Wheat Streak Mosaic Causing Some Concerns, Bob Hunger Says 

Bob Hunger, Oklahoma State University Extension Wheat Pathologist, posts the latest wheat disease update for Oklahoma and other wheat-producing states:

Oklahoma: Wheat around Stillwater is mostly at GS 7 (2 nodes detectable). In a few places the flag leaf has emerged but only in one field. I still have not received reports of significant foliar diseases in Oklahoma, which is not surprising given the dry conditions. Around Stillwater I have seen some powdery mildew on low foliage in scattered spots. I and my technician Brian Olson also found tan spot in a no-till field, but only on low foliage and not severe. The one find of a different disease that is concerning was wheat streak mosaic (WSM) in Dr. Jeff Edwards's variety trial in Kay County near Kildare. Visiting the trial on April 2nd, yellowing and streaking were present in all varieties but some were much worse than others. I was not thinking about WSM at the time, but 5 samples I brought back to the lab all tested positive for the virus that causes WSM, so I believe that is what is present. On a trip today to northern Oklahoma and over to Lahoma in north central Oklahoma, I saw some good and some bad wheat that ranged from GS 6 to GS 7 (or close to it). However, all the wheat seemed short to me - some not much more than 10-12 inches tall.        

Gary Strickland (Extn Educator, Jackson County - southwestern OK) indicated wheat in his area was in the flag leaf stage - anywhere from flag leaf just emerging to fully-emerged. Drought is the problem; no rust, powdery mildew or other diseases, but brown wheat mites have exploded. 

Click here to read more of Bob Hunger's report.  

USDA Announces Funding to Train and Educate Next Generation of Farmers and Ranchers

Last Friday, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of more than $19 million in grants to help train, educate and enhance the sustainability of the next generation of agricultural producers through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP).

"USDA is committed to the next generation of America's farmers and ranchers because they represent the future of agriculture and are the backbone of our rural economy. As the average age of farmers continues to rise, we have no time to lose in getting more new farmers and ranchers established." said Secretary Vilsack. "Reauthorizing and expanding the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program is one of the many resources the 2014 Farm Bill gave us to build America's agricultural future. Through this program, we can build a diverse next generation of farmers and ranchers."

BFRDP is an education, training, technical assistance and outreach program designed to help farmers, ranchers and managers of non-industrial private forest land - specifically those aiming to start farming and those who have been farming or ranching for 10 or fewer years. It is managed by the National Institutes of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). NIFA will competitively award grants to organizations conducting programs to help beginning farmers and ranchers. 

Click here for more information and to find links outlining the application process.

Population Growth Provides Opportunities for Beef Producers

Experts say world population will grow to 9 1/2 billion by 2050.

"Estimates are we need to increase our agricultural production by 70 percent to meet that future demand," says University of Wyoming Beef Specialist Steve Paisley. He says producers also need to be a part of that solution.

"We've made some tremendous improvements in the beef industry through technology and through some of the great management and breeding and nutritional efforts that we've had, but we've still got a ways to go. And, so, I really try to emphasize the point that we still have some room for improvement through many different avenues.

Although cattlemen have made advances in feed efficiency, that's not the only place to look when trying to produce more beef from fewer resources. For example, some surveys show only 12 percent of all producers use computerized records.

"Information is so powerful in general and I think we all need to utilize some of those things right at the tips of our fingers in making better selection decisions and better management decisions based on information. I think that's really a great place to start initially."

Click here to read more or to watch the video version of this story.
 

Four Tips to Prepare the Herd for Spring and Summer Grazing

Late spring and early summer pastures provide essential nutrients to the cow herd, as the cow cares for herself, the calf at her side and her developing fetus. During this period, pasture management is especially important as pasture forages can provide highly variable nutrient levels.

That's according to Doug Hawkins, Ph.D., beef cattle consultant for Purina Animal Nutrition. Hawkins says that pasture management beginning in early spring can directly impact the body condition score (BCS) of the cow, the growth of the calf at her side and conception rates post-calving. "Beef producers are most often familiar with supplementing pasture during late summer, as supplementation consumption rates are often highest then. However, taking steps to offer supplements in late spring and early summer, can help the cow perform consistently and help prevent imbalances before forage quality declines," he says. "Adding a proactive management program during this time frame will promote consistent cow performance through summer."

Hawkins recommends producers pay particular attention to pest control, fresh water and supplementation.  For more detail on his recommendations, please click here.   

This and That- Canola Field Tour Kicks Off this Morning- Canola We Saw Saturday Needs a Drink and Hard Freeze Coming Tuesday Morning

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service is partnering with the Oklahoma Oilseed Commission to provide a series of canola field tours across the state - most of them to happen this week.

Field tour sessions will be led by OSU agricultural scientists and Extension specialists(including state Canola Specialist Josh Bushong), as well as Ron Sholar, Oklahoma Oilseed Commission executive director, and Heath Sanders, Great Plains Canola Association canola field specialist.   

The first of those sessions is this morning at 9 am in Kiowa County.   

To see the full list- complete with directions for each tour stop- click here . 

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By the way- we were out and about in Canadian County on Saturday afternoon- and saw some canola crying out to Mother Nature- saying "MOM- We need a drink of water!"  Click here to take a look at the pictures- and there is a link to a new set of photos on FLICKR with more from that field we saw on Saturday afternoon.

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Freezing weather (and snow) has arrived in the Oklahoma Panhandle and northwestern Oklahoma this morning- and it will be down to 32 degrees or below across the entire state by sunrise on Tuesday.  The predicted overnight temperature low for tomorrow morning in Idabel is 32 degrees- and it will likely dip into the 20s in virtually the entire state.   

That's not good news for the winter wheat or winter canola crops- and not good news for early spring planted crops or for our tree crops like peaches, apples and pecans. 

Check our website later this morning- and we will have several weather map graphics that will show the latest guidance about how cold for how long is likely- at least then you will know.