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Cooler weather during the week
Oklahoma Weather conditions were very nice during the week ending Sept. 2, with very little precipitation and average temperatures in the mid- to high- 70s, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Oklahoma Field Office, Sept. 4. Average precipitation for the state was only one-tenth of an inch. Both topsoil and subsoil moisture levels dropped slightly this past week but were still much better than this time last year. Reduced soil moisture levels in some areas had farmers concerned as they continued making preparations for fall plantings. There were 6.1 days suitable for fieldwork. Producers in areas affected by Hurricane Erin spent part of last week repairing flood damaged fields. As of Sept. 2, 55 percent of wheat seedbed preparation was complete, 7 points behind the five-year average. Wheat had been planted in a few isolated areas. Rye and oat seedbed preparation was 49 and 44 percent complete, respectively, both behind normal. Producers in many areas were hoping for additional moisture before planting small grains. Producers in some areas were turning off irrigation systems to crops that have reached maturity. Eighty-one percent of soybeans were blooming and 62 percent were setting pods, both well behind normal. Soybean harvest has begun on a limited scale. Nearly the entire corn crop was in the doughing stage and 59 percent of the state's acreage had reached maturity. Producers made good progress harvesting corn this past week with 28 percent of the crop harvested by week's end, a jump of 16 points from the previous week. Grain sorghum was 91 percent headed and 35 percent of the crop had reached maturity. Ninety-six percent of cotton was setting bolls, slightly behind normal. Nearly half of peanuts were mature, with the majority of the crop condition rated as good to fair. Clear skies and mild temperatures allowed producers to cut and bale hay the entire week in most areas. Growers had 59 percent of other hay second cuttings completed by the end of the week, 10 points behind the five-year average. Eighty percent of the fourth cutting of alfalfa was complete and producers had completed 22 percent of the fifth cutting. Alfalfa and other hay conditions remained mostly in the good to fair range. Watermelon harvest increased 2 points from the previous week to reach 93 percent, but was running 4 points behind normal. Producers had the majority of the state's peach acreage harvested by the end of the week. Livestock conditions were still rated mostly in the excellent to good range. Livestock marketings remained average last week. Prices for feeder steers less than 800 pounds averaged $119 per cwt. Prices for heifers less than 800 pounds averaged $112 per cwt. Pasture and range conditions were rated mostly in the good to fair range. Date: 9/6/07
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