Oklahoma crop weather, 04/09/2012, v.35 no.9

              United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Oklahoma Crop Weather
Oklahoma Field Office
Cooperating with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
P.O. Box 528804 · Oklahoma City, OK 73152-8804
(405) 522-6190 · FAX (405) 528-2296 · www.nass.usda.gov/ok
A combined contribution with Cooperative Extension Service, USDA Farm Service Agency and Oklahoma Mesonet
-over-
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Information provided by respondents on NASS surveys, will remain completely confidential, as required by
Federal law. NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.
Volume 35, Number 9 Weekly Summary for Apr 2-Apr 8 Issued April 9, 2012
Wheat Heading Ahead of Normal
Favorable growing conditions this spring have resulted in crop progress
that is significantly ahead of normal. Over 40 percent of the wheat crop
and almost three-fourths of the rye crop were heading by the end of the
week. Virtually the entire canola crop was blooming and corn planting was
ahead of normal with a small portion already emerged by Sunday.
Additional moisture fell last week and every Mesonet station recorded
rainfall. The average rainfall for the state was 0.93 inches. Isolated areas
received upwards of two inches, including Hooker in the Panhandle. Two
and three inches of rain fell in South Central Oklahoma over the week,
resulting in flash flooding at Turner Falls on Sunday. Minor damage from a
thunderstorm in southeast Oklahoma on Tuesday was reported and a 51
mph wind gust was recorded by Mesonet at Wilburton during that storm.
The additional rainfall continued to lessen the effects of the lingering
drought. The April 3rd Drought Monitor showed continued improvements
with D4 conditions all but gone. The panhandle and far western Oklahoma
make up the 18.57 percent of the state still rated moderate to extreme in drought intensity. Subsoil moisture condition ratings showed very
little change, with 54 percent rated adequate and 74 percent of topsoil moisture conditions were rated adequate. There were 4.5 days
suitable for field work, due to multiple storms and showers during the week.
Small Grains: Heading of wheat and rye progressed well ahead of normal, due to the favorable spring conditions. Wheat and canola
conditions continued to improve; 27 percent of wheat and 23 percent of canola were rated excellent. All small grains were rated mostly
good. Wheat jointing reached 92 percent complete by Sunday, 12 points ahead of the five-year average. Forty-one percent of wheat was
heading by the end of the week, 35 points ahead of last year and the five-year average. Canola blooming was virtually complete by week’s
end, 30 points ahead of last year’s crop. Rye jointing was 94 percent complete and 73 percent was heading by Sunday, over 60 points
ahead of the five-year average. Oat emergence was near completion at 96 percent by the end of the week. Oat jointing was 43 percent
complete, 12 points ahead of normal.
Row Crops: Field preparation for spring crops continued between rain showers, as did corn planting. Corn seedbed preparation was 88
percent complete by the end of the week, 12 points ahead of normal. Corn planting was 31 percent complete, 10 points ahead of last year’s
crop, and a small portion had emerged by the end of the week. Sorghum seedbed preparation was 55 percent complete, 21 points ahead of
the five-year average. Preparation of soybean seedbeds was 33 percent complete by Sunday, on-track with normal progress. Peanut
seedbed preparation was slightly behind normal with 47 percent complete. Cotton seedbed preparation reached 73 percent complete,
ahead of the five-year average.
Pasture and Livestock: Conditions of pasture and
range improved from recent rainfall, and new growth
was reported. Only 20 percent was rated poor to very
poor, down from 28 percent the previous week.
Additional moisture and warm temperatures fostered
continued growth. Improved grazing availability
benefitted cattle producers. Livestock conditions
continued to be rated mostly good to fair. Prices for
feeder steers less than 800 pounds averaged $161 per
cwt. Prices for heifers less than 800 pounds averaged
$145 per cwt.
Soil Moisture Conditions by Percent
Week Ending Sunday, April 8, 2012
Moisture Rating
Current
Week
Previous
Week
One Year
Ago
Topsoil
Very Short 3 5 62
Short 16 12 27
Adequate 74 78 11
Surplus 7 5 0
Subsoil
Very Short 13 15 58
Short 29 29 32
Adequate 54 53 10
Surplus 4 3 0
Conditions by Percent
For Week Ending Sunday, April 8, 2012
Commodity
Very
Poor
Poor Fair Good Excellent
Winter Wheat 0 4 19 50 27
Canola 1 4 19 53 23
Rye 1 2 16 59 22
Oats 1 2 19 60 18
Livestock 2 12 33 45 8
Pasture and Range 6 14 36 38 6