35 percent of state in extreme to exceptional drought

Oklahoma experienced another dry week with the highest precipitation totals recorded in the North Central district at 0.40 of an inch for the week ending March 18, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Southern Plains Regional Field Office, Oklahoma. Fires were reported in Northwest Oklahoma and a red flag fire warning has been issued across western Oklahoma, with much of the rest of the state under a fire weather watch. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 35 percent of the state was in the extreme to exceptional drought categories, up 32 points from the previous year and 42 percent of the state was in the severe to exceptional drought categories, up 1 point from the previous year. Statewide temperatures averaged in the low 50s. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly very short to adequate. There were 6.6 days suitable for fieldwork.

Winter wheat jointing reached 21 percent, down 8 points from normal. Canola blooming reached 6 percent, down 1 point from normal. Rye jointing reached 8 percent, down 14 points from normal. Oats jointing reached 5 percent, down 9 points from the previous year and down 1 point from normal.

Conditions of pasture and range were rated at 77 percent fair to poor. Livestock condition was rated at 85 percent fair to good.