While much of western Oklahoma is experiencing some level of drought, most of Kingfisher County remains in good shape.

Wheat and other small grain crops have benefited greatly from late October moisture, allowing wheat to emerge to good stands despite early dry weather that forced many producers to “dust in” the seed.

Stocker cattle are being seen in greater number on fields that were sown early and got up to full stands before dry September conditions set in.

A number of fields that came up to partial stands due to drought conditions filled in quickly after helpful October rain.

While November had been dry until the Thanksgiving week, grain fields appear in generally good condition at this point.

Spotted thunderstorms dropped additional moisture on some areas Tuesday.

Kingfisher Weather Observer Steve Loftis reported .3 inch in Kingfisher while the Mesonet site reported .22 inch.

Other area reports included .4 inch at Cashion Grain and Feed, .5 inch at Loyal at the Jon Cochran residence, .3 inch at the Tom Arms residence west of Kingfisher, .2 inch at Okarche Grain and Feed and .25 inch at Wheeler Brothers Elevator at Omega.

Other Mesonet reports included .44 inch at Watonga, .5 inch at Marshall, .29 inch at Guthrie and .19 inch at El Reno.

Kingfisher County Extension Director-Agricultural Agent Brian Kennedy called county grain fields in generally good condition last week.

“The moisture was a blessing,” Kennedy said.

He added that even recent windy days were an advantage as they were accompanied by sun and warm temperatures that allowed the crops to grow.

“We’re not having severe insect problems at this time,” he said. “At this point we’re in good shape.”

There was no mention, either, of disease in the small grain crops at this time.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported the Oklahoma wheat crop is rated 48 percent good to excellent, 38 percent fair and 14 percent poor to very poor.

Canola emerged reaching 90 percent, up 30 points from the previous year and up 3 points from normal.

The canola crop is rated 47 percent good and 53 percent fair.

Kennedy said higher prices for soybeans may provide an opportunity for rotational summer crops in 2021, noting that prices have been pushing $12 a bushel recently.

Producers find that rotating from normal crops breaks disease cycles and provide higher yields without extra investment besides providing more steady income.

Kennedy participated in an extension short course last week emphasizing the advantages of crop rotation.

He pointed out that crops such as soybeans, mungbeans and cowpeas are legumes fixing nitrogen in the soil, as well as helping keep soil in suitable condition with increased supply of organic matter.

At one point Kingfisher County was considered the mungbean capital of Oklahoma, producing more than any other county.

As for moisture, Loftis recorded 2.8 inches of rain in October while other sections of the county received more.

Loftis has recorded 31.14 inches of rain to date in 2020. Kingfisher averages 35.65 inches of rainfall annually.