Rains fall, but still not an end to drought
Untitled
Oklahoma
Most of the state received slow soaking showers during the week ending March 19 with the Southeast district reporting nearly five inches of rain, according to the Oklahoma Agricultural Statistics Service, March 20.
Growers indicated that this weekend's rainfall was a wonderful start, but in no means a solution to the drought conditions experienced for the past six months across the state. The rainfall largely affected topsoil moisture with 26 percent of the state currently at adequate to surplus moisture compared to a mere 2 percent in the same two categories for the week prior. Some of the weekly reports were received prior to the weekend rains which may influence the soil moisture categories in the table below. There were 5.6 days suitable for fieldwork.
Wheat and rye conditions improved slightly following the recent rains, however oats continued to struggle as 90 percent of the crop remained in very poor to poor condition. Wheat jointing made significant strides over the week. By week's end, 28 percent of the Wheat crop was jointing. Even though many Wheat producing areas of the state received soaking rains over the weekend, many growers were concerned that the rains were too late to enhance grain production. Oats planted, at 75 percent, remained below last year and the five-year average. Twenty percent of rye in the state was jointing by weeks end, 44 points below this time last year.
With high percentage chances of rain being forecast over the weekend, many producers were in the fields early in the week preparing seedbeds for planting. Seedbed preparations for corn made the most significant increase recording a 19 point jump from last week's report. Although the seedbed preparations for all crops remained below normal, the additional moisture in the soil will aide preparations for the remaining acreage.
Pastures remained in the mostly fair to poor condition due to dry conditions and lack of rainfall. Livestock grazing continues to decline as Wheat conditions show very little improvement. Some areas were experiencing no improvement in Wheat pastures as they continued to look bare with very low numbers of livestock remaining on these pastures. Pasture and range conditions were at 9 percent good, 27 percent fair, 34 percent poor and 30 percent very poor.
Livestock continued to be rated as mostly fair condition. Drinking water for livestock was scarce due to the lack of rain. Cattle were being removed from many small grain pastures and were fed supplements due to the decline of Wheat conditions. Livestock conditions were 29 percent poor, 47 percent fair, 19 percent good and 4 percent excellent. The death loss of cattle was mostly light to average. Hay supplies were rated as mostly below average.
Date: 3/23/06
Agriculture News from HPJ - Your Ag News Source
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2008. High
Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing
of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives
or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or
comments you can reach us at
High Plains Journal
1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801
or call 1-800-452-7171. Email:
webmaster@hpj.com
|
|
