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Here is your daily Oklahoma farm and ranch news update. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Featured Story:

Wheat Commission Says Oklahoma Wheat Harvest Reaches Sixty Percent Complete

 

On a regular basis, the Oklahoma Wheat Commission is releasing harvest reports for the 2016 crop. The latest report is out, as of midday Monday, June 13, 2016. The Oklahoma Wheat Commission is calling the state of Oklahoma to be 60% complete with harvest as of yesterday- this in contrast to the USDA weekly crop update that we report on in the story below that shows only 34% of the crop is now harvested.

Executive Director Mike Schulte offers a breakdown of the state by regions in today's report:


Southwest Oklahoma 

Wheat harvest is at a standstill this Monday morning in all places of Oklahoma, with the hopes that in parts of Northwest and North Central Oklahoma combines will get rolling this afternoon where rains were not as heavy. Harvest has been progressing along in all regions of the state since Thursday afternoon, with farmers and custom harvesters making great strides in all regions of the state for the most part. In Southwest Oklahoma by Altus, Frederick, Hobart and Lone Wolf, this region is 80 to 85% complete, while in other parts of Southwest Oklahoma, producers were hindered by rain on Saturday in the Chattanooga and Walters area. Heavy rains over the weekend have hindered harvest in the Lawton, Apache, Chickasha and Maysville areas. Although the Mesonet reports over 7 inches of moisture over the weekend in this region, some areas were reporting over 12 inches of moisture with more rains predicted for the beginning of the week. Test weights in this region have dropped with all the heavy rains, but for the most part on the wheat brought in from this region as of today, it is reported around the 58 to 59 lbs./bu. (76.3-77.6 kg/hl). 


Central Oklahoma 

Harvest in the West Central part of the State around Sentinel and Clinton, is projected to be 75% complete with the area around Rocky reported to be 95% complete. The Shattuck area harvest just began over the weekend and they are calling this region up to around the May area 20% harvested. In Central Oklahoma, from the El Reno to Okarche and Kingfisher areas harvest is 95% complete on the East side of Hwy 81 with harvest on the West side of Hwy 81 being approximately 90% complete. Harvest is not as far along in the Greenfield, Hinton and Hydro areas, with harvest in these regions anywhere from 50 to 75% complete. Yields around the Rocky, Sentinel and Clinton region are reported to be making in the mid 30's to mid 40's for the most part. 



North Central, Northwest and the Panhandle of Oklahoma   

In Northern Oklahoma around the Enid, Kremlin, Pond Creek and Hunter areas, harvest is approximately 60 to 65% complete and up around the Cherokee and Alva areas, harvest is anywhere from 50 to 65% complete. Yields in this region have been making anywhere in the mid 40's to the mid 60's, with some reports of higher yields of wheat following soybean and alfalfa rotations. Test weights in the region as of today are averaging 60 to 62 lbs./bu. (78.9- 81.5 kg/hl) for the most part. Harvest has begun in parts of the Panhandle region on dryland wheat. Over the weekend, Hooker Equity took in around 25,000 bushels. 


Northeast Oklahoma 

In Northeast Oklahoma around the Afton and Miami regions, wheat harvest in Afton is approximately 50% complete with harvest in the Miami region reporting to be approximately 10% complete. Test weights on the wheat in this region weighing anywhere 61 to 62lbs/bu. (80.2-81.5 kg/hl) with yields from this area reported to be making in the mid 40's to mid 50's for the most part. No protein was reported from this region. 

 

National Corn and Soybean Numbers Look Strong as Wheat Harvest Rolls On Through the Plains

 

The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture crop progress report says 96 percent of the corn crop has emerged in the top 18 states that plant 93 percent of the nation's corn acres. The national corn crop condition rated 60 percent good and 15 percent excellent condition, 21 percent fair and only 4 percent percent poor to very poor. National soybean planting has reached 92 percent. That's a gain of 9 points over last week and 5 points ahead of average. For the complete USDA Crop Progress report, click here. 


