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Warm temperatures aided field workOklahoma Weather across the state during the week ending July 7 included warm temperatures for much of the week with a few scattered showers occurring in some areas, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Oklahoma Field Office, July 7. Statewide temperatures averaged nearly 80 degrees last week with only .19 inches of rainfall which allowed for field work for the majority of the week. The Panhandle district received .42 inches of rain last week but remains in a severe drought. Small grain harvest has been nearly completed. Small grain producers have now moved to plowing their harvested fields. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions declined slightly, but both remain mostly adequate to short. There were 6.2 days suitable for field work. With nearly all of the state's small grain acreage harvested by week's end, farmers' attention has turned to working the harvested ground. As of July 7, winter wheat harvested had reached 98 percent, up 5 percentage points from the previous week, and six points ahead of the five-year average. Forty-three percent of the state's winter wheat acreage had been plowed by week's end. Rye harvested was nearly complete, 13 points ahead of normal. Forty-four percent of the state's rye acres had been plowed by week's end, an increase of 21 points from the previous week but one point behind the five-year average. Oats harvested reached 87 percent last week, a six point increase from the previous week and three points ahead of normal. Thirty-nine percent of the state's oat acres had been plowed by week's end, an increase of 13 points from last week but 11 points behind normal. Dry weather allowed farmers to catch up on row crop activities. Row crop conditions remain mostly within the good to fair range, despite some reports of warm weather inhibiting row crop growth. Corn silking was at 44 percent, up 10 percentage points from the previous week, but eight points behind normal. Seventeen percent of corn was in the dough stage by week's end, five points behind normal. Sorghum planted increased 20 percentage points from the previous week to reach 86 percent complete, seven points behind the five-year average. Over half the sorghum was emerged, up six points from the previous week, but 27 points behind normal. A small percentage of the state's sorghum was heading. Soybeans seedbed preparation was nearly complete at 96 percent, an increase of two percentage points from the previous week and equal to the five-year average. Soybeans planted were at 79 percent, up 15 points from the previous week, but six points behind normal. Just over two-thirds of the state's soybeans were emerged by week's end, 11 points behind normal. Ten percent of soybeans were blooming by week's end. Sixty-three percent of the peanuts in the state were pegging, an increase of three points from the previous week, but one point behind normal. Thirty percent of peanuts were setting pods, an increase of 18 points from the previous week and 16 points ahead of normal. Cotton squaring reached 42 percent, one percentage point ahead of the five-year average. Hay cutting and baling continued at an increased rate last week due to dry weather conditions. Alfalfa hay second cutting increased three points from the previous week to reach 95 percent complete, four percentage points ahead of normal. Nearly half of the alfalfa had been cut at least three times. Alfalfa conditions remained mostly in the good to fair range. Other hay first cutting reached 69 percent by week's end, an increase of seven points from the previous week but 10 points below normal. Other hay condition remained mostly in the fair to good range. Nearly all watermelons were running by week's end, an increase of six percentage points from the previous week, but four points behind normal. Seventy-two percent of watermelons were setting fruit with 11 percent harvested by week's end Pasture and range conditions remained mostly in the good to fair range in spite of recent warm weather. Prices for feeder steers less than 800 pounds averaged $110 per cwt. Prices for heifers less than 800 pounds averaged $100 per cwt. Livestock conditions were rated mostly in the good to fair range. Mostly light to moderate insect activity was reported. 7/14/08 Date: 7/10/08 Advertisement
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