Majority of state in moderate to exceptional drought categories

Oklahoma experienced cold and dry conditions during the month of December, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Southern Plains Regional Field Office, Oklahoma. Precipitation levels remained below average. According to OCS Mesonet, the statewide average precipitation for the full month of December was 1.06 inches. As of Dec. 26, 76 percent of the state was in the moderate to exceptional drought categories, up 4 points from the previous year and 28 percent of the state was in the severe to exceptional drought categories, down 18 points from the previous year. Statewide temperatures averaged in the high 30s, with the lowest recording of 1 degree at Buffalo on Dec. 31 and the highest recording of 83 degrees at Burneyville on Dec. 4. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly short to adequate.

Winter wheat grazed reached 35 percent, down 4 points from the previous year. Rye grazed reached 16 percent, down 8 points from the previous year. Oats grazed reached 4 percent, down 60 points from the previous year and down 39 points from the normal.

Conditions of pasture and range were rated at 83 percent fair to poor. Livestock condition was rated at 95 percent good to fair.