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Small grain planting has begunOklahoma Small grain planting has begun in areas with adequate soil moisture during the week ending Sept. 16, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Oklahoma Field Office, Sept. 17. The beginning of last week brought rainfall to isolated parts of the state. The Northeast district received the most rain for the week at 0.54 inches. Last week also brought many cool mornings and evenings with temperatures dropping as low as 39 degrees on Tuesday. There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork. Wheat seedbed preparation was 76 percent complete, with planting at 12 percent, 11 points behind normal. Soil moisture levels hampered more widespread planting. Rye seedbed preparation was at 73 percent complete, a 15 point jump from the previous week. Rye planted was at 20 percent complete, an 11 point increase from the previous week, but still 18 points behind the five-year average. Oat seedbed preparation was at 55 percent complete, with planting beginning in a few isolated areas. Grain sorghum and soybean harvest had begun in a few areas. Eighty-nine percent of soybeans were blooming, and 76 percent were setting pods, both well behind normal. Ninety-one percent of the state's corn acreage had reached maturity, 16 points ahead of the five-year average. Corn harvest continued to progress quickly with 63 percent of the crop harvested by week's end, a jump of 19 points from the previous week. Eighty-two percent of the state's corn was rated in excellent to good condition. Grain sorghum was 96 percent headed, and 18 percent of the crop had reached maturity. Fifty-six percent of the state's peanuts were mature, only a three point increase from the previous week. The majority of the peanut crop remained in good condition. Bolls were opening on over one-third of the cotton acreage which was 14 points behind normal. Just over three-fourths of the cotton was rated in excellent to good condition. Growers had 69 percent of other hay second cuttings completed by the end of the week, seven points behind normal. Ninety-one percent of the fourth cutting of alfalfa was complete, and producers had completed 40 percent of the fifth cutting, seven points ahead of the five-year average. Alfalfa and other hay conditions remained mostly in the good to fair range. 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 $111 per cwt. Pasture and range conditions were rated mostly in the good to fair range. Although last week's cool temperatures enabled favorable growing conditions for pastures, armyworm infestations were reported in some areas. Date: 9/18/07
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