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2011 has been quite a ride for Oklahoma cotton producers. The terrible drought finally gave way to considerable autumn rainfall. The Altus Mesonet Station has recorded 5.2 inches of precipitation since October 1 (compared to the "normal 5.4 inches), and that is very near normal in terms of amounts and distribution by month. This has allowed many producers to get cover established on previously parched fields.

The bad news is we still have cotton in the field in some areas at this late date. One producer indicated that in the last 2.5 months, he has only been able to conduct stripper harvesting operations for only about 10 days. This has added insult to injury relative to fiber quality issues.

The December USDA-NASS estimate indicated that the Oklahoma crop had 100,000 standing acres, would yield 432 lbs/acre and would ultimately produce 90,000 bales. I have a hard time with the 90,000 bale production estimate based on experience and what we know about the 2011 crop. If we assume we planted about 400,000 acres and if we assume we are harvesting 50,000 then that results in an abandonment rate of about 87% during the worst drought year on record. Data provided by the USDA-FSA State Office indicated that dryland planted acreage was about 262,000 whereas irrigated acreage was about 134,000 for a total of 396,000 acres in the state during 2011.  

Click here for more on cotton in 2011 and a link to the full copy of Cotton Comments Newsletter. 

NRCS Offers Financial Assistance for Energy Savings on Agricultural Operations 

As one of the major users of energy in the American economy, the agricultural industry is seeing affects on their own economic sustainability due to high cost of energy inputs. As a result, many producers are beginning to look for ways to conserve energy and reduce energy costs in their operations. Through energy conservation measures, producers not only receive a positive incentive in their pocketbook, but they also help to reduce reliance on fossil fuels; conserving our natural resources.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service recently announced an opportunity for agricultural producers to receive financial assistance for energy conservation through the On-Farm Energy Initiative. The On-Farm Energy Initiative can assist producers who wish to reduce energy use in two ways. First, the program will offer financial assistance to producers who wish to hire technical Service Providers (TSPs) who will develop a type II energy audit. The energy audit can identify potential energy saving activities that the producer can implement in the farm headquarters or on the landscape through changes in tillage or other management.

Second, the On-Farm Energy Initiative can provide assistance for the implementation of recommended practices. While an audit is encouraged to identify those practices which will conserve energy, assistance is available for a variety of energy saving practices even without an existing audit. 

Click here for more information from the NRCS on these energy savings.

Balance Beef Herd Females With Expected Forage Supplies 

As we wrap up 2011- several lessons in managing our beef cattle operations have been force fed to cattle producers- and one of the most important of those lessons is to make sure you keep the proper balance between the amount of forage you have available and the number of animals you keep in your operation- irregardless of whether you run a seedstock operation, commercial cow calf operation or even a stocker operation.

As the price of feedstuffs has skyrocketed in 2011- and shows little relief at least early in 2012, cow-calf producers must continue to emphasize cost management in their operations. And strategic replacement heifer selection is one consideration in helping with cost control- and in the survival of your herd. Kansas State University cow-calf production specialist Bob Weaber is advising producers to select replacement heifers that will economically match their expected feed resources.

Click here for our Beef Buzz featuring comments with Weaberabout this need to match forage supplies with the right numbers of the right sized mama cows.    

Tank-Mixing Herbicides to Improve Weed Control in Winter Wheat

Tank-mixing multiple herbicides is a simple way to broaden the spectrum of weeds that can be controlled in a single application. According to Joe Armstrong, Small Grains Weed Science Extension Specialist, in addition to improving weed control, tank-mixing herbicides from multiple modes of action is also an important step in the prevention and management of herbicide-resistant weeds.

For example, Kansas has found several populations of ALS-resistant winter broadleaves, such as marestail, bushy wallflower, and flixweed (pictured below). In all situations, these weeds were resistant to several ALS inhibitor herbicides, such as Finesse®, Ally®, Amber®, Olympus®, PowerFlex®, Express®, and Beyond®. While ALS-resistant broadleaf weeds may not be currently prevalent in Oklahoma, it is extremely important to take pro-active steps to prevent their development.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to integrate resistance management practices is to tank-mix products from additional herbicide modes of action, such as MCPA, 2,4-D, dicamba, Huskie®, or Aim®. 

Click here for more from Joe Armstrong on tank-mixing herbicides.

Cattle and Beef Markets Winding Down for 2011- New Weekly Market Analysis 

The Cattle and Boxed Beef Markets are typically slow in the final weeks of the year- and that seems to be case this week as we watch 2011 rapidly come to close. Beginning this week- and going forward on a regular basis into the new year- we are pleased to offer a new feature on our website- and also via the daily email- a weekly recap of the fed cattle, Boxed Beef and Feeder Cattle markets, as described by Ed Czerwien of the USDA Livestock Market News office in Amarillo, Texas. 

Take a listen- and you'll have a better insight into not just the actual prices of the cattle market of the previous week- but also some of the insights of "the why" of the cattle market as well. Click here for the audio conversation we had on Tuesday with Ed about the fat cattle market, boxed beef and the feeder cattle markets.   

OACD and Chesapeake Energy to Partner on Outstanding Conservation Educator Award

As part of their continuing commitment to Oklahoma and the health of its environment, Chesapeake Energy and the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) have once again teamed up to announce the "Chesapeake Energy Outstanding Oklahoma Conservation Educator Contest," a statewide program that honors the Oklahoma school teachers who most effectively incorporate natural resource conservation learning into their class curriculum. The Chesapeake Outstanding Conservation Educator Award will be presented to one teacher in each Oklahoma Congressional District. Each winner will receive $2000 at the Governor's Conservation Awards Ceremony during Conservation Day at the Capitol next spring.

"We are truly honored to again have Chesapeake, Oklahoma's most active driller and largest clean natural gas producer, as our partner in furthering conservation in Oklahoma," Joe Parker, President of OACD said. "The company's continued sponsorship of these awards and its commitment to protecting and conserving our natural resources is greatly appreciated. They are truly committed to the conservation and protection of our soil, water, air and wildlife habitats."

The Chesapeake Outstanding Conservation Educator Award will be presented annually to the Oklahoma school teachers judged as having best incorporated information on the conservation of our natural resources into their lesson plans using inventive and imaginative techniques.  

Click here for more from OACD and Chesapeake on this conservation award.

Hooker on Track to Have Driest Year of Any Location in Oklahoma- Ever

Gary McManus, Associate State Climatologist for the Oklahoma Climatological Survey offers us a review of rainfall totals for the year- including the graphic that we have for you on our website that shows a fifty inch spread of most to least rainfall across the state for 2011- year to date.


Gary writes "It became fairly obvious early on that the western half of the state was going to experience a heightened case of drought compared to eastern Oklahoma. Drought relief in April and May brought the drought to a screeching halt in the eastern one-third before the heat and dry weather brought it back in June. No such luck for western Oklahoma, and the year-to-date precipitation map from the Oklahoma Mesonet paints that picture quite well. 

Click here for the graphics we have courtesy of Gary and the wonderful Mesonet folks.