Dry Weather Speeds Wheat Harvest in Southern, Western and Central Oklahoma 

Harvest is progressing from south to north and is in full swing across southern, western and central Oklahoma. Weekend rains slowed progress in some areas, but warm, dry conditions have crews back in the field.

In Carnegie, Ryan Clark of Johnston Grain said business is booming. He has trucks coming in from every direction and the wheat is looking very good. Test weights are in the 60 to 62 range and moisture levels are dropping slowly. He says they are 25 percent done with harvest. Yields are running anywhere from 27 bushels to the acre to just over 59. He said there is some concern that the custom cutters in the area will move further north before everyone is cut out, but he expects harvest will be over by June 10th.

In Weatherford, Vincent Smith said they were just getting started again after the rains. Test weights are running 59-60 pounds per bushel. He said the yields are in the 30-bushel range, and some of producers are a little disappointed as they had expected to see yields in the 40s.

Marty Pyron in Clinton said about 20 percent of the crop in his area has been cut. He estimated yields to be about 35 bushels to the acre with test weights of 59-60 pounds. He said farmers had expected yields to be a little higher, but the hot weather at the beginning of the month hurt them more than they realized.

Check out more of our written and audio reports on harvest progress by clicking here. 

One other harvest resource that has just been added to the mix is a new Facebook page for W.B. Johnston Grain.  Joey and the folks at Johnston have already added several harvest pics- and one report and pictures comes from SDK Farm out of Buffalo in northwest Oklahoma- 60 bushels per acre- 60 pound test weight with 13.2% moisture. Click here for the W.B. Johnston face book page. 

Lalman Says Moderation is the Key to Maximim Profits in Oklahoma Cow-Calf Operations 

Dr. Dave Lalman from Oklahoma State University spoke at the Alltech Ag Futures Symposium in Lexington, Kentucky, on the future of the cow-calf end of the cattle business. Lalman spoke with us about trends in the cattle business and how cow-calf producers can improve their efficiency.

Lalman said it was easy to see how frame size swung toward the ever larger size from the 1940s to the 1980s. He said frame size is easy to spot and select for and perhaps the pendulum swung a little too far to the large end of the spectrum for maximum efficiency.

Even though we now have more genetic tools at our disposal than we did in years past, finding the right balance is not always easy.

"Now we have the tools to increase milk production, to increase muscling, to monitor mature size and so on, and so we sort of get caught up in the idea that because we have those tools that more is better. And all I was trying to encourage folks to consider here today is that if it's a commercial cow-calf operation with a moderate level of inputs or even low inputs with a forage base, hopefully, that moderate genetic selection at least in terms of mature size, milk and muscle is probably more appropriate." 

You can read more and hear our full interview by clicking her for our webpage.

Vilsack Announces New and Expanded Access to Credit for America's Farmers and Ranchers

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has made substantial, year-over-year gains in expanding credit opportunities for farmers and ranchers across the United States. The increase in farm and operating loans has helped improve farmer and rancher productivity, launched new start-up operations, and ensured opportunities in agriculture for many more Americans. With expanded access to credit, USDA is helping a new generation of farmers sustain and build upon what is now the most productive period in history for American agriculture. To that end, Vilsack announced the Department is seeking comments on a new microloan program to help small and family operations progress through their start-up years with needed resources, while building capacity, increasing equity, and eventually graduating to commercial credit.

"Over the past three years, we have expanded farm and operating loans to Americans from all backgrounds to help raise a new crop of producers across the country," said Vilsack. "As we expand options in agriculture, we're seeing a new vibrancy across the countryside as younger people-many of whom are now involved in local and regional production-pursue livelihoods in farming, raising food for local consumption. By leveraging USDA's lending programs for beginning farmers and ranchers and smaller producers, we're helping to rebuild and revitalize our rural communities."

Click here for more on the USDA's credit access expansion efforts.

