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Wheat harvest resumes as conditions allowOklahoma Wheat harvest resumed at an accelerated pace across much of the state during the week ending June 22 as dry weather returned, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Oklahoma Field Office, June 23. However, the North Central and Northeast districts are still behind the harvest pace of the rest of the state due to steady rainfall. Double cropping in some areas may be hindered due to wet weather. The Panhandle district remains in a severe drought with parched pastures impacting cattle. Precipitation ranged from 2.35 inches in the Northeast district to .64 inches in the Panhandle district. Statewide, topsoil moisture was rated 72 percent surplus to adequate, up one percentage point from the previous week. Subsoil moisture was rated 70 percent surplus to adequate, also up one point from the previous week. There were 4.0 days suitable for fieldwork. Wheat harvest was in full swing but remained behind normal as the North Central and Northeast districts experienced more delays due to scattered storms. Winter wheat harvest reached 74 percent last week, up 15 percentage points from the previous week but three points behind the five-year average. Thirteen percent of the state's winter wheat acreage had been plowed by week's end. Nearly half of rye has been harvested, an increase of seven percentage points from last week but eight points behind normal. Two-third's of oats have been harvested, an increase of 25 points from last week and five points ahead of normal. Row crop conditions remained mostly in the good to fair range. Corn silking is at 21 percent, 10 points behind last year, and 11 points behind the five-year average. Sorghum seedbed prepared increased only three percentage points from the previous week to reach 92 percent complete, three points behind the five-year average. Sorghum planted is over halfway complete but 20 points behind normal. Sorghum emerged reached 42 percent, up six points from the previous week, but 17 points behind normal. Soybeans seedbed preparation reached 90 percent complete, an increase of two percentage points. Soybeans planted were at 58 percent, 17 points behind normal but 10 points ahead of last year. Just over half of the soybeans were emerged by week's end, 13 points behind normal. Nearly one-third of the peanuts in the state were pegging, an increase of 13 points from the previous week and two points ahead of normal. Nearly all of the state's cotton had emerged by week's end, an increase of nine points. A small percentage of cotton had reached the squaring stage. Hay cutting progressed slowly due to recent moisture. Alfalfa hay second cutting increased 12 points from the previous week to reach 76 percent complete. Alfalfa conditions remained mostly in the good to fair range. Other hay first cutting only increased one percentage point from the previous week to reach 56 percent, 14 points behind normal. Eighty-one percent of watermelons were running by week's end, an increase of 28 percentage points from the previous week but 11 points behind normal. Twenty-eight percent of watermelons were setting fruit. 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. Recent rainfall should improve future pasture growth. Pasture and range conditions were reported mostly in the good to fair range. Panhandle pasture conditions remain poor and many producers are being forced to reduce cattle herd size due to severe dry weather. Prices for feeder steers less than 800 pounds averaged $108 per cwt. Prices for heifers less than 800 pounds averaged $101 per cwt. Livestock conditions were rated mostly in the good to fair range. Mostly light to moderate insect activity was reported. 6/30/08 Date: 6/26/08
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