No Bumper Wheat Crop in Texas

WASHINGTON - Mar 2/06 - SNS -- Drought could prevent farmers in Texas from harvesting between 30% and 40% of this year's wheat crop, says Dr. Brent Bean, Texas Cooperative Extension agronomist in Amarillo, and yields on surviving crops will be well below normal unless there is a dramatic reversal of moisture fortunes in the next couple of months.

"Of those (harvested) acres, however, we can expect them to have reduced yields," Bean said, attributing 80% to 90% of that loss to drought.

Wheat streak mosaic, greenbugs and Russian wheat aphids all could potentially reduce yields further, he said.

About 50% of the wheat grown in the Panhandle region is under dryland conditions, Bean said.

Rodney Mosier, executive vice president of Texas Wheat Producers Association, said statewide conditions are not looking too good, but some of the wheat can be brought around with a rain.

The statewide crop report estimates 3% is in good shape, 8% is fair, 63% poor, and 26% is in very poor condition, Mosier said.

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