34 percent of state in extreme to exceptional drought

Oklahoma received little to no rainfall over the week ending March 11, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Southern Plains Regional Field Office, Oklahoma. The highest precipitation total was recorded in the East Central district at 0.06 of an inch. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 34 percent of the state was in the extreme to exceptional drought categories, up 31 points from the previous year and 41 percent of the state was in the severe to exceptional drought categories, down 2 points from the previous year. Statewide temperatures averaged in the high 40s. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly very short to adequate. There were 6.0 days suitable for fieldwork.

Winter wheat jointing reached 13 percent, down 7 points from the previous year but unchanged from normal. Canola blooming reached 4 percent, up 1 point from the previous year and up 2 points from normal. Rye jointing reached 2 percent, down 10 points from the previous year and down 12 points from normal. Oats jointing reached 3 percent, up 1 point from the previous year.

Conditions of pasture and range were rated at 70 percent fair to poor. Livestock condition was rated at 85 percent fair to good.