Wheat conditions improve with rainfall

Topsoil moisture was mostly adequate to surplus across the state, except in the east central and southeast districts, where topsoil was short to adequate. Subsoil moisture was mostly adequate to surplus across the state, except for the southwest, south central and southeast districts, where it was short to adequate.

Wheat condition was reported as mostly fair to good in all districts, except the north central, central, and east central districts, where condition was good to excellent. Eighty-four percent of the state's wheat acreage was jointing, with all districts showing at least 50% jointing. wheat was starting to head in the central and southern districts. This was ahead of last year and the five-year average. An increase in foliar diseases in wheat was reported in the southwest district. Crop insect activity was none to light statewide.

With only 3.1 days suitable for fieldwork, limited progress was made in seedbed preparations for row crops. Soybeans were ahead of normal for seedbed preparation, while corn, at 65%, and cotton, at 52% prepared, were near normal. Corn planting, at 15% planted, was ahead of the five-year average. Sorghum and peanut seedbed preparation were running behind normal, at 20 and 27%, respectively.

Range and pasture was reported at mostly fair to good in all districts. Recent rains, especially in western Oklahoma, improved pasture condition.

Livestock condition was reported as mostly fair to good in all districts, except the Panhandle and north central districts, where it was good to excellent. Insect activity was light to moderate statewide, except in the Panhandle and north central districts, where it was light. Livestock marketings were average for the week. The average price for feeder steers was steady to $1 per cwt. higher than last week.