Earlier this month, Gov. Mary Fallin called for state lawmakers to return to the capitol for a special session to address the $215 million budget hole created from the Oklahoma Supreme Court's overturn of the state Legislature's $1.50-per-pack cigarette fee, find long-term solutions to continuing state budget problems, and uncover inefficiencies in state government.

In anticipation of the ensuing debate, which began yesterday, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau has outlined three things that they will be monitoring over the course of the session.

Those three things, OKFB considers to be a threat to their rural agenda includes, a gas and diesel tax; the removal of the agricultural sales tax exemption; and infringements of rural healthcare funding.

OKFB provided references to their organizational policy for the first two concerns in a release, stating that, "We are opposed to any increase in taxes or fees on diesel or gasoline," and that, "Protecting existing sales tax exemptions for agriculture uses should be a top priority."

Attempts to impose measures targeting both these areas to tap additional revenue and alleviate a nearly $900 million budget shortfall, facing the state's coffers, was made by the state legislature during the regular session.

In regards to rural healthcare, OKFB said losing the revenue from the cigarette fee could cost state agencies additional cuts along with the loss of federal funding matches, which could have a large impact on many hospitals in rural Oklahoma, already struggling.

Click here to read more about these issues that OKFB plans to monitor as state legislators meet in a special session to address Oklahoma's budget woes.

In the latest crop progress report released Monday, September 25, 2017, the maturity of the US corn crop jumped from 34 to 51 percent this week, still behind the five-year of 65 percent. Corn is 11 percent harvested across the nation, behind the average of 17 percent. The US soybean condition has improved slightly from last week, rated at 60 percent good to excellent, 28 percent fair and 12 percent poor to very poor. Soybeans are up to 10 percent harvest nationally, lagging behind the average of 12 percent. For the complete USDA Crop Progress report, click here.

By the way- we have done a Spreaker Audio Report that offers our overview of the latest Crop Progress numbers- click here to take a listen.

According to the weekly crop progress report from USDA, Oklahoma winter wheat planted reached 16 percent, down 8 points from the previous year and down 9 points from normal. Corn mature reached 73 percent, down 14 points from normal. Corn harvested reached 42 percent, down 9 points from normal. Sorghum mature reached 53 percent, down 4 points from normal. Sorghum harvested reached 27 percent, down 1 point from normal. Cotton harvested reached 1 percent, up 1 point from the previous year and up 1 point from normal. To view the complete Oklahoma Crop Progress and Condition Report, click here.


In Kansas winter wheat planted was 14 percent, near 18 last year, and behind 20 for the five-year average. Corn mature was 75 percent, near 79 last year and 76 average. Harvested was 29 percent, near 27 last year, but behind 35 average. Sorghum mature was 35 percent, behind 44 last year, but near 34 average. Harvested was 6 percent, near 9 last year and 7 average. To view the complete Kansas Crop Progress and Condition Report, click here.


In Texas, winter wheat planted is rated this week at 33 percent complete, compared to 28 last year and 29 the average. Currently, 83 percent of the state's corn crop is mature, above the average by 4. Corn harvested is up 1 point this week from last at 68 percent, ahead of the average by 3. Cotton harvested is at 21 percent, ahead of the average by 8. Sorghum in the state has reached 78 percent mature, equal to the five-year average. Meanwhile 72 percent of the state's sorghum crop has been harvested, ahead of the average by 6. To view the complete Texas Crop Progress and Condition Report, click here.

During the Oklahoma State Fair, Kaye Freudenberger from Coyle, Okla. and seven year old, Kian Thompson from Perry, Okla. were named Grand Champions in their respective categories of Whole Grain and White Bread, during the "Best of Wheat" Bread Baking contest, an annual event sponsored by the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and State Fair of Oklahoma.

"We had 125 entries from 41 counties this year, all champion or reserve champion winners in the county contests," said David Gammill, Vice-Chairman of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission. "We had great attendance and always enjoy the opportunity to award the top bread bakers in the state."


The contest consists of 12 classes, 6 in the senior division and 6 in the junior division. Senior division classes include white bread, whole grain bread, dinner rolls, other wheat breads, sweet breads and machine breads. Junior division classes include white bread, dinner rolls, other wheat breads, sweet breads, specialty shapes, and machine breads.

For more information about the contest and to see a complete list of the division winners, click or tap here.

According to the 2016 Certified Organic Survey released by USDA/NASS, U.S. farms produced and sold $7.6 billion in certified organic commodities in 2016, up 23 percent from 2015. During the same year, the number of certified organic farms in the country increased 11 percent to 14,217, and the number of certified acres increased 15 percent to 5.0 million.

Oklahoma had 2016 sales of $4.6 million in certified organic agricultural production compared with $2.1 million in 2015.


