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Oklahoma City, OK - Four Oklahoma cities broke temperature records this past week and another four tied temperature records according to today’s Oklahoma Crop Weather report issued by the USDA-NASS Oklahoma Field Office. The increasingly dry conditions prompted state officials to extend a burn ban to 31 counties. Scattered storms brought some limited relief to areas in the North Central and Eastern parts of the state, but the rest of the state remained mostly dry.

Crop condition ratings dropped faster this week with the intense heat than the previous week. Reports of pastures going dormant, stock water supplies drying up, and early cattle sales were common last week. A report of irrigation not being able to keep up in the Southwest, and another of weakening wells was also reported. Positive reports on early planted corn and milo prospects were received, however there was an increasing concern about the condition of double crops and anything planted late. Topsoil and subsoil moisture supplies dropped rapidly, with 62 percent of topsoil and 53 percent of subsoil being rated very short by week’s end. There were 6.7 days suitable for field work.

Small Grains: Plowing of small grain fields slowed down last week with wheat plowed only increasing one point to 83 percent complete. Rye plowed was 80 percent complete, up three points from the previous week. Oats plowed was 85 percent complete, up five points from the previous week.

Row Crops: Conditions of all row crops continued to decline over the past week under the parched conditions. Corn silking reached 87 percent complete by week’s end. Sixty-seven percent of corn reached the dough stage, an increase of 28 points. Corn dented was rated at 26 percent complete, well ahead of normal for this week of the year. Sorghum headed reached 46 percent complete compared to 32 percent last week, and the five-year average of 28 percent. Sorghum coloring reached 18 percent, up 11 points from the previous week. Soybean blooming was 42 percent complete, close to the five-year average of 41 percent, and setting pods were rated at eight percent complete. Peanuts development continued to progress with 76 percent pegging, up 15 points from the previous week. Peanuts setting pods reached 13 percent complete by Sunday. Cotton squaring was rated at 60 percent by week’s end, and 16 percent of the crop was setting bolls.

Miscellaneous crops: Watermelon’s harvested was nearing the halfway mark with 46 percent of the crop reported harvested by week’s end.

Hay: Conditions ratings for all hay continued to worsen with the majority of alfalfa and other hay now rated fair to poor. The third cutting of alfalfa was 76 percent complete, advancing six points from the previous week. The second cutting of other hay increased 16 points to 37 percent complete.

Pasture and livestock: Pasture and range conditions continued to slide with several reports of pastures going dormant and early selling of livestock. Stock water supplies were becoming a concern. Eighteen percent of Oklahoma’s range and pasture were rated in very poor condition, with 90 percent of the state rated less than good. Despite the deteriorating conditions the majority of livestock were rated in the fair to good condition. Prices for feeder steers less than 800 pounds averaged $136 per cwt. Prices for heifers less than 800 pounds averaged $128 per cwt.

The entire Oklahoma report can be view online at: www.nass.usda.gov/ok under “Recent Reports.” The national database, Quick Stats, and all USDA-NASS reports are available on the agency’s web site: www.nass.usda.gov.

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the USDA-NASS Oklahoma Field Office at 800-525-9226. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service provides accurate, timely, useful and objective statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. The agency invites you to express your thoughts and provide occasional feedback on our products and services by joining a data user community. To join, sign in at http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/subscriptions and look for “NASS Data User Community.”