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March brought snowOklahoma During the week ending March 9, weather brought heavy snow to parts of the state, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Oklahoma Field Office, March 10. Blankets of snow halted fieldwork for days in reported areas. Temperatures continued to fluctuate with a low of 7 degrees at Seiling and a high of 70 degrees at Ketchum Ranch. Oklahoma averaged 0.77 inches of precipitation last week. Some areas are in desperate need of rainfall while many other areas are in need of steadily warm temperatures. The Panhandle district remains extremely dry, and this cool growing season ranks the seventh driest since 1921. The Southeast district had the highest average temperature for the week at 55 degrees. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions remained nearly the same with 71 percent of the state's topsoil having surplus to adequate and 68 percent of subsoil having surplus to adequate. There were 3.5 days suitable for fieldwork. Although the precipitation received in various parts of the state has helped small grain crops, warm weather and sunshine are needed before those crops can develop at a faster pace. Greenbugs were reported in isolated areas with crop insect activity reported as heavy to moderate for 10 percent of the reporting areas. Winter wheat jointing was at 13 percent, 10 points behind last year. In the extreme dry areas of the state, the winter wheat crop had not emerged or was just becoming visible. Rye jointing was 16 points behind last year at 14 percent while oats planted, at 79 percent, was nine points ahead of the five-year average. Seedbed preparations for most row crops were running well ahead of normal with corn at 37 percent, sorghum at 17 percent, and soybeans at 25 percent complete. Producers located in areas where large amounts of snow had fallen were waiting on the topsoil to dry out before continuing to prepare seedbeds. Seedbed preparation for cotton was at 11 percent by week's end. Pasture and range conditions remained mostly in the good to fair range. In some areas, pasture growth was not enough to feed cattle, and operators in those locations were continuing to supply hay to their herds. Some grasses have been slow to emerge this spring. Prices for feeder steers less than 800 pounds averaged $105 per cwt. Prices for heifers less than 800 pounds averaged $96 per cwt. Livestock conditions were rated mostly in the good to fair range. In areas receiving heavy snow, springborn calves struggled when temperatures were low. Average livestock marketings were reported last week. 3/17/08 Date: 3/13/08
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