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High winds damage cropsOklahoma Oklahoma experienced hail and straight-line winds reaching 100 mph from severe thunderstorms that damaged crops and buildings during the week ending June 8, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Oklahoma Field Office, June 9. The intense storms that came June 5 and 8, brought wheat harvest to a temporary halt in some areas. Saturated fields in the North Central and Northeast districts could possibly cause harvest to finish behind schedule. High winds also contributed to power outages throughout the state and wildfires in Southwest Oklahoma. The winds have diminished topsoil moisture in the Panhandle, Southwest, and South Central districts. The state averaged 1.03 inches of rainfall this past week, with the majority falling in the North Central district. There were 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Some of the weekly reports arrived before weekend rains which influenced the soil moisture categories in the tables below. Wheat harvest was delayed in areas of Oklahoma that received abundant moisture. Some unharvested wheat fields received hail and wind damage from the recent storms. Very few disease problems have been reported for small grain crops. Essentially all of the state's winter wheat had reached the soft dough stage by the end of the week, an increase of 9 points from the previous week and in line with last year and the five-year average. Just over one-third of the wheat crop had been harvested by June 8, increase of 27 points from last week. Ninety-seven percent of rye was in the soft dough stage, an increase of six points from the previous week and 17 percentage points ahead of normal. Rye harvested was at 10 percent, 15 points behind the five-year average. Oats headed was at 93 percent, four percentage points behind the five-year average. Eighty percent of the oats were in the soft dough stage, 2 points behind normal. Field work was halted in many areas due to last week's thunderstorms. Some farmers are preparing to begin double cropping after wheat is harvested. By the end of last week, 93 percent of corn had emerged, an increase of 4 points from the previous week last week but five points behind the five-year average. Sorghum seedbed prepared was at 87 percent, three points behind last year and two points behind the five-year average. Sorghum planted was 12 points behind normal, at 38 percent, while sorghum emerged was four points behind normal, at 32 percent. Soybeans seedbed prepared had reached 85 percent by week's end, an increase of two percentage points from last week and equal to the five-year average. Just under half of the state's soybeans were planted with 37 percent emerged by Sunday. Peanuts were nearly all planted by week's end. Ninety-four percent of peanuts had emerged, an increase of 24 points from the previous week and eight points ahead of normal. Only a small percentage of peanuts were pegging last week. Cotton planted and emerged were both ahead of normal at 89 percent and 78 percent, respectively. Producers had half of the second cutting of alfalfa complete by the end of the week, four points ahead of normal. Alfalfa and other hay conditions remained mostly in the good to fair range. Ninety-one percent of watermelons had been planted by week's end and 40 percent had developed runners. Peaches were rated in the mostly good to fair range with an average fruit set. Pecans were also rated mostly in the good to fair range and were reported having an average nut set. Pasture and range conditions were mostly in the good to fair range, except for the Panhandle district where pasture conditions are mostly poor due to lack of rain. Prices for feeder steers less than 800 pounds averaged $112 per cwt. Prices for heifers less than 800 pounds averaged $105 per cwt. Livestock conditions were rated mostly in the good to fair range. Mostly light to moderate insect activity was reported. 6/16/08 Date: 6/10/08
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