disease issues, and the very dry conditions are holding weeds in check.
The slow start and pricing situation this year has a few people growing some soybeans that normally wouldn’t, Schnell said.
Prices improve, but input costs rise
Overall, commodities are improving amid geopolitical events in the Middle East that are affecting a lot of markets, said Mark Welch, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist-grain marketing and policy and professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Bryan-College Station.
Corn, grain sorghum and soybeans are all seeing higher prices because of their strong fuel-use component, Welch said. If their prices go up, it brings the entire grain complex up.
“We are seeing strong price increases, but we are just putting those corn and soybean crops in the ground – we don’t know about acres or yields or what the weather conditions will be during the growing season, so it is early still,” he said.
At the same time, producers are not seeing any relief from higher input costs. Fuel prices are up, and fertilizer prices are much higher than at the beginning of the year.
“We expect those prices to remain high into 2027,” Welch said. “Any anhydrous that was prepaid or bought was good for those producers, but the later you are getting things going, the more it will hit in 2026, and everyone can expect to pay higher prices into 2027, even if the disruptions stopped today.”
China and other Asian countries rely heavily on fertilizer imports. Brazil imports 95% of its nitrogen, and producers there will start buying fertilizer for their spring crops, which will keep demand higher.
Welch said it may be too early for fertilizer price spikes to show their impact on global grain production, but trends may appear later this summer, especially with continued shipping disruption and higher diesel prices. There will likely be higher demand for fertilizer if the supply is disrupted.
“We may see some increase in fuel use for feed grains and soybeans based on volatility in the crude oil and energy markets,” he said. “The high prices we’re seeing in corn and soybeans, I think, are much more speculative in that we don’t even know what those acres are going to be or what the weather and growing conditions will be.”
In May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report will provide the first official outlook for 2026 crops. It will include early estimates for wheat, corn and soybean acres and yields, as well as initial demand projections for feed, fuel and exports. Welch said the report will make clearer the cumulative effects of the current market turmoil and projected production.
AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:
Panhandle
Dry and windy conditions continued. Topsoil and subsoil moisture levels continued to drop due to the lack of precipitation. Small-grain crop conditions continued to decline. Many small-grain fields with pivot irrigation were steadily being watered to keep up with crop demand. Most growers continued to irrigate to build moisture reserves in soil profiles before planting warm-season crops. A few fields were harvested for silage due to deteriorating crop conditions. Most dryland wheat will not be harvested. Cotton and peanut producers were behind schedule. Some small-grain fields planted for grain production were being grazed out. Winter wheat, pasture and range conditions were very poor to poor.
South Plains
Dry conditions persisted. Corn started to sprout, although some fields under drip irrigation were struggling due to high winds. Most producers were sand fighting on land that was pre-irrigated for corn. Prewatering cotton ground continued. Wheat was struggling with some fields drying down prematurely. Some producers were cutting wheat for silage before conditions worsened. Most native grass was slow to emerge due to the lack of moisture. Livestock needed supplemental rations and forage.
Rolling Plains
Light showers fell in parts of the district last week. Wheat headed out and started to turn color. Pasture conditions were a growing concern due to persistent dry weather. Livestock remained in good condition with ongoing supplemental feeding, as forage quality declined. Some wheat acreage was being grazed out or has failed. Corn showed improvement with recent rains but faced fertility and weed management challenges as many farmers delayed or reduced fertilizer and herbicide applications due to high costs. Some land preparation and cover crop spraying was underway for cotton. Hay fields were ready for the growing season and wildlife food plots were emerging. Overall, crops were struggling due to drought, while livestock continued to fare well with supplemental support.
North
Some counties received 1-4 inches of rain, with golf ball to baseball-sized hail damaging multiple crops in some locations. The topsoil was completely saturated and described as adequate and surplus. Spring fruits and vegetables were planted or near planting completion. Counties reported planting of cotton and peanuts. Late harvest of winter vegetables continued. Corn was in good condition, and oats were fair. Sorghum emerged. Winter wheat conditions were fair to good, but stripe and leaf rust were observed in some fields. Powdery mildew was observed on crops and weeds. Bermuda and Bahia grass growth slowed due to cooler night temperatures. Ryegrass displayed quick maturing. Livestock conditions were good. The improved pastures supported strong livestock performance and reduced reliance on supplemental feeding across most operations. Feral hogs were active. Noctuid moths, caterpillars, June bugs, mosquitoes and ticks increased in population.
