Corn silking ahead of normal

Rainfall totals averaged 0.91 of an inch throughout the state for the week ending Aug. 5, with the central district recording the highest precipitation at 1.42 inches, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Southern Plains Regional Field Office, Oklahoma. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, drought conditions were rated 55 percent moderate to exceptional, down 6 points from the previous week. Additionally, 32 percent of the state was in the severe to exceptional drought category, down 2 points from the previous week. Statewide temperatures averaged in the high 70s. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly very short to adequate. There were 5.7 days suitable for fieldwork.

Corn silk reached 94 percent, up 1 point from the previous year and up 3 points from normal. Corn dough reached 56 percent, up 6 points from the previous year. Corn dented reached 7 percent. Sorghum headed reached 57 percent, down 3 points from the previous year. Sorghum coloring reached 29 percent, down 3 points from the previous year. Sorghum mature reached 1 percent, up 1 point from the previous year. Soybeans blooming reached 63 percent, up 18 points from the previous year. Soybeans setting pods reached 24 percent, unchanged from the previous year. Peanuts pegging reached 73 percent, up 4 points from the previous year. Cotton squaring reached 88 percent, down 6 points from the previous year. Cotton setting bolls reached 46 percent, up 6 points from the previous year but unchanged from normal.