Most of Oklahoma received a break from the heavy rains of the past several weeks. In the weekly crop progress report from USDA, winter wheat harvested reached 34 percent, up 3 points from the previous year but down 18 points from the five-year average. The Oklahoma wheat crop condition rated 54 percent good and 12 percent excellent condition, 29 percent fair and only 5 percent percent poor to very poor. unchanged from the previous year but down 3 points from normal. Canola coloring reached 95 percent, unchanged from the previous year but down 3 points from normal. Canola harvested reached 63 percent, up 21 points from the previous year but unchanged from the five-year average. Corn emerged reached 92 percent, up 8 points from the previous year but down 1 point from the five-year average.Sorghum planted reached 68 percent, up 2 points from the previous year and up 3 points from the five-year average. Soybeans seeded reached 67 percent, up 14 points from the previous year and up 7 points from normal. Click here for the full Oklahoma report.


Texas experienced mostly scattered showers across the state last week, and wheat harvest was active where conditions allowed producers to return to the field. Thirty-five percent of the state's winter wheat has been harvested. That's a 19 point gain over last week but still 8 points behind the five-year average. Forty-four percent of the wheat crop is rated in the good to excellent condition, with 43 percent of the crop in fair condition and 13 percent in poor to very poor condition. Corn emergence is nearing the five-year average at 93 percent, which is 1 percent higher than this time last year. Sorghum was 87 percent planted, soybeans were 88 percent, cotton was 86 percent done and peanuts were 96 percent planted. Click here for the full Texas report.


The Kansas wheat crop rated 61 percent good to excellent, 31 percent fair and only 8 percent poor to very poor condition. Winter wheat coloring was 92 percent, ahead of 76 percent last year and the five-year average of 75 percent. Five percent of the state's wheat was harvested, versus 1% last year, but behind the 15 percent average. Corn emerged was 96 percent, ahead of 86 percent last year, and near the 95 percent average.  Soybeans planted was 75 percent, well ahead of 50 percent last year and near the five-year average of 77 percent.  Cotton planting was 56 percent and sorghum was at 63 percent. Click here for the Kansas report. 

NCGA Urges Farmers to Contact EPA on Atrazine

 

The National Corn Growers Association this week urged farmers to submit comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, following publication of the Agency's draft Ecological Risk Assessment for atrazine, an herbicide used for weed control in growing corn and other crops. If it stands, EPA's recommendation would effectively ban the use of atrazine in most farming areas in the U.S.


"Atrazine is a safe and effect crop management tool. If EPA succeeds in taking away this option, it will be sending farming practices back decades - and hurt the environment in the process," said Maryland farmer Chip Bowling, president of NCGA. "As a farmer and a conservationist, I can't let this go unanswered. That's why I'm urging farmers to contact the EPA and make their voices heard."


Atrazine is a widely used herbicide proven to combat the spread of resistant weeds, while also reducing soil erosion and improving wildlife habitats. When farmers have access to atrazine, they do not have to do as much tilling, or turning up of the soil - a practice that erodes soil and leads to water and nutrient loss. Studies suggest farming without atrazine could cost corn farmers up to $59 per acre.


As part of the assessment, EPA recommends reducing the aquatic life level of concern (LOC) from 10 parts per billion (ppb) on a 60-day average, to 3.4 ppb. Scientific evidence points to a safe aquatic life LOC at 25 ppb or greater.

 

Click here for a link to submit your comments to the EPA.

Oklahoma Teachers Go On the Road with Ag in the Classroom

 

Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom will be traveling to eastern Oklahoma this week for its annual "On the Road with AITC" summer road trip. Several great stops are lined up for the tour as educators learn the importance of integrating agriculture into their existing curriculum. 


Later this morning,  the tour will visit Dismukes' Cattle Ranch in Checotah where educators will learn about registered Angus and Charolais cattle, beef genetics and the importance of beef in a healthy diet. The group will then travel to Park Hill to Greenleaf Nursery where they will tour the greenhouses and learn about plant breeding and grafting. The next stop will be Mt. View Meats at Stilwell where educators will learn about sausage making while touring the plant. Spring Valley Dairy will be the next stop, and teachers will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see the milking process while learning about cattle feed rations. 


The tour will end the day at Poteau where they will visit Maple Creek Berry Farm and pick fresh blueberries as they learn about specialty crops in Oklahoma. Then Green Country Cowboy Church will be hosting the group for a good "old fashioned" cowboy dinner and harvest reenactment. And that's only the first day of the three day tour! 


Read about the Wednesday and Thursday portions of the trip by clicking or tapping here. 