Far West
Warm, windy conditions persisted through the end of the week, contributing to continued drying. Fieldwork and planting activities were progressing normally, with melons and hay grazer being planted, and cotton producers continued field preparation. Corn emergence was complete in some areas, while sorghum planting continued. Winter wheat and oats were mostly headed, with conditions ranging from fair to poor. Weed pressure increased following recent moisture events, and producers were actively managing fields with herbicide applications. Soil moisture was mostly rated short to very short, though isolated areas reported improved topsoil moisture following limited rainfall. Pasture and range conditions were largely poor to very poor, with some fair to good conditions in areas receiving moisture. Livestock conditions were generally fair to poor, with ongoing stress due to limited forage. Feral hog populations continued to be a persistent issue across the district.
West Central
Welcomed rain fell across portions of the district, but other areas remained dry. Spring rains helped improve soil moisture and pasture conditions significantly where they fell. Hay fields that were fertilized were growing well, as were coastal fields. Weed control was a top priority after the moisture. Wheat was in poor condition, with some producers struggling to harvest seed for the next planting season. Cotton farmers needed rain to get fields ready to plant. More moisture was needed to improve rangelands in some areas. Livestock were in good condition, although some areas were still waiting on grass growth. Mosquitoes and flies were increasing in number.
Central
Rain fell early in the week with cooler temperatures, and the drought impacts were subsiding. Corn and sorghum crops looked excellent. Wheat continued to rapidly advance toward maturity. Cotton planting operations should resume with dryer soil conditions. Emerged cotton struggled with cool and wet conditions. Pecan trees appeared to be loaded with nutlets, and catkins were thick, promising good pollination and with more moisture the potential for a great pecan crop. Disease and insect pressure remained but no longer posed a threat to yield potential. Seed treatments were currently holding against thrips and other early-season pests. The moisture has provided good spring grazing and a good start for perennial grasses, but also weeds. Stock tanks were at acceptable levels. Livestock were in fair to good condition on native pasture. Some supplemental feeding continued. The cattle market was still high and strong.
Southeast
Beneficial rainfall supported pasture, forage and crop development, though moisture levels remained uneven across the district. Corn and sorghum acreage was largely planted and emerged. Rice planting was near completion with mixed emergence reported. Wheat and oats were fully headed in most areas and conditions, ranging from fair to good overall. Many locations reported greener pastures, improved grazing conditions and refilled ponds, while a few localized storm events caused weather‑related setbacks such as wheat lodging. Pasture and rangeland conditions varied widely across the region, ranging from excellent to poor, reflecting differences in rainfall distribution and soil moisture.
Southwest
Heavy rains last week adequately saturated the ground with 1.5-3.5 inches of rain. Some runoff benefited stock tanks. Gardens were still being planted, with some tomatoes and peppers blooming already. Hay crops, sorghum and corn were growing. Large flower blooms were seen, and warm-season grasses largely broke dormancy. Cool-season forages remained active despite the warm weather. Pest presence in pecans and in livestock was low, however horn fly presence was expected to increase. Pasture and rangeland responded to rains. Livestock body conditions continued to improve. Spring shearing continued. Supplemental feeding of livestock continued. Migratory birds and turkeys were active. Whitetail deer looked better; bucks were starting to grow antlers and does appeared to be in better condition.
Coastal Bend
Rain fell throughout much of the area last week, with some areas receiving 3-7 inches, while other areas remained dry or only received spotty precipitation. This rainfall improved soil moisture in many locations. Most conventional rice fields were planted and emerged, with organic rice planting underway. Cotton and soybean planting should resume as fields dry out. Corn and sorghum stands improved overall, with corn showing strong recovery where moisture was received, but isolated issues such as tornado damage and floppy root syndrome persisted. Aphids were reported in Bermuda grass hay fields. Pasture conditions in areas that received rain improved, with green-up and new forage growth visible, though pastures remain stressed in drier sections. Hay feeding and supplementation for cattle slowed but continued where forages were limited. Livestock conditions were expected to improve as grazing resources recovered.
South
Weather conditions returned to hot, humid and dry with temperatures reaching 88 degrees, after the district received beneficial rainfall the past few weeks. Rainfall reports ranged from 0.75-3 inches. Hay cutting and baling operations were expected to resume once the overcast weather cleared. Farmers were cultivating fields and applied herbicides to control weeds. Dryland crops such as grain sorghum and corn were beginning to emerge and establish stands, though irrigation was still needed. Hay-grazer crops were beginning to sprout. Leafy greens were being harvested. Wheat and oat harvest began in some areas. Field activity increased as cotton planting neared completion. Peanut planting was expected to begin soon. A few onion fields remained for harvest. Citrus trees were doing well. Range and pasture conditions were steadily improving. Topsoil moisture conditions improved significantly and triggered green-up in range and pasture forages, providing much-needed grazing opportunities for cattle and wildlife. Supplementation of beef herds decreased. Prices continued to be strong for all classes of beef cattle. Producers were supplementing their livestock and wildlife.
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