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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 

Featured Story:

Improving Weather Helps With Containment of 350 Complex Fire in Woodward  

The 350 Complex Fire that started in Woodward County and burned parts of Woods and Harper Counties has now been called a 57,440 acre fire- and the last containment number we saw was 20% contained as of late yesterday afternoon.

This fire, which was the result of four separate fires merging together, continues to exhibit extreme fire behavior, flare ups and rapid rates of spread. Approximately 230 personnel are working the fire, with multiple aircraft, including single engine air tankers, very large air tankers and the CL-415 (Super Scoopers), providing aerial suppression.

It's not the only fire that the Oklahoma Forestry Services has been tracking and fighting this week.  Eight other fires are listed in their latest news release- all of which seem to be under control or are out.

Click here for that full list and additional details from the massive fire in north of Woodward.

Drought Levels Jump Fifty Percent Over the Last Week- Now 31% of State in Moderate Drought  

 

With little or no rainfall since this past week- the Drought Monitor march to devour the entire state map with drought continues forward- and we jump from 19% of Oklahoma in Moderate Drought a week ago to 31% of the state now in the D1 level of drought- with another 40% called Abnormally Dry. 

A picture tells the story well:



The hope is that the rainfall that is being forecast for the latter part of the upcoming weekend will materialize- that will slow the spread of drought for a few days- and will help with the status of our wheat crop- the subject of our next story just below!

Oklahoma Wheat Crop Nears Tipping Point Because of Very Dry Conditions- Mike Schulte Offers Update

 

It boils down to needing rain- and needing it now. That was the relatively simple message that Oklahoma Wheat Commission Executive Director Mike Schulte delivered to us yesterday when he stopped by our studios and offices in northwest Oklahoma City.


While the opinion of the Oklahoma Crop Weather Update shows a wheat crop still in sixty one percent in good to excellent condition as of Monday-Tuesday of this week- that means little unless rain stops the stress on the wheat in most fields in our state.


Schulte is my guest on TV on Saturday morning- and offers that warning during my In the Field Segment that will be seen on KWTV News9 about 6:40 AM on Saturday- you can also hear our off camera conversation by clicking here.

Survey Shows Low Commodity Prices Driving Decision Making by Most Farmers

 

A new research study conducted in February by Millennium Research and commissioned by J.L.Farmakis, Inc. shows the extent to which growers are reacting to low commodity prices. Farmers shared the changes they are making to survive the downturn and signaled dramatic shifts in their plans for 2016.


Among the findings of the Farmer Speaks Study are:

    
Half of the farmers surveyed are seeking off-farm employment
    
74% will switch to generics or change brands of crop protection products
    
No new equipment purchases will be made by 37% of the farmers
    
Reduced traits in seeds and changes in fertilizer practices were significant.
    
Increased attention to marketing aims to raise revenue through better prices

More details are on our website by clicking here- and there is a link where you can go and receive a PDF of the complete report free of charge.

OSU's Kim Anderson Says Every Penny Will Count During 2016 Wheat Harvest

 

As wheat prices continue to fall, OSU Grain Marketing Economist Dr. Kim Anderson says farmers should focus on managing production and quality to lessen the blow of this below cost of production prices this harvest.


Anderson tells SUNUP Hostess Lyndall Stout the July Kansas City contract is currently around $4.70 and the basis is fluctuating from -$.74 to -$.60 across the state. He says wheat growers who can increase 30 bushel average yields by 10 percent - three bushels - can expect a $.40 increase in price, based on a $4 forward contract price for harvest delivered wheat.


Anderson also says that while improvements in wheat quality will not increase price, they can reduce discounts, which start to add up and eat away at already marginal profits. The most important discounts to consider are test weight, dockage and foreign material.

Click here for more- including a chance to hear Dr. Anderson's comments that will be seen on SUNUP this weekend. We also have the details of the lineup for SUNUP that can be watched on OETA Saturday morning.

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OSU Welcomes Jim Ansley as New NREM Department Head 

 
Jim Ansley wears many hats. Sometimes it's a Denver Broncos hat. Sometimes it's a bicycle helmet and other times he puts on his Titleist hat and goes golfing. His most recent hat, however, is America's Brightest Orange and displays three letters across the front - OSU.



Ansley joins the Oklahoma State University family from an off-campus research and Extension center in the Texas A&M system to become the head of OSU's Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management. After 32 years of range research in Texas, Ansley is excited to see what Oklahoma is all about.


The Natural Resource Ecology and Management Department is one of the newest departments within the OSU Division of Ag family- and is a vital part of matching up a large part of the rangeland resources out across Oklahoma with the functions and missions of the state's Land Grant.

Click here to read more about Jim Ansley and what may be ahead for OSU's NREM.

On The Auction Block- Superior at 8 AM, McAlester Stock Cow Sale Sat. at Noon and Choctaw County Land and Cattle Bull and Female Sale Tomorrow as Well

 
It will be a full day of selling cattle for the Superior Video Livestock Auction team- with 45,000 head to be offered, starting at 8:00 AM central time this morning.

A half hour before that- tune into Superior Sunrise at 7:30 AM.

The sale will include:

Our thanks to Midwest Farms Shows, P & K Equipment,  American Farmers & Ranchers, Stillwater Milling Company, Oklahoma AgCredit,  the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association, Pioneer Cellular, Farm Assure and  KIS Futures for their support of our daily Farm News Update. For your convenience, we have our sponsors' websites linked here- just click on their name to jump to their website- check their sites out and let these folks know you appreciate the support of this daily email, as their sponsorship helps us keep this arriving in your inbox on a regular basis- at NO Charge!

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