Wheat prospects fell sharply across Kingfisher County last weekend when a rain system missed most of the county.

Wheat is mostly headed out now and needs moisture badly if the crop in general is going to meet the county average. Kingfisher County Extension

Kingfisher County Extension Director/Agricultural Educator Brian Kennedy said prospects are about as dismal this spring as he has seen at any time in his 30 years in the county.

“Wheat is a tough plant though, and can surprise you,” he said.

But at this point, rain is critical.

He said another threat to the crop affected a narrow strip through the central part of the county last week extending toward Watonga in Blaine County when the temperature dropped to below freezing.

“I’m sure there will be some 35-bushel per acre wheat this year, but I also hear that a lot of the wheat is being turned in on insurance,” Kennedy said.

A thunderstorm dropped about .2 inch of moisture along Shafenberg Road, east of Kingfisher Saturday afternoon.

Billy Petty reported a similar amount at his home in Okarche but he said the Petty farms northwest of Okarche got only enough to settle the dust. He said a half inch would have done wonders.

Kennedy said he got reports that an area about 8.5 miles east of Kingfisher received .85 inch up to one inch of moisture.

Twila Adams reported .7 inch at her residence five miles east of Kingfisher.

The spotty showers provided some optimism for producers farming in the right spots.

One bright spot due to the dry spring is the lack of diseases.

He said the dry growing season will likely produce higher protein content in the grain, which could provide a little boost in the price.

But Kennedy said most producers don’t have a lot to look forward to despite the sharply higher grain prices.

The local market Thursday registered $10.73 a bushel, more than double the price of a year ago.

Besides the dreary prospects for small grain producers, the dry spring is causing producers to be cautious in preparing fields for summer crops.

Concerns include the sharply higher prices for fertilizer. Also, the ground needs rain to prepare seedbeds for summer crop planting.

He said alfalfa growers who stay on top of their operations appear to be looking at decent early yields.

The plants apparently are pulling up subsoil moisture and fields are emerging in good condition.

Kennedy said one county alfalfa producer recently received a call from a New Mexico dairyman wanting to buy his entire first cutting.

The alfalfa grower declined the offer, saying it was too early to set a price for the crop.

Wheat conditions for Oklahoma include 16% good to excellent, 36% fair and 48% poor to very poor, according to state reports.

Prospects for substantial rain in the immediate future remain low although a chance for rain appears on the local forecast for Friday and again next Monday.

No rain was recorded in Kingfisher from last weekend’s shower as recorded by Steve Loftis, local weather observer at the National Weather Service Station in Kingfisher or at the Mesonet site at the Mueggenborg farm west of Kingfisher.

Mesonet amounts recorded in the state included: Guthrie .03 inch, Spencer 1.27 inches, Antlers 3.03 inches, Marshall .24 inch, Minco 1.60 inches, McAlester 3.5 inches and Seminole 1.86 inches.

The heaviest amount was recorded at Cloudy in southeast Oklahoma at 4.22 inches.

Altus and Hollis in far southwest Oklahoma both reported .24 inch.

Rainfall amounts were negligible in northwest sections of the state although Slapout in the Panhandle recorded .44 inch.