Monsanto Chief Technology Guru Defines New Growth Opportunities in Company's R&D Pipeline

Monsanto's pipeline offers rich growth layers beyond breeding and biotechnology that add incremental growth opportunities going forward, Chief Technology Officer Robb Fraley, Ph.D., told investors today at the Goldman Sachs Basic Materials Conference 2012. Fraley discussed new technologies with the potential to create real commercial value in Monsanto's pipeline, including the expansion of the Integrated Farming Systems portfolio and the announcement of a new agricultural biologicals platform featuring BioDirectTM technology, which represents Monsanto's first step into biological products. He also touched on emerging global opportunities, highlighting the company's capital investment in Central and Eastern Europe as well as the continued ascension of agriculture in Brazil and Argentina, all of which are expected to drive Monsanto's growth over the next several years.

"Our pipeline has evolved significantly from where it was just a few years ago and today it is more exciting and robust than ever," Fraley said. "Not since we developed the first Roundup Ready® trait have we seen such promising categories of value emerging from our pipeline. We're exploring new areas of technology and new areas of the world, and all roads lead to opportunity for both Monsanto and our farmer customers as we work together to improve yields."

Fraley introduced the latest addition to the company's R&D pipeline, early development of ag biological products through Monsanto's new BioDirect technology. BioDirect brings Monsanto's expertise in plant genomics to chemistry for the first time, enabling products that could provide new options for sustainable pest or virus control. 

Please click here to read more about this story.

Premium Beef Branding Programs Keep Demand High Despite Economy

The price differential between choice and select grades of beef has often been used as an indicator of quality beef demand. Oklahoma State University ag economist Derrell Peel says we have used that spread to broadly indicate demand for quality in a product that is almost infinitely variable.

He says that broad categorical indicator is not as useful as it once was and with the rise of premium branding programs like the Certified Angus Beef label, those market signals are being further altered.

"What we've seen, over time, is evolution toward more branded products and various other ways to differentiate that market. And, in the long run, I think those become more important relative to the choice-select spread. So it's arguably true that the choice-select spread is less indicative or less representative of that. I think that many of these product markets are working at a narrower, more defined set of specs than just the choice-select difference. That we see in the market."

Click here for the full video story with OSU's Derrell Peel.

Casebearer Threat Looms for Regional Pecan Producers

Agricultural experts at The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation are encouraging regional pecan growers to check their groves for the first major pest of the season.

The pecan nut casebearer, an egg-laying moth, can wipe out an entire crop if left untreated. "The first generation of casebearers usually appears when pecans are young," said Charles Rohla, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Noble Foundation. "This means they can destroy full crops before most producers realize there is even a crop on the tree."

Damage from the moth usually occurs 12 to 16 days after first capture, which occurred during mid-May in Oklahoma. Pecan researchers across the United States, including Rohla at the Noble Foundation, have carefully monitored the casebearers' progression, setting traps to pinpoint its locations. 

More Harvest Info (from Kansas), Harvest Weather and a  Mike Thralls Update

While we are cutting out the 2012 Oklahoma wheat crop as quickly as we possibly can- the Kansas folks are also early- and you can mark down the date of May 23 for the first Kansas wheat harvest report of the season from north of the border.

"One of the earliest Kansas wheat harvests in history officially began May 22 near the town of Kiowa in Barber County, where the OK Coop took in 35 truckloads of wheat. Each year, Kiowa, is the starting point for the annual wheat harvest.

"Brett Courson, assistant manager at the OK Coop there, says harvest gained momentum Wednesday, with 90-plus degree temperatures and strong south winds. Harvest activity in the area was widespread, with early yields ranging from 40 to 57 bushels per acre and test weight ranging from 56 to 62 pounds per bushel with a 61 pound average. Courson says a few weeks ago, farmers expected much larger yields, but heat, wind and a lack of late-season rain has taken the top off the yield."  Click here for the complete Day One Harvest Update from the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and the Kansas Wheat Commission.

Back here in Oklahoma- the weather looks hot, sunny and windy for a few more days before the chances of rain creep back into the forecast.  It appears the better chances of rain are north of I-40 and show up on Memorial Day- next Monday. 

Word came yesterday via Mark Harrison of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission that our friend Mike Thralls continues on his road to recovery- and that road included a trip home yesterday afternoon- great news as Mike recovers from major surgery of about a week ago.  Our prayers and best wishes go to Mike, the Director of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, as he works this harvest season to recover from this latest personal battle.