Cotton progress ahead of last year

Precipitation levels averaged less than 1 inch across the state for the week ending Aug. 12, with the South Central district recording the highest totals at 1.62 inches and the Southwest district recording the lowest total at 0.31 of an inch, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Southern Plains Regional Field Office, Oklahoma. Statewide temperatures averaged in the high 70s. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly very short to adequate. There were 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork.

Corn silk reached 95 percent. Corn dough reached 68 percent, up 2 points from the previous year and 6 points ahead of normal. Corn dent reached 23 percent, down 1 point from the previous year. Sorghum headed reached 68 percent, up 3 points from the previous year. Sorghum coloring reached 30 percent, down 7 points from the previous year. Sorghum mature reached 6 percent, up 4 points from the previous year. Soybeans blooming reached 70 percent, up 3 points from the previous year and 11 points ahead of normal. Soybeans setting pods reached 35 percent, unchanged from the previous year and 13 points ahead of normal. Peanuts pegging reached 79 percent, up 3 points from the previous year, but was down 5 points from normal. Peanuts mature reached 1 percent, down 1 point from the previous year. Cotton setting bolls reached 70 percent, up 12 points from the previous year. Cotton bolls opening reached 4 percent, up 2 points from the previous year and up 3 points from normal.