"The survey provides a comprehensive look into certified organic agricultural production in Oklahoma and the rest of the nation," said Troy Marshall, Oklahoma State Statistician.

The number of certified organic farms increased from 23 in 2015 to 34 in 2016 and acres rose from 6,082 to 18,008, according to the survey results. Of these farms, 29 had crop sales, 5 livestock and/or poultry sales and 4 livestock and/or poultry products sales.

Marshall commented that the production of certified organic commodities can be a very profitable alternative for America's farmers and ranchers and the information reported will help in the continued orderly development of this expanding agricultural industry.

For a complete breakdown of the information compiled in the report's results, click or tap here.

The United Stated Department of Agriculture, on Friday, released the latest report for Cattle on Feed, as of September 1, 2017. I spoke with Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. Derrell Peel for his analysis of the numbers included in this report.


"This report was pretty well anticipated- not a big surprise to me. I don't know how the trade will react," Peel remarked, summing up his reaction. "The placements came in a little bit higher than the average guess, but they weren't really outside the range."


The September USDA Cattle on Feed report pegs the September 1 feedlot inventory at 10.504 million head, 103.6 percent of last year. August placements were 102.6 percent of year ago levels. Placements were larger than expected and may well provoke a bearish market response. What may be overlooked are the continued strong marketings pace. August marketings were close to pre-report expectations at 105.9 percent of last year. Marketings outpaced placements in August and pulled down the year over year increase in feedlot inventories, though not as much as expected. For the first eight months of the year, total placements are up 1.16 million head, an 8.4 percent year over year increase. However, total marketings were up 0.847 million head, 6.1 percent more than last year and largely offsetting the increased placements. As a result the September 1 on-feed inventory was up a modest 369 thousand head year over year," Peel wrote in an article for this week's edition of the Cow/Calf Corner newsletter.


Higher feedlot throughput is reflected in the year to date increase in steer and heifer slaughter. Beef cow slaughter is also up, in addition to rising dairy cow slaughter and total bull slaughter. Peel says the increased cattle slaughter is being offset by lighter carcass weights. While steer and heifer carcass weights are increasing seasonally, they remain below year earlier levels. 


Total beef production for the first 36 weeks of the year is up while, annual beef production is projected to go up year over year. Domestic beef consumption is projected rise, but   despite this, retail beef prices remain strong. Beef production is expected to increase again in 2018, to a record level. Increased beef production, combined with other meats, is projected to surpass 101 billion pounds of total meat production in 2018, a new record as well.

"Clearly the supply challenges will continue for the foreseeable future," Peel writes. "However, 2017 has demonstrated very well that strong domestic and international demand for U.S. beef can mitigate much of the price pressure from growing beef production. Continued strong beef demand can limit 2018 cattle and beef price changes to modest declines."


You can listen to Dr. Peel offer his complete analysis of the September 1, 2017 Cattle on Feed report out last week from the USDA, with me, on today's Beef Buzz - click here. To see the actual report for yourself, you can click here to jump to the report on the USDA website.

In case you missed it - Heather Buckmaster, executive director of the Oklahoma Beef Council, joined me, as my guest on our 'In the Field' segment on KWTV News9 recently. During our visit, Buckmaster and I discussed the Beef Council's ongoing support of beef promotions both in and outside of our state borders.

You can watch Buckmaster's visit that aired previously on News9 in the Oklahoma City area, about the market for Oklahoma beef exports in South Korea, by clicking or tapping here.

You can also read about or listen to our full off-camera interviews from that day as well, by clicking here, for a look at the OBC's involvement with promoting US beef in Costco stores internationally - or click here to learn about OBC's investment in digital advertising.

 

 

As we get ready to send this email to your inbox- it's raining in parts of Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle this morning- and already- the rainfall amounts have piled up pretty good over the last couple of days- mostly in the last 24 hours- to catch most of the recent rain on the map- here is the latest 2 day rainfall map for Oklahoma:

 

 

 If you want to check it in realtime on the Mesonet- click or tap here.

 

Erick is the current winner with just over 3 inches of rain- Cheyenne looking good with 2.9 inches and check out Slapout at 2.66 inches of liquid manna from heaven.  

 

The current 9 day forecast for central and western Oklahoma confirms the wetness and the cooler temps that have been signaled for a few days- this courtesy of Jed Castles of News9:

 

 

 The best chances for significant rainfall remain in the western half of the state- Alan Crone with News on 6 says for Green Country and the eastern half of Oklahoma- "Regarding our part of the state, locations near and northwest of the metro will have the best chance both today and tomorrow for some showers and storms but the positioning of the main upper level trough relative to the front may keep far southeastern and east central Oklahoma in the low chance category."

Click or tap here to read his complete Tuesday morning weather blog.