Corn planting surged ahead of the five-year average last week according to a a report released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. With thirteen percent of total corn acres planted by April 17, progress surpassed the five-year average for this point by four percentage points. Notably, it had remained inline with the average as recently as a week prior.

Texas corn plantings now stand at 49%. However, with the heavy rains since the weekend in large parts of Texas- there is concern that many of both the corn and grain sorghum acres may face replanting.

Oklahoma is not in the base weekly corn crop ratings nationally- however, the state report shows that 25% of the corn crop is now planted, up eight points from a week ago, but five percentage points under a year ago and sixteen points under the five year average.

The winter wheat crop improved by one percentage point in the good to excellent categories this week versus last, now standing at 57% of the crop in good to excellent condition. The Oklahoma crop is rated 56% good to excellent, an improvement of two percentage points versus a week ago- the Texas wheat crop of this week at 45% matches that of a week ago and the Kansas wheat crop condition slips one percentage point from a week ago to 49% good to excellent.


Click here for our complete overview of the Crop Progress Numbers- and links to the National Report and state reports for Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.

On a regular basis, Ed Czerwein of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Market News Office in Amarillo, Texas offers a review of the previous week's boxed beef trade. Here is his report of weekly boxed beef trade for the week ending April 16th.


Czerwein reports that the "big item this week was the fact that most of the out front sales were priced higher than the average formula sales, which has not been the case for quite some time. The daily spot Choice box beef cutout ended the week last Friday at $225.13 which was $10.33 higher compared to previous week. There were 707 loads sold for the week in the daily box beef cutout which was about/almost 12% of the total volume."


Czerwein also details those out front sales he refers to- cow meat sales and more. Click here for his complete report.

There's more rain this morning in southern and central Oklahoma- stretching over into eastern counties as well- and this rainy pattern is giving us Flood Watch conditions.

There are nineteen Oklahoma counties from Oklahoma City south to the Red River where flood potential exists later today through early tomorrow morning.

There already are several flood warnings in southern Oklahoma.  For example, the East Cache Creek near Walters has got water almost five feet above flood stage. 

There is also the Washita River near Dickson, currently three feet above flood stage- and expected to rise to eight feet above flood stage levels by later today.

The National Weather Service says of flooding on the Washita- "At 35.0 feet...Flood depths up to 10 feet extend damages along the Washita River valley...from near Davis in Murray County...to near Dickson in Carter County...to the headwaters of Lake Texoma in Johnston County. Many homesteads could be flooded or isolated. Over 7 thousand acres of agricultural lands are covered."

The current nine day forecast shows rains today and tomorrow- then some clearing expected for the latter part of the week.  Courtesy of Jed Castles of News9 in OKC- here is the graphic of our weather expected in central and western counties of the state: