Little rainfall received
The state continued to receive little rainfall with the highest precipitation totals recorded in the Northeast district at 0.24 of an inch for the week ending March 25, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Southern Plains Regional Field Office, Oklahoma. 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, down 4 points from the previous year. Statewide temperatures averaged in the mid 50s. Topsoil and subsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly very short to adequate. There were 6.5 days suitable for fieldwork.
Winter wheat jointing reached 36 percent, down 5 points from normal. Canola blooming reached 11 percent, unchanged from normal. Rye jointing reached 31 percent, down 1 point from normal. Oats jointing reached 12 percent, down 10 points from the previous year but up 4 points from normal.