Kingfisher County is in 100% extreme drought mode, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

In fact, more than half of the state is suffering a prolonged drought with most other areas of the state experiencing unusually dry conditions.

The National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) said 100% of Kingfisher County residents are affected by drought and that this is the 60th driest year over the past 129 years.

NIDIS lists this situation for Extreme Drought conditions:

• Grasses are dormant, and hay is nonexistent;

• Planting is delayed;

• Fields are spotty;

• Emergency CRP grazing is authorized;

• Cattle have little water and feed.

Pond water is a problem for many producers as lack of rain continues to plague the area.

Grain crops are at a critical stage as they emerge from winter dormancy and need moisture to grow.

Streamflow conditions are rated low countywide, including all creeks and the Cimarron River, which flows through 11 Oklahoma counties after heading in northeastern New Mexico and flowing through portions of Colorado and Kansas.

Kingfisher County OSU Extension Director Bryan Kennedy said the dry weather isn’t the only problem facing cattle producers, who have been dealing with high hay and feed prices throughout the fall and winter months.

“Agriculture producers are an optimistic bunch,” he said. “They’ve been through tough times before and just work on through them.”

He expressed particular concern for cow-calf operators if the county doesn’t get rain before the growing season.

He said cattle numbers are down, resulting in extremely high prices for stocker cattle – as much as $2.80 per pound for 800-weight cattle.

Some cattle herds have been sold due to high feed prices.

Kennedy said he was in Oklahoma City Thursday and the rain kept falling, but when he got home to Hennessey, he had received only seven-hundredths inch there.

Kingfisher received only .03 inch along with a sharp north breeze.