Watermelon Production Yields Up, Quality Down

Juan Anciso, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulturist, Weslaco, and Larry Stein, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulturist, Uvalde, said the 2023 melon season was shaping up to be average in the Rio Grande Valley and Winter Garden regions. So, there should be plenty of Texas-grown watermelons to pick from at grocery stores, local farmers markets and roadside melon sellers.

Last year, watermelon production in the Rio Grande Valley dipped 17% compared to the season prior, Anciso said.

Watermelon acreage increased this year in South Texas, Anciso said. Fruit yields were about average while quality was lower due to consistent rains throughout the month of May. Producers were yielding 45,000-50,000 pounds per acre. Watermelon fields reaching 50,000 pounds per acre are average for the Rio Grande Valley.

At the beginning of the season, producers worried about drought and water supplies, but since May 1 the rains have created quality issues, Anciso said. Rainfall as the fruit developed on the vine led to lower brix measurements than in recent years, which impacted flavor and sweetness. Brix is the measurement of sugar in fruit.

Last year, dry conditions led to lower yields, but brix counts were very high, around 12, compared to this year where brix were around 10, Anciso said.

The rains also led to some issues with diseases like downy mold and fusarium, he said, which in turn also led to lower quality fruit. 

“Yields are better than last year, but quality is down, and I think if you asked growers, they’d say it’s average across the board,” Anciso said. “Harvest is wrapping up in the Valley, and there are more watermelons making it to the market.”

Winter Garden watermelons looking good

Stein said conditions were looking up in the Winter Garden region after rains have improved soil moisture levels. Milder temperatures and moisture created ideal growing conditions for most crops including watermelons and cantaloupes.

Watermelons were vining, blooming and being pollinated by bees, but could be slightly behind schedule due to cooler temperatures this spring, Stein said. Cantaloupes are being harvested, and quality looks very good, while the watermelon harvest is about a month away.

Most Texas growers look to market their melons in the weeks leading up to the Fourth of July holiday, when sales typically peak. Stein said fruit sets looked good this year, which could indicate an above-average crop for producers.

“Other than a few issues, I can’t believe how well they are looking right now,” he said. “Melons like it hot and dry, but the milder temperatures and moisture has them looking very good.”

Factors add up to average year for melon producers

Overall, conditions are a far cry from last year when early triple-digit temperatures, high winds and drought contributed to a subpar year in the major watermelon-producing areas of Texas. High temperatures and winds negatively impacted pollination, which hurt fruit sets. Bees become less active in high temperatures and windy conditions while pollen viability begins to degrade in high temperatures.

Aside from monitoring and treating diseases due to moisture, Stein said some commercial growers were hit by hailstorms and high winds that led them to replant entire fields. But those fields looked good now. In the Valley, Anciso said growers had fewer issues with labor shortages during harvest that led to fruit being left in fields last year.

Prices were relatively static to weaker due to an abundance of melons coming in from Florida, which produced a bumper crop this year, Anciso said.

“It just seems like everything contributed to an average season,” Anciso said. “Yields were better, but quality and prices are a little lower compared to last year when we had low yields and tight supplies but high quality and no workers to harvest. When you look at the numbers, it just adds up to average.”

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

CENTRAL

Areas received more rain and temperatures were milder. Soil moisture levels were adequate to surplus. Pastures were improving with warm-season grasses starting to grow. Rangeland and pasture conditions were poor to excellent. Cattle were in good condition and the calf market was stronger. Producers were cutting and baling hay fields. First hay cuttings looked fair to very good. Pastures were full of weeds, including some species not seen in years. Wheat harvest continued with yields ranging from 29-80 bushels per acre with many producers reporting 70 bushels per acre. Some wheat and oat harvests were slowed by rainfall. Corn and grain sorghum looked good. Cotton development was slow with the continued wetness. Livestock fly numbers increased.

ROLLING PLAINS

Almost all areas reported rain, which improved soil profiles and raised water levels in livestock tanks. Native and improved warm-season pasture grass showed improvement. Heavier rains in some areas slowed or stopped wheat harvest until ground conditions dry. Cotton planting began in fields that were accessible.

COASTAL BEND

Scattered showers and warmer temperatures benefited area pastures and crops. Late plantings and replantings looked good. Corn fields looked above average in most areas, except in low-lying areas with excess moisture. Most corn was in the dough stage. Sorghum also looked good with above average yields anticipated. Cotton started to square. Some cotton fields were still behind as the wet weather and cloudy days delayed accumulative heat units. Rice was doing well with most fields going into flood stage. Weed and insect control were ongoing as needed. Rangelands and pastures looked good after the recent rains. Hay fields were being cut and baled with good production reported. Hay fields were fertilized after this first cutting and baling. Livestock continued to find plenty of forage to eat and were in excellent condition.

EAST

Hay production was in full swing across the district. Some producers continued to cut and bale the last of their ryegrass. A few counties reported dry conditions. Pasture and rangeland conditions were good. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were adequate. Cattle markets remained strong for all classes. Livestock were in fair to good condition.   

SOUTH PLAINS

Producers needed sunny days to finish planting cotton, corn, sorghum and soybeans. In the last seven days, the district received 1.5 inches of rain, and more was in the forecast. Recent rainfall likely caused crop losses. When producers get into fields, they will be battling weeds. Thrips numbers seemed high, especially near wheat fields. Cotton suffered the worst from excess moisture. Forage crops and pastures were benefiting from the moisture. Wheat was either terminated or awaited harvest, and fields need to dry down before equipment can begin. Cattle were in good condition.

