Oklahoma crop weather, 05/21/2012, v.35 no.15

              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-
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Volume 35, Number 15 Weekly Summary for May 14-May 20 Issued May 21, 2012
Early Harvest and Early Planting
Wheat harvest continued to move north, into west central Oklahoma. Most
of the week was warm and dry, but rain over the weekend slowed
progress in some areas. Both wheat and canola were being harvested
ahead of normal, and reported yields were an improvement from last
year’s drought-stricken crop. The drought was still hanging on in the
Panhandle; high temperatures and strong winds continued to remove soil
moisture there. Planting of corn was virtually complete, and all other row
crop plantings were at least ten points ahead of the five-year average.
Severe weather over the weekend brought with it hail and isolated heavy
rainfall. Ninnekah, in Grady County, recorded 3.6 inches of rain on
Sunday, and most of the week’s rain fell in the southwestern quarter of the
state. Soil moisture conditions declined over the last week. Half of the
state was rated with adequate topsoil moisture and 47 percent had
adequate subsoil moisture. There were 6.4 days suitable for field work.
Small Grains: An early and rapid harvest continued to move north
through the state. Conditions of all small grains and canola were rated mostly good to excellent. Ninety-five percent of wheat was in the soft
dough stage of development, 33 points ahead of the five-year average. The wheat harvest was 14 percent complete by Sunday. The canola
crop was 95 percent mature by Sunday, and 56 percent was harvested by week’s end. Virtually all rye was in the soft dough stage by the
end of the week, and six percent was harvested. Oat heading was 89 percent complete and 58 percent was in the soft dough stage by
Sunday. The oat harvest also began early, with eight percent harvested by week’s end.
Row Crops: All crops emerged ahead of normal and corn conditions continued to be rated mostly good. Corn planting was virtually
complete by the end of the week, and 78 percent had emerged. Sorghum seedbed preparation was 89 percent complete by Sunday.
Sorghum planting was 41 percent complete, and 18 percent had emerged by the end of the week. Soybean seedbed preparation was 84
percent complete by week’s end, 14 points ahead of normal. Soybean planting was 46 percent complete, and 29 percent had emerged by
Sunday. Peanut seedbed preparation was 95 percent complete, and 69 percent of the crop was planted by week’s end, 15 points ahead of
normal. Thirty-six percent of the peanut crop had emerged by Sunday. Cotton seedbed preparation was 88 percent complete, and 36
percent was planted by Sunday. One fifth of the cotton crop had emerged by week’s end.
Watermelon planting was 88 percent complete by the end of the week and 58 percent of the crop was growing out vines, significantly ahead
of the five-year average.
Hay: Conditions for both alfalfa and other hay continued to be rated mostly good. Cutting was ahead of normal, but more rain will be needed
to continue adequate hay production. A first cutting of
alfalfa hay was 94 percent complete by the end of the
week, and a second cutting was 14 percent complete. A
first cutting of other hay was 62 percent complete, 34
points ahead of the five-year average.
Pasture and Livestock: Pasture and range conditions
were rated mostly good. Some areas were reporting
declining pond levels as recent rain events did not
provide run-off. Livestock conditions continued to be
rated mostly good, though problems with flies were
reported, Prices for feeder steers less than 800 pounds
averaged $156 per cwt. Prices for heifers less than 800
pounds averaged $142 per cwt.
Soil Moisture Conditions by Percent
Week Ending Sunday, May 20, 2012
Moisture Rating
Current
Week
Previous
Week
One Year
Ago
Topsoil
Very Short 10 7 34
Short 38 27 22
Adequate 50 65 37
Surplus 2 1 7
Subsoil
Very Short 13 12 47
Short 39 34 26
Adequate 47 53 24
Surplus 1 1 3
Conditions by Percent
For Week Ending Sunday, May 20, 2012
Commodity
Very
Poor
Poor Fair Good Excellent
Winter Wheat 1 5 19 54 21
Canola 1 3 23 48 25
Rye 1 3 16 57 23
Oats 1 2 22 57 18
Corn 0 0 8 86 6
Alfalfa Hay 1 2 25 60 12
Other Hay 1 3 28 55 13
Livestock 0 4 24 59 13
Pasture and Range 3 9 29 52 7