Drought conditions improve

Oklahoma received large amounts of rain for the week ending Aug. 19 with most districts reporting rainfall totals in excess of 1.75 inches, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Southern Plains Regional Field Office, Oklahoma. The exception was the Panhandle district, which reported 0.93 of an inch. The Southeast and East Central districts recorded the largest amounts with 5.08 and 3.48 inches, respectively. As of Aug. 14, drought conditions were rated 47 percent moderate to exceptional, down 8 points from the previous week. Additionally, 6 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 adequate to short. There were 3.8 days suitable for fieldwork.

Corn dough reached 83 percent, unchanged from the previous year but up 5 points from normal. Corn dented reached 40 percent, down 10 points from the previous year and down 6 points from normal. Sorghum headed reached 76 percent, down 1 point from the previous year. Sorghum coloring reached 37 percent, down 10 points from the previous year and down 3 points from normal. Sorghum mature reached 8 percent, down 1 point from the previous year. Soybeans blooming reached 82 percent, up 3 points from the previous year and up 10 points from normal. Soybeans setting pods reached 45 percent, down 7 points from the previous year. Peanuts pegging reached 93 percent, up 10 points from the previous year. Peanuts mature reached 5 percent, up 3 points from the previous year. Cotton setting bolls reached 80 percent, up 14 points from the previous year and up 6 points from normal. Cotton bolls opening reached 6 percent, up 3 points from the previous year and up 3 points from normal.