PANHANDLE

The district received 4-8 inches of rainfall in some locations. Most counties reported adequate subsoil moisture, with some reporting surplus moisture conditions. All planting and silage harvest halted, and, with more rain predicted, it was unclear when producers might return to the fields. Harvesting of alfalfa was delayed, which will decrease the quality. The rain has set back planting dates, but the moisture was much needed for finishing wheat and rangeland forage growth. Rangeland conditions were improving, and late-season wheat development was excellent. In some areas, acres intended for cotton will be switched to corn or grain sorghum. Emerged corn looked good. The overall condition of pasture and rangeland was fair to good. Overall, crops were in fair to good condition. 

NORTH

Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to good for most counties. Subsoil and topsoil moisture levels were short to adequate. Some counties received heavy rains and some hail.  Wheat, corn, grain sorghum and soybeans all looked good. Summer perennial grasses were thriving. Winter wheat was being harvested. Hay was being cut and baled. Spring-born calves were doing great. Most summer crops were planted and doing well. Nuisance flies were rampant and horse flies were increasing in some areas. Livestock conditions were good and continued to improve.

FAR WEST

Daytime temperatures were in the upper 80s into the lower 90s with overnight lows in the mid-60s. The district received beneficial rains that drastically improved soil moisture and rangeland conditions with 0.3-2 inches of rain reported. Severe thunderstorms and tornados touched down in the area, but no major damage was reported. Most cotton should be planted soon, but there will also be some replanting. Corn and sorghum were responding well to cooler, wet weather, but cotton and melons were growing slow. Cotton irrigation should start in the coming weeks. Producers planted some rosemary and harvested barley. Livestock were in fair condition. Rain helped green up rangeland and pastures, but many areas were still in poor condition. Irrigated pastures looked very promising, but some desert rangeland remained very dry. Producers continued to feed livestock and wildlife. Rio Grande River water was low. Pecan orchards were getting proper amounts of water at a critical time as nutlets form. There was some pecan nut casebearer pressure in orchards. Alfalfa fields looked very good. 

WEST CENTRAL

Scattered storms delivered 0.3-0.75 of an inch of rainfall. Temperatures were mild. Grain harvesting was delayed due to wet conditions, but growing conditions were good. Wheat harvest continued, but fields needed to dry out for many producers to enter. There was a report of 12 bushels per acre of wheat. Producers were cutting and baling hay or fertilizing and controlling weeds. Haygrazer, coastal Bermuda grass and Sudan grass were growing well and nearing harvest. Cotton planting was underway in fields dry enough to access. Sorghum and corn were doing well with the moisture and cooler, cloudy days. The pecan crop forecast was good despite some early damage from pecan nut casebearers. Grazing conditions improved, but some rangelands were still recovering due to overgrazing during the drought. Livestock tanks caught water. Spring cattle work continued, and livestock looked good. Cattle markets remained good, and feeder calf prices were $5-$10 higher per hundredweight at one sale barn. One sale barn sold 2,294 head and reported a large crowd of buyers from as far away as Wisconsin.

SOUTHEAST

The occasional afternoon showers kept the ground moist, but some areas remained relatively dry. Temperatures were starting to get hotter, which should help rice from the cooler nights. Livestock were in good condition with a fair amount of forage available. Some pastures in drier areas were showing moisture stress. Rangeland and pasture conditions were poor to excellent. Ponds were full and hay was being baled at a good rate. Some producers were making their second cutting. The cattle market remained extremely strong with top-end pairs bringing up to $2,600 at local markets. Fieldwork continued. Planted cotton was up and corn was in good condition. Rice was growing fast with the warmer days. Some fields were still wet. Cool mornings and moisture were stunting cotton growth.

SOUTHWEST

Trace amounts up to 3 inches of rain fell across the district. Temperatures were slightly below normal. Pecan trees reached full leaf coverage going into the summer, however fungal and bacterial infections remained prevalent. Grasses were growing well. Some hay was cut and baled. Warm-season grasses were growing. Wheat harvest was in full swing, and oat harvest was complete. Corn and sorghum looked good. Field crops were under high weed pressure. Improved pastures and rangeland looked good other than where they were overgrazed. Some rangeland was in poor condition. Livestock conditions remained good, and wildlife were in great shape with a few fawn sightings. Livestock prices were steady. 

SOUTH

Topsoil conditions were very short to short and subsoil conditions were adequate. Potato and wheat harvests were in full swing and should be completed soon. Rangeland and pasture conditions continued to improve as areas continued to receive rainfall. Beef cattle producers reported improvements in livestock body condition scores and stocking rates. Beef cattle markets remained strong, but sale numbers continued to be below average. Supplemental feeding decreased for all livestock, but some stock tanks were beginning to dry up. Irrigated coastal Bermuda grass fields were producing good hay. Hay producers were putting up bales and were fertilizing or preparing for a second cutting. Cantaloupes and watermelons were being harvested. Corn and sorghum looked good. Sorghum was beginning to bloom, and corn fields were reaching maturity with the silk turning brown. Peanut planting continued. Cotton conditions varied from poor to good. Aerial applications were made on fields too wet to access with equipment. Weeds, midge and fleahoppers were the main concerns. Wildlife conditions were excellent with fawns being born, quail and doves paired up, and some hatching occurring.  

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