Multiple winter storms kept temperatures below normal for the month of December and brought winter precipitation of all types, according to today's Oklahoma Crop Weather report issued by the USDA-NASS Oklahoma Field Office. December 5-6 a storm moved through in two waves, bringing freezing rain to southern Oklahoma and sleet changing to snow as it traveled northeast, with additional snowfall falling into Friday. Temperatures remained below freezing for the next few days in most of the state. Camargo recorded a low of five degrees below zero on the 10th. The third weekend of the month another winter storm brought snow to northwestern Oklahoma, rain to southeastern Oklahoma and ice to the rest of the state, with close to an inch of ice observed in Canadian County. Damage to some winter forage was reported, but overall the storms brought slow melting moisture across the state.
The East Central and Southeast districts averaged more than three inches of precipitation for the month, while the Panhandle and West Central districts averaged less than half an inch. All nine districts were still below normal precipitation for the period since September 1st. Drought conditions remained in the western half of the state, with the worst conditions in far southwestern Oklahoma. Small grain and pasture conditions were rated mostly good to fair for December. This is a big improvement over the previous year, and allowed more grazing opportunities for livestock. Topsoil moisture conditions were rated mostly adequate with 43 percent rated as short to very short. Subsoil moisture conditions were rated 50 percent adequate to surplus and 50 percent short to very short.
Small Grains: Conditions of small grains and canola declined over the past month. Just over half of the wheat crop was rated in good condition, and canola, oats and rye were rated mostly good to fair. Thirty-two percent of the wheat crop was being grazed, even with the five-year average, and ten points more than during December 2012. Sixty-eight percent of rye was reported as grazed, 38 points more than the previous year and 11 points higher than normal. Twenty-eight percent of oats were being grazed, compared to a five-year average of 15 percent.
Pasture and Range: Pasture and range conditions continued to be rated mostly good to fair for the month of December. Cover from snow and ice temporarily prevented grazing of pasture, but the moisture received was beneficial.
Livestock: Grazing of small grains increased this year with improved conditions. Producers were also providing hay and supplementary feed to herds as needed. Livestock conditions continued to be rated mostly good, despite below normal temperatures.