On the Road with AITC is made possible by sponsors who support the Ag in the Classroom program and believe in the importance of educating teachers about agriculture. They know these educators reach thousands of young students on a daily basis and they want to ensure the educators are prepared with factual information, as well as personal experiences. This tour is sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry, Oklahoma Beef Council, a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant, Oklahoma AgCredit, Oklahoma Soybean Board, Oklahoma Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Team, Midwest Dairy, DairyMAX and Southwest Dairy. 

 

Derrell Peel Believes Beef and Cattle Trade a Mixed Bag

 

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 Dr. Peel speculates on the current situation of the U.S. beef and cattle trade.


"The latest beef and cattle trade data shows a mixed bag of global market impacts. Total beef exports were down 5.3 percent in April compared to last year. This follows year over year increases in January and March and leaves the year to date total through April 0.4 percent below the same period in 2015. Exports to two major U.S. beef markets, Japan and Hong Kong, were both down compared to last year after increasing earlier in the year. April exports to Japan dropped 10.9 percent year over year and exports to Hong Kong decreased by 36.9 percent compared to last year. This leaves year to date beef exports to Japan up a scant 0.6 percent while exports to Hong Kong are down 2.3 percent for the first four months of the year. Beef exports to South Korea were down fractionally in April but are still up 12.2 percent for the year to date compared to last year. South Korea was the only major beef export market to show year over year increases in 2015. Exports to Canada continued year over year decreases in April, down 6.8 percent compared to one year earlier and down 8.2 percent for the year to date compared to last year. In better news, beef exports to Mexico have improved the last two months after being down in January and February. April beef exports to Mexico were up 32.9 percent year over year with the year to date total now down 0.9 percent from last year.


"Beef imports are also a mixed bag, though generally positive with total April beef imports down 21.2 percent from one year ago. Year to date beef imports are down 12.8 percent from 2015. Decreased beef imports are led by sharp reductions in imports from Australia and New Zealand. Imports of Australian beef were down 41.9 percent in April compared to last year and year to date imports are down 21.7 percent. Beef imports from New Zealand were down 29.6 percent in April and are down 21.7 percent so far this year. In contrast, beef imports from Mexico continue to grow and were up 7.5 percent year over year in April and are up 11 percent in the first four months of 2016. Imports of Canadian beef were up 13.1 percent in April and are up 8.0 percent for the year to date. 

 

Click here to read Dr. Peel's full cattle industry analysis. 

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Klair Hartzold Named 2016 Oklahoma 

Beef Ambassador

 

Klair Hartzold didn't grow up in the beef industry, but working on several cattle operations led this Oklahoma State University senior to love the livestock business. Hartzold was recently named the 2016 Oklahoma Beef Ambassador during the Oklahoma Junior Cattlemen's Preview Show in Chickasha. 


The Illinois native was actually raised on a row crop farm. She began working on a family friend's Red Angus ranch four years ago and has since had two internships with other producers.


"Cattle have a lot more personality than corn and soybeans," Hartzold says with a laugh.


The Oklahoma Beef Ambassador contest was sponsored by AT&T and the Oklahoma Beef Council and was hosted by the Oklahoma CattleWomen, Inc. During the competition, contestants participated in a mock media interview and were asked how to best respond to consumers who are concerned about how cattle are raised.


"As producer, we're also consumers as well, so the beef that we are producing, we are also feeding to our family," Hartzold said. "So in order to producer something that we would want to have our family consume, it's going to have to be produced in a humane and intelligent manner."


A mock consumer promotion event was also part of the competition. Contestants were judged on their ability to perform in the field while educating consumers and positively representing the beef industry. 


"As producers, everyday we need to be advocating," Hartzold says. "Whether it's through social media, utilizing local resources to help consumer see the practices that we're utilizing to produce beef and get it to their table."


As the senior division winner, Hartzold will work with the Oklahoma CattleWomen this year as they interact with consumers and promote beef across the state.


Two other titles were awarded during the contest. The junior division winner was Parker Terrell, of Prague, and the novice winner was Kaden Hartin, of Stuart.


Listen to Hartzold talk more about the importance of promoting the beef industry during the latest Beef Buzz. You can also find a link to more photos from the event here.

Tyson Names New President as They Hope to Enhance Branded Profitability

 

 

 

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