Row Crop Harvest Winding Down
Posted by arthur1234 on December 7, 2009
Chilly, cold weather dominated the past week as average high temperatures peaked in the mid-forties during the day and dropped to lows in the twenties overnight. Several Mesonet stations recorded lows in the teens and single-digits Friday night. Light precipitation fell in seven of the nine districts during the week. The first significant snowfall of the season fell in South Central Oklahoma overnight Tuesday as Ardmore residents woke up to snow-covered streets. Although soil moisture conditions declined slightly from the previous week, both topsoil and subsoil were rated mostly in the adequate range. Producers were able to make progress on field activities as there were 5.1 days suitable for field work.
Small Grains: Virtually all winter wheat had emerged by week’s end, up four points from the prior week. Conditions of wheat are rated mostly in the excellent to good range although additional moisture is needed on many wheat fields across the State. Producers continue to place stocker cattle on wheat pasture. Oat seedings continued as 67 percent of oats were planted by week’s end, while 64 percent had emerged, up one point from the previous week.
Row Crops: Producers continued with row crop harvest activities, making notable progress on the sorghum and soybean harvest. By week’s end, 93 percent of the State’s sorghum was harvested, an eight point jump from the week prior. Soybean harvest increased six points to reach 93 percent complete. Peanut harvest was virtually completed by week’s end. Cotton harvest increased nine points from the previous week to reach 59 percent complete.
Hay: Haying for the season is winding down for most producers. By week’s end, fifth cuttings of alfalfa were 87 percent complete, while sixth cuttings were 47 percent complete, up two points from last week. Conditions of alfalfa continued to rate mostly in the good to fair range. Producers made a second cutting on 93 percent of other hay, up two points from the previous week.
Pasture and Range: Pasture and range conditions continued to rate mostly in the good to fair range. Supplemental feeding of livestock is in full swing across the State.
