Large wildfires continue in northwest part of state

Oklahoma continued to suffer from extreme drought causing slower than normal winter wheat progress during the week ending April 22, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Southern Plains Regional Field Office, Oklahoma. Large wildfires were reported in the northwest portion of the state. According to the OCS Mesonet, the largest fire was in Dewey County and covered close to 300,000 acres. As of April 19, drought conditions were rated 36 percent extreme to exceptional, up 36 points from the previous year, and 20 percent exceptional drought, up 20 points from the previous year. Statewide temperatures averaged in the high 60s. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly very short to adequate. There were 5.5 days suitable for fieldwork.

Winter wheat jointing reached 78 percent, down 15 points from the previous year and down 14 points from normal. Winter wheat headed reached 23 percent, down 38 points from the previous year and down 15 points from normal. Canola blooming reached 61 percent, down 33 points from the previous year and down 24 points from normal. Canola coloring reached 3 percent, down 15 points from the previous year and down 1 point from normal. Rye jointing reached 87 percent, down 8 points from the previous year but up 2 points from normal. Rye headed reached 31 percent, down 34 oints from the previous year but up 12 points from normal. Oats jointing reached 42 percent, down 20 points from the previous year but up 2 points from normal.

Corn planted reached 30 percent, down 13 points from the previous year and down 9 points from normal. Sorghum planted reached 9 percent, down 6 points from the previous year but unchanged from normal. Cotton planted reached 2 percent, down 3 points from the previous year but unchanged from normal.