Crop Progress and Condition for the Week Ending August 9, 2015.
Historic rains during late spring and early summer virtually eliminated the drought that plagued Oklahoma for much of the past five years. Rainfall totals by the end of July were recorded at 32.91 inches since March 1st. As of Sunday, August 9th, rainfall totals ranged from 0.12 of an inch in the Southeast district to 1.11 inches in the West Central district. According to the Oklahoma Mesonet, Cheyenne recorded the highest weekly average rainfall of 1.89 inches.
No areas of the state were experiencing drought with the exception of a small pocket deep in McCurtain County. Compared to last year at this time, 83.5 percent of the state was in some category of drought. Maximum temperatures remained fairly consistent with the warmest highs remaining in the low to mid 80’s.
The lowest reported high of each day ranged from 62 degrees in Kenton on Saturday, August 8th to 106 degrees in Freedom, also on Saturday, August 8th. Soil temperature ranged 76 degrees at Kenton on Tuesday August 4th and 97 degrees at several stations, including Clayton on Saturday August 8th.
There were 6.4 days suitable for fieldwork.
Row Crops: Corn silking reached 92 percent, unchanged from the previous year and down 5 points from normal. Corn doughing reached 50 percent, down 16 points from the previous year and down 28 points from normal. Corn denting reached 5 percent, down 2 points from the previous year and down 40 points from normal.
Sorghum headed reached 63 percent, up 5 points from the previous year and up 2 points from normal. Sorghum coloring reached 21 percent, down 5 points from the previous year and down 4 points from normal.
Soybeans blooming reached 43 percent, down 11 points from the previous year and down 20 points from normal.
Cotton squaring reached 93 percent, down 6 points from the previous year and up 6 points from normal. Cotton setting bolls reached 62 percent, down 12 points from the previous year and up 12 points from normal.
Hay: A third cutting of alfalfa hay reached 47 percent, down 18 points from the previous year and down 22 points from normal. A second cutting of other hay reached 53 percent, up 14 points from the previous year and up 16 points from normal.
Watermelons: Watermelons harvested reached 58 percent, up 9 points from the previous year and down 14 points from normal.
Pasture and Livestock: Conditions of pasture and range were rated at 77 percent good to fair. Livestock condition was rated at 85 percent good to fair.
Weather: Temperatures ranged from 62 degrees at Kenton on Saturday, August 8th, to 106 degrees at Freedom on Saturday, August 8th. Precipitation ranged from 0.12 of an inch in the Southeast district to 1.11 inches in West Central. Soil temperature averages ranged from 76 degrees at Kenton on Tuesday, August 4th, to 97 degrees at Clayton on Saturday, August 8th.
