Regional Update - Fall 2011
It has been a pretty bleak season for the lower half to two-thirds of the region. Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and some of Colorado have been in very serious drought conditions. Almost the entire state of Texas has been in the highest category of drought rating (exceptional), and it has resulted in record financial losses for that state’s agriculture. The latest crop condition report for Texas showed that 90% of corn and 88% of cotton was rated in the very poor to fair range. Oklahoma was not faring much better with 87% of corn and 98% of cotton in the same condition. Parts of Kansas are similarly affected, but the northern part of the state is in relatively good condition. The Kansas report shows 69% of corn, 73% of sorghum, and 70% of soybean in the fair to very poor condition range. Nebraska crop conditions are overall much better than those of the states to the south.

The extreme drought conditions have clearly had a dramatic impact on crop production in the majority of the region. Where yields have been reduced or crops have failed, some fertilizer applied in 2011 may be carried over into 2012. On the other hand, some corn and sorghum that was initially planted for grain was harvested for silage or baled in anticipation of grain crop failure and in need of animal feed. The drought in this case may result in more removal than expected and therefore a need for greater fertilizer inputs going into next year. In planning for the coming season it will be important to make these types of nutrient balance (export from fields compared to input) considerations and to soil test. Soil testing for nitrate-N (2 ft. sample depth) is another practice that may be advisable, particularly on the High Plains, as there will likely be some residual or carryover N going into the next season.