The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture crop progress report indicates harvested corn reached 97 percent, above the average by 1. Harvested sorghum reached 94 percent, 2 above the average. Harvested cotton reached 67 percent, 10 points below the average. Winter wheat conditions are rated 58 percent good to excellent, 32 percent fair, 8 percent poor and 2 percent very poor. Winter wheat emerged reached 89 percent, 1 below last year and the average. For the complete USDA Crop Progress report, click here .


In the weekly crop progress report from USDA, Oklahoma winter wheat emerged reached 92 percent, down 1 point from the previous year and down 1 point from normal. Sorghum harvested reached 95 percent, up 2 points from the previous year and up 6 points from normal. Soybeans harvested reached 81 percent, down 4 points from the previous year and down 1 point from normal. Cotton harvested reached 65 percent, down 2 points from the previous year but unchanged from normal

Click here for the full Oklahoma report.


In Texas, seeding of winter wheat continued throughout the state last week, following row crop harvest, while dry weather was negatively impacting recently-emerged small grains in need of rainfall to sustain crop development. Sorghum harvest was 91 percent complete, 4 points higher than last week and just above normal by 1. Soybeans harvested reached 90 percent, 2 above the previous year and lower than the average by 1. Cotton harvest was at 47 percent, trailing normal by 21 points. Winter wheat planted has reached 91 percent, which is on par with the average. Meanwhile, winter wheat emerged has reached 79 percent, above last year by 5 and the average by 3 points.

Click here for the full Texas report.


Crop progress reports in Kansas, show winter wheat condition rated 2 percent very poor, 9 poor, 34 fair, 48 good, and 7 excellent. Winter wheat emerged was 94 percent, near 96 both last year and the five-year average. Soybeans harvested was 97 percent, near 98 last year and 96 average. Sorghum harvested was 95 percent, near 94 last year and 93 average. Cotton condition rated 1 percent very poor, 2 poor, 28 fair, 64 good, and 5 excellent. Cotton harvested was 54 percent, behind 60 both last year and average.

Click here for the full Kansas report.

Each week, Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, offers his economic analysis of the beef cattle industry. This analysis is a part of the weekly series known as the "Cow Calf Corner" published electronically by Dr. Peel and Dr. Glenn Selk. This week, I visited with Dr. Peel for the daily Beef Buzz segment, as he offered his in-depth analysis of the November edition of the monthly Cattle on Feed report, released last Friday by USDA.


"Feedlots continued a strong marketing pace in October with marketings up 4.6 percent year over year, despite one less business day in the month. October placements followed the September monthly decrease with another 5 percent reduction in placements year over year. The combination of large marketings and fewer placements left the November 1, 2016 cattle on feed inventory down 1.3 percent from one year ago. Despite the year over year decreases in placements in September and October, total feedlot placements are up 673,000 head from 2015, a 3.9 percent increase for the year to date. However, year to date feedlot marketings through October are up an impressive 5.2 percent year over year, some 855,000 head more than the same period last year. In fact, in the last six months, the year over year increase in feedlot marketings has been more than double the increase in the number of cattle placed in feedlots compared to last year. 


"The faster pace of cattle movement through feedlots has translated in more cattle slaughter and more beef production in 2016 than previously expected. Year to date beef production is up 5.3 percent from last year. Steer slaughter, in particular, has exceeded expectations this fall and is up nearly 7 percent year over year so far this year, though is expected to moderate to smaller year over year increases for the remainder of the year. Additional steer slaughter, combined with year over year increases in heifer and cow slaughter have pushed total cattle slaughter up 5.6 percent so far this year. Increased slaughter is partially offset with lower carcass weights since May. Weekly steer carcass weights have averaged 9 pounds less since May with heifer and cow carcass weights down about 2 pounds on a weekly average basis. Carcass weights have been down from last year's record levels despite excellent feeding conditions this fall. Both steer and heifer carcass weights appear to have peaked seasonally the last week of October and should decline for the remainder of the year. The first winter storm which covered the central and northern plains last week may help pull carcass weights down faster in November.

Wade Cowan, chairman of the American Soybean Association, recently spoke with intern Kalee Horn about how the recent elections would affect important policies including Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the upcoming Farm Bill.


Like many in agriculture, a primary concern for ASA is the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. However, after the election of Donald Trump, the question of where we would stand on this important partnership was tossed up in the air.


"Trump is a business man and he is going to understand if we come to him and we give his team good reasons why it's positive for agriculture and why in our case it's really positive for soybeans," said Cowan. "He's going to be supportive of that."


When this conversation took place, proponents

The use of cover crops and innovative plant breeding continues to gain popularity among farmers across the US. Radio Oklahoma Network's Associate Farm Director Carson Horn spoke with American Seed Trade 1st Vice Chairman Tracy Talley about the conservationist practices his group advocates.


According to recent studies, Talley reports that on average those employing cover crops in their operations will have 339 acres per farm in cover crops.


"We are seeing through the studies a huge improvement in soil health and that's really what we're trying to go for," Talley said.


Talley notes that 66 percent of farmers who utilize cover crops, have reported improved production as well.


"They're seeing better health in their crops after a cover crop planting," Talley said. "They're seeing that their current cash crop is weathering the weather better and is more consistent in their yields."


Listen to Talley discuss the benefits of cover crops and innovative plant breeding.

 

Yesterday at the National Press Club- the soon to be EX EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, was a featured speaker- and she gushed about the Waters of the US Clean Water Rule as she responded to questions after her remarks.

"I am really really happy to get the Clean Water Rule over the finish line and look forward to the AGC(Attorney General Counsel) defending it in court." 

We have a CSPAN clip on our website of her full comments- click here to see her comments praising WOTUS.

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There was a brief speed bump in the transition efforts at the US Department of Agriculture- but things seem to be back on track- Veteran food and agriculture lobbyist and former congressional and White House staffer Michael Torrey announced his departure from the Trump USDA transition team amid controversy over his lobbying role. American Farm Bureau Federation's Dale Moore called it a selfless move- and feels that those that will move this process forward will not be slowed down by the resignation.

Already- there is a replacement for Torrey- Joel Leftwich has been named the Lead for the Transition efforts for the President Elect.

Leftwich is the Majority Staff Director for the Senate Ag Committee, serving under Chairman Pat Roberts of Kansas.

No fresh info on the Secretary of Ag job- but Agri-Pulse is reporting on a couple of the possibles for EPA Administrator-

"In other transition news, two members of Trump's agricultural advisory committee may be candidates for the job of EPA Administrator. Lawyer and Illinois farm owner Gary Baise, who is currently a principal at OFW Law and is co-head of the firm's litigation practice, would bring a wealth of experience to the position.