The Woodward News

Local News

December 1, 2009

Conditions look favorable for wheat

“There was no happy medium. Wheat was either planted early or late.”

That was the assessment of Dana Bay of the OSU Extension Service in Woodward County on this year’s planting season.

Bay said she attributed the weather in the Woodward area as the cause. It was either too wet or too dry.

Farmers who planted wheat late won’t have an opportunity to graze their crops but Bay said it shouldn’t affect the outcome of the grain, “hoping, of course, the weather cooperates.”

Mike Schulte of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission said many producers throughout the state were late planting and some were as much as a month-and-a-half behind schedule.

“Where planting has emerged, we’re hoping for good weather,” he said. “In the Panhandle, farmers did plant earlier because they had moisture.”

As far as Northwest Oklahoma and the Woodward area, there could stand to be some moisture, he said.

“But things look much better moisture-wise compared to last year,” he said.

Last year’s drought caused a significant loss of wheat in Oklahoma.

Schulte could not say how many acres of wheat were planted statewide this fall, but noted 5.3 million acres were planted last year with only 3.5 million harvested because of the drought.

“It’s too early to tell, but conditions at this point and time make it look like it could be a favorable year,” he said. “There have been areas where the wheat is appearing yellow due to nitrogen lost from heavy rains and where wheat hasn’t been able to get enough oxygen.”

However, he said, it is hoped that future rain and light snows will help solve that problem.

As for late planting, there has been an advantage of lack of pests, like green bugs.

“We’re not seeing a lot of (pests) because the wheat got planted so late,” Schulte said. “With the colder weather setting in we don’t seem to have the pest problem this year as in previous years.”

According to Tim Bartram of the Oklahoma Wheat Grower’s Association, Oklahoma has a “huge window” compared to other parts of the country for planting wheat.

“October planted wheat is usually our best yield,” he said. “However, some years it has been different.”

Text Only
Local News
  • Winter weather visits Woodward

    Maybe the groundhog was right after all, as Northwest Oklahoma received some winter weather Tuesday and more may be in the forecast.

    February 7, 2012

  • City not footing bill for additions

    The city won't have to foot the bill for an increase in construction costs to renovate the Woodward Industrial Building for use by Siemens Energy.

    February 7, 2012

  • AARP set up in Enid to offer tax help

    TULSA - The American Association of Retired Persons' (AARP) Tax-Aide Program is only coming as close to the Woodward area as Enid this year, says State Program Coordinator Andy Bednarz, who is out of Tulsa.

    February 7, 2012

  • Area legislators react favorably to State of the State speech

    OKLAHOMA CITY - Area legislators were upbeat after Gov. Mary Fallin's State of the State address Monday.
    The News obtained statements from Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward; Rep. Jeff Hickman, R-Fairview; and Rep. Mike Sanders, R-Kingfisher, following the address Monday afternoon.

    February 7, 2012

  • Gov. Fallin highlights more cuts to state income tax

    OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Gov. Mary Fallin outlined a budget plan Monday to deeply reduce Oklahoma's personal income tax rate by eliminating dozens of tax exemptions, including many claimed by poor and working-class Oklahomans.

    February 7, 2012

  • Commissioner wants to raise awareness about Agenda 21

    A Woodward County commissioner wants to spread the word about what he believes is an on the American way of life.

    February 6, 2012

  • Recent rain big boost for wheat

    Those who make their living off a healthy wheat crop are singing the praises of the recent rain.

    February 6, 2012

  • WEBvietnammemorial.jpg Special trip honors veterans

    Oklahoma Honor Flights offer free transportation by air and bus to help veterans visit the memorials in our nation's capitol.  To participate in the honor flights, all veterans have to do is fill out an application which is available on the Oklahoma Honor Flights website at http://oklahomahonorflights.org/. 

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • webwickware.jpg “Fightin’ Firefighter” preps for debut MMA cage fight

    Come Feb. 11, Michael "the Fightin' Firefighter" Wickware will fight for a victory in his Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) amateur debut match.
    The match will take place during the Art of War Cage Fights which will be held at the Woodward County Fairgrounds.  Doors will open at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 with the show starting at 7:30 p.m.

    February 4, 2012 1 Photo

  • Ethnic food fair, raffle to benefit Outreach Center

    High Plains Outreach Center’s annual Ethnic Food Fair will be held Feb. 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Clayton Hall at the First Christian Church located at 9th St. and Oklahoma Ave.  At the conclusion of this year's food fair, the Outreach Center will be raffling off a couple of prizes including a pair of Thunder tickets and a photo of Blake Griffin of the LA Clippers.

    February 4, 2012