This past week offered a variety of weather conditions for the State of Oklahoma. Mid-week storms brought showers across the central and southern parts of the State and cooler temperatures Statewide. Hail and damaging winds were reported in the North Central District. The Panhandle was extremely hot and dry during the week but received some moisture late Sunday. The weekend was warm, dry, and very pleasant for most of the State. Soil moisture conditions are much improved from earlier in the summer, as over half was rated in the surplus to adequate range for both topsoil and subsoil. The excellent soil conditions coupled with the mild weather allowed producers ample opportunity to cultivate ground and prepare for fall planting. There were 5.5 days suitable for field work.
Small Grains: Oklahoma farmers made great strides in small grain seedbed preparation this past week and are gearing up for fall plantings. By week’s end, seedbed preparation for winter wheat had jumped 15 points to reach 50 percent complete, three points behind the five-year average. Seedbed preparations were 50 percent complete for the State’s rye acres, up 18 points from the previous week and one point ahead of normal. Oat seedbed preparation increased six points from the prior week to reach 34 percent complete, eight points behind the five-year average.
Row Crops: Rainfall during the past few weeks along with cooler temperatures has had a positive impact on row crop condition and progress. Conditions rated mostly in the good to fair range, with soybean, peanut, and cotton conditions notably improving from the previous week. Sixty-eight percent of the State’s corn crop had reached the dent stage by Sunday, while 39 percent of the crop had reached maturity, ten points behind the five-year average. Corn harvest is underway in parts of the State, as 12 percent of the crop had been harvested by week’s end. Sorghum headed increased 18 points to reach 75 percent complete, while 38 percent of the sorghum was coloring by week’s end, both well behind normal. A small portion of the sorghum crop had reached maturity by Sunday. Soybeans blooming increased six points from the prior week to reach 96 percent, seven points
ahead of the five-year average. Eighty percent of soybeans were setting pods, up 21 points from last week and eight points ahead of normal. Eighty-six percent of the State’s peanut crop was setting pods by week’s end, 12 points behind normal. Cotton setting bolls was nearing completion at 96 percent, up 12 points from last week and one point ahead of the five-year average. A small portion of the cotton crop had bolls opening.
Miscellaneous Crops: Watermelons harvested jumped nine points to reach 85 percent complete, nine points behind last year and eight points behind the five-year average.
Hay: Producers continued cutting and baling hay, with some rain delays. Both alfalfa and other hay conditions continued to rate mostly in the good to fair range. As of Sunday, third cuttings of alfalfa neared completion at 95 percent, four points behind
normal. Producers made a fourth cutting on 62 percent of the alfalfa acres, 12 points behind the five-year average. First cuttings of other hay are winding down at 95 percent, while second cuttings were 45 percent complete, up nine points from last week but 15 points behind normal.
Pasture and Range: Pasture and range conditions continued to rate mostly in the good to fair range. More rainfall is needed for adequate pasture growth.
