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Dry conditions slow wheat planting
Oklahoma Parts of Oklahoma received spotty showers during the week ending Oct. 7, but many areas need additional moisture, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Oklahoma Field Office, Oct. 8. Temperatures were unseasonably warm across most of the state adding to the reduction in topsoil and subsoil moisture levels. Average rainfall was 0.70 inches, with the Northeast district averaging the highest at 1.86 inches. The Panhandle district was the hardest hit by the dry weather, only receiving 0.10 inches of precipitation. There were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork. Dry conditions forced wheat producers to halt planting in some areas. Wheat pastures in drier locations may be in short supply if weather conditions do not improve. Wheat seedbed preparation at 95 percent, was running slightly behind the five-year average. Wheat seeding increased 9 points from the previous week to reach 50 percent complete, but was 20 percentage points behind normal. Rye seedbed preparation was 95 percent complete, a 2 point jump from the previous week. Rye planted was 72 percent complete, a 6 point increase from the previous week, but 16 points behind the five-year average. Oat seedbed preparation was 78 percent complete with 28 percent of the crop planted by week's end. Forty-two percent of soybeans were mature with 15 percent harvested by week's end. Corn harvest continued to progress quickly with 92 percent of the crop harvested by Oct. 7, a jump of 8 points from the previous week. Nearly two-thirds of grain sorghum had reached maturity with 37 percent of the harvest completed. Just over 71 percent of the state's peanuts were mature with 30 percent of the crop dug. Fourteen percent of peanuts were harvested by Oct. 7, 3 points ahead of the five-year average. Bolls were opening on 81 percent of the cotton acreage. Producers began harvesting cotton on a limited basis. Hay cutting and baling was winding down in many areas last week. Growers had 83 percent of other hay second cuttings completed by the end of the week, slightly behind normal. Ninety-five percent of the fourth cutting of alfalfa was complete, and producers had completed 58 percent of the fifth cutting. Twenty-three percent of the sixth cutting of alfalfa was completed by week's end, 13 points ahead of normal. Alfalfa and other hay conditions remained mostly in the good to fair range. Livestock conditions were rated mostly in the good to fair range. Livestock marketings remained average last week. Of the feeder cattle under 800 pounds, steers averaged $117 per cwt. and feeder heifers averaged $109 per cwt. Pasture and range conditions were rated mostly in the good to fair range. The recent moisture should benefit cool season pastures. Date: 10/11/07
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