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Strong storms delay field workOklahoma Oklahoma received its second straight week of heavy rainfall during the week ending Sept. 14, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Oklahoma Field Office, Sept. 15. Eight of the nine districts received over an inch of rain last week. The major wheat producing North Central district received slightly above 4.75 inches of rain which delayed small grain seedbed preparation and planting. Row crop conditions remained in the mostly good to fair range despite the heavy moisture and reported insect activity. Hurricane Ike did not cause as much damage as originally predicted but still caused flooding in southeast Oklahoma. North Central and Northeast districts received rain from a strong storm front that caused rivers to crest and the evacuation of some 800 people. The state averaged 2.54 inches of rain for the week. Weekly temperatures ranged from 48 to 92 degrees. A few areas of the state's cropland reported having light to heavy flood damage. Topsoil moisture was rated 81 percent surplus to adequate and subsoil moisture was rated 73 percent surplus to adequate. There were 3.3 days suitable for fieldwork. Small grain seedbed preparation and planting almost came to a complete halt last week due to the heavy rain and saturated fields. Winter wheat seedbed preparation increased one percentage point from the previous week to reach 71 percent complete. Eleven percent of wheat had been planted by week's end. Rye seedbed preparation also increased one percentage point to reach 73 percent complete. Rye planted reached 19 percent complete by week's end, 13 percentage points behind the five-year average. The seedbed preparation for oats was just over half complete, seven points behind normal. Rains delayed row crop harvest in some areas for the second week but conditions still were rated mostly good to fair with double-cropped corn and soybeans expected to benefit from the recent rains. About half of the state's crops were reporting light insect activity with some isolated areas reporting moderate to heavy activity. Virtually all of the state's corn had reached the dough stage, up four points from the previous week but two points behind normal. More than half of the state's corn had reached maturity by week's end, 20 points behind the five-year average. Twenty-nine percent of the state's corn had been harvested by week's end, up three points from the previous week but 18 points behind normal. Sorghum headed increased nine points from the previous week to reach 89 percent complete but was still five points behind normal. Fifty-nine percent of the sorghum was coloring by the end of the week, an increase of 14 points from the previous week but nine points behind normal. A quarter of the state's sorghum had reached maturity, five points behind the five-year average. Eleven percent of the state's sorghum had been harvested. Soybeans setting pods increased four points from the previous week to reach 88 percent, equal to the five-year average. Sixteen percent of the soybeans were mature, up three points from the previous week but 17 points behind the five-year average. Peanuts mature reached 28 percent, up one point from last week but 26 points behind normal. Cotton bolls were opening on 41 percent of the state's cotton by week's end, up 12 points from the previous week but three points below the five-year average. Hay cutting and baling activities continued at a slow pace due to wet conditions. Hay conditions remained mostly in the good to fair range. Eighty-seven percent of the state's alfalfa had been cut for the fourth time, a three point increase from the previous week. Alfalfa fifth cutting reached 35 percent complete by week's end. Other hay second cutting reached 60 percent, an increase of two points from the previous week but 12 points behind normal. Pasture and grasses improved last week with the heavy rainfall. Pasture and range conditions remained mostly in the good to fair range. Prices for feeder steers less than 800 pounds averaged $111 per cwt. Prices for heifers less than 800 pounds averaged $105 per cwt. Livestock conditions were rated mostly in the good to fair range with mostly light to moderate insect activity reported. 9/22/08 Date: 9/18/08 Advertisement
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