But many AgriLife Extension agents still worked throughout the weekend, preparing for the worst-case scenario. The "worst" would have been that Gustav dropped 8 to 18 inches of rain, constituting a 100-year flood event, said Chad Gulley, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Nacogdoches County.

"As county agents we were involved out at the Expo Center registering and checking people who were evacuating the Gulf Coast with their livestock, dogs, cats, that type of thing," said Gulley on Sept. 2, after it was learned the worst of the storm would not hit East Texas.

"I think the last count I had there were 50 to 60 dogs, cats, 22 to 23 horses with more that were planning to come."

"That was the biggest area that we were assisting in: dealing with the animals that were evacuated to several of our counties here in East Texas," said Dr. Ramona Kellam, AgriLife Extension district administrator for Northeast Texas. "Most of our agriculture agents served as coordinators for the shelters that had the animals."

Kellam also noted that in addition to managing shelters for people, livestock and pets, AgriLife Extension agents distributed thousands of print publications dealing with food, water and other safety concerns after a disaster.

"Our emergency plan was ready," Gulley said. "Everybody was on go. We were well prepared. Preparation was good. It was a lot better than it was a couple of years ago when we had Hurricane Rita."

The following summaries were compiled by AgriLife Extension district reporters this week:

CENTRAL: Pastures responded well to the rain, greening up and growing. Planting of oats and wheat began. Cotton yields were better than anticipated but still below average.

COASTAL BEND: The week was mostly rainless, which allowed the harvest of some cotton and sorghum. Most areas could still use more rain. Increased soil moisture improved ranges and pastures. Livestock were in good condition.

EAST: Overall, soil moisture was good. There was some concern that rain brought by Hurricane Gustav would saturate fields, but the storm did not bring the 10 to 15 inches of rain that was predicted. Most producers expected one more cutting of hay. Livestock were in good condition, and calf weaning continued. Several counties reported heavy infestations of army worms.

FAR WEST: Widely scattered thunder showers brought from a trace to 6 inches of rain. The moisture helped grain sorghum and irrigated cotton. Cotton bolls began to open. Fall army worms were still a concern in sorghum fields. Pecans were in the shell-hardening stage. Pistachios looked all right. Alfalfa producers were making their fifth cutting with quality remaining high. The melon harvest was nearly completed. The onion harvest was fully completed. Chile and paprika were turning red.

NORTH: Soil moisture ranged from adequate to surplus. Thanks to rain and cooler weather, pastures and meadows were green and growing. The corn harvest was completed with yields a little below average, about 60 to 90 bushels per acre. Aflatoxin levels were slightly higher than expected in some areas. The grain sorghum harvest was about 50 percent complete with average yields. Soybean yields were poor to fair with most fields producing less than 20 bushels per acre. Cotton was completely squared and setting bolls. Boll openings varied widely, from 10 to 90 percent. Livestock were in very good condition. Armyworms arrived in large numbers.

PANHANDLE: Temperatures were below normal all week. Most of the region received some rain, and soil moisture was good to adequate with most reports indicating adequate. Corn varied from very poor to good with most areas reporting fair to good. Cotton varied from very poor to good with most areas reporting fair. Sorghum was heading and some fields were turning color. Peanuts varied from poor to excellent with most areas reporting fair to good. Rains improved range conditions, and cattle were in good condition.

ROLLING PLAINS: Soil moisture conditions improved thanks to recent showers. Grass pastures greened up, and the even the lowest and driest tanks were holding water. Bermuda grass pastures responded immediately and should provide the highest-quality and highest-yielding hay cutting of the growing season. The return of the high temperatures quickly dried out the topsoil, but enough subsoil moisture remained to provide one good hay cutting before fall. Wheat producers shifted into high gear in their field preparations, hoping to catch a couple more showers just prior to sowing. Cotton bolls began opening, but yield prospects are not great. Milo suffered all summer, but it is hoped that what is left can be harvested. Managers sprayed pecan orchards to control weevils. Livestock were in good condition.

SOUTH: Soil moisture was adequate throughout the region. Rain prevented fields from drying out, keeping harvesters out. In the western part of the region, about 4 inches of rain fell with some landowners receiving as much as 8 inches. Hay baling and cotton harvesting was halted by lingering showers. The sorghum and corn harvests were completed. Producers will begin preparing seedbeds for fall onions, cabbage and spinach as soon as fields dry out. Native range and pastures improved from the rain, and consequently livestock producers did not have to reduce their herds.

SOUTH PLAINS: From 0.5 to 2 inches of rain fell in some areas. Temperatures were in the mid-80s to low 90s, dropping to near 60 during the night. Cotton was in fair to good condition and maturing. Grain sorghum was in fair to good condition but in need of more heat units to continue maturing. Some early wheat planting began. However most wheat planting will not start until late September or early October. Sunflowers and corn dried down. Peanuts were in good condition. Pumpkins progressed well, but recent rains and cloudy weather slowed development. Yields were expected to be average this year. Pastures and ranges were in fair to good condition thanks to recent rains. Cattle were in mostly good condition with producers supplying little to no supplemental feed.

SOUTHEAST: As much as 6 inches of rain greened up pastures in some counties. Soil moisture was still short and pond levels remained low. Range conditions improved where rain was received. Common and coastal Bermuda grass pastures were doing well, and producers should get another hay cutting. Some armyworms were reported, and spraying was performed. Hay harvesting continued throughout the weekend. Light, isolated showers made cotton defoliation difficult.

SOUTHWEST: Total rain accumulation for August was more than 6 inches, the most for August since 1998 and nearly three times the long-term average. After an extended drought, the situation changed dramatically during the last three weeks. Pastures and ranges were green. Fall crops, including peanuts, were making good progress. Green beans and pickling cucumbers were also doing well. Spinach planting should begin soon. However, more rain is needed to sustain progress through winter since total rainfall for the year is still well below normal. The rain will delay the harvest of some cotton which has been defoliated and is ready for harvest.

WEST CENTRAL: Much cooler temperatures and scattered showers were reported by many counties. The improved soil moisture levels will promote fall plantings. Range and pastures improved; warm-season grasses greened up and forages came back.

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