Oklahoma crop weather, 03/10/2014, v.37 no.3

              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
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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 37, Number 3
Weekly Summary for Mar 3 - Mar 9
Issued March 10, 2014
Cool Temperatures Slow Progress
Another winter storm brought snow, sleet and freezing rain to Oklahoma last week. North Central Oklahoma received the most snow, with localized reports as high as 5-7 inches in parts of Grant and Alfalfa Counties. According to the most recent Drought Monitor, Oklahoma drought conditions are holding steady compared to the previous week because of the small amounts of moisture received. Temperatures were unseasonably cold this past week. Buffalo reached a low of -7 degrees on Monday, March 3rd, the lowest recorded temperature in March since 1948. During the latter part of the week Oklahoma received some more rain and snow, just enough to disrupt fieldwork slightly. Topsoil moisture conditions were rated 27 percent adequate to surplus and 73 percent short to very short. Subsoil moisture conditions were rated 19 percent adequate to surplus and 81 percent short to very short. There were only 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork.
Small Grains All small grains were rated mostly fair to poor. Canola was rated 57 percent fair to good, with one percent rated excellent and 19 percent rated very poor. Jointing of winter wheat reached five percent by Sunday, 12 points behind the five year average. Sixty percent of oats planted were complete by Sunday, 12 points behind the previous year and the five-year average.
Row Crops: Seedbed preparation has begun for row crops in some areas. However, producers in the Southwest are waiting for additional moisture and warmer temperatures. Corn seedbed preparation reached 28 percent by week’s end, on track with last year and 20 points ahead of the five-year average. Sorghum seedbed preparation was 14 percent complete and soybean seedbed preparation reached 8 percent by Sunday, both consistent with the previous year. Seedbed preparation of cotton was 16 percent complete by the end of the week, 9 points behind last year.
Pasture and Livestock: Conditions of pasture and range were rated mostly fair to poor. Livestock conditions were rated mostly good to fair. The snow and freezing temperatures have depleted hay supplies in some areas and stock ponds are getting lower. Many operators were still providing hay and supplemental feed for livestock. Spring calving has begun in some parts of the state.
Soil Moisture Conditions by Percent Week Ending Sunday, March 9, 2014 Moisture Rating Current Week Previous Week One Year Ago
Topsoil
Very Short 32 51 14
Short
41
36
27 Adequate 26 13 57
Surplus
1
0
2 Subsoil
Very Short
35
49
46 Short 46 34 42
Adequate
18
17
12 Surplus 1 0 0 Conditions by Percent For Week Ending Sunday, March 9, 2014 Commodity Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent
Wheat
8
23
47
20
2 Rye 14 17 58 10 1
Oats
22
22
26
21
9 Canola 19 23 44 13 1
Livestock
2
10
47
36
5 Pasture and Range 17 23 46 13 1