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Wheat harvest begins
Oklahoma
Record setting high temperatures and little to no precipitation was all too common across Oklahoma during the week ending May 22, according to the Oklahoma Agricultural Statistics Service, May 23.
Many areas of the state recorded temperatures above 100 degrees, breaking previous records. Moreover, only the Northeast district had more than two tenths of an inch of rain. Topsoil and subsoil moisture both showed a 5 point drop in moisture rated as adequate. Farmers had 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork.
Wheat harvest got underway but was less than one percent harvested by week's end. Wheat conditions remained relatively constant with 39 percent reported in good to excellent condition. With virtually all Wheat headed and two thirds in the soft dough stage, many respondents expressed concerns over the quality of this year's Wheat crop. Oats and rye were in mostly fair to good condition by week's end. Oats headed and in the soft dough stage at 75 and 41 percent, respectively, were slightly behind normal. Rye in the soft dough stage, at 92 percent, was one point behind last year this time.
All row crops except corn were behind normal in planting progress and emergence. Corn condition was mostly excellent to good. Corn emerged, at 84 percent, was 3 points ahead of normal. Sorghum and soybean seedbed preparations were both at 78 percent. Sorghum emergence was 8 points behind normal while soybean emergence was 13 points behind normal. Two thirds of the peanut crop was planted and 39 percent emerged. Cotton was still well behind normal with only 43 percent planted compared to normal of 68 percent.
The first cutting of alfalfa was 89 percent complete, up 8 points. The second cutting of alfalfa began in some areas and 6 percent was completed. Conditions were mostly good to fair. Other hay, with 43 percent of the first cutting completed, was slightly behind last year and the five-year average. Conditions for other hay decreased slightly, but were still rated as mostly fair to good.
Watermelons planted, at 89 percent, were normal for this time of year and 9 points above last year at this time. Watermelons running, at 19 percent, were 4 points below both last year and the five-year average.
Livestock continued to be in good to excellent condition. Death loss of cattle was rated as mostly light. Livestock marketings were rated as average. Feeder steers under 800 pounds averaged $117.12 per cwt. and feeder heifers less than 800 pounds averaged $110.09 per cwt. Pasture and range conditions decreased slightly but were still rated as fair to good. Rain was still needed.
Date: 5/26/05
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