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You can pick which number you like best when it comes to the size of the Oklahoma Hard Red Winter Wheat Crop. The district by district reports that were presented at the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association meeting on Wednesday in Oklahoma City suggested a wheat crop that will produce 70.532 million bushels of wheat at harvest. At least a couple of the reporters expressed some doubt that their area would product as much as they were predicting.


It was that doubt that seemed to be prevalent in the room as wheat industry officials that were gathered offered their guess as to how many bushels would be produced in Oklahoma this year- and the average of that estimate came in at 66.52 million bushels, based on 3.59 million harvested acres and a yield per acre of 18.52 bushels statewide.


It appears that the 2014 crop could be as small or even smaller than the crop produced in 2011 when only 70 million bushels of wheat were harvested on just 3.2 million acres.

Click here for more on the Oklahoma Wheat Crop Report Session held on Wednesday at the Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association.

MEANWHILE- Tim Bartram of the Oklahoma Wheat Growers gave us an update on Day Two of the Wheat Quality Council Wheat- "We expected to see not very good wheat and it delivered. Fields that where good enough to count where few and far between. And those that were would likely not meet those counts if the weather forecast is correct. Tour across Kansas."

Scouts on the second day of the 2014 HRW Wheat Quality Tour reported the lowest yields in at least the last 14 years as they traveled south and east from Colby to Wichita.


Along the six routes, scouts made a total of 271 stops on Wednesday. They estimated the average yield at 30.8 bushels per acre, substantially below last year's average of 37.1 bushels per acre on Day 2. The two-day running average estimate is now at 32.8 bushels per acre, based on 542 stops.

Click here for more on the Kansas wheat tour, which wraps up later today in Kansas City.

USDA Designates 11 Counties in Oklahoma as Primary Natural Disaster Areas 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 11 counties in Oklahoma as primary natural disaster areas due to the recent drought.

Those counties are: Canadian, Garfield, Grant, Kay, Kingfisher, Logan, Noble, Oklahoma, Osage, Pawnee and Payne.

"Our hearts go out to those Oklahoma farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "President Obama and I are committed to ensuring that agriculture remains a bright spot in our nation's economy by sustaining the successes of America's farmers, ranchers, and rural communities through these difficult times. We're also telling Oklahoma producers that USDA stands with you and your communities when severe weather and natural disasters threaten to disrupt your livelihood."

Farmers and ranchers in the following contiguous counties in Oklahoma also qualify for natural disaster assistance: Alfalfa, Blaine, Caddo, Cleveland, Creek, Grady, Lincoln, McClain, Major, Pottawatomie, Tulsa and Washington.

Read more of this story by clicking here.

 

Oklahoma FFA Honors Laverne's Jake Fanning as Star in Agricultural Production Winner

Laverne FFA member Jake Fanning found his passion for the cattle industry from the example set before him by his father, Tom Fanning.

The younger Fanning's entrepreneurial spirit and devotion to agriculture led to his selection as a recipient for one of Oklahoma FFA's highest honors: the 2014 State Star in Agricultural Production. His supervised agricultural experience project was rated the best agricultural production program among the 726 FFA members who received the State FFA Degree during the 88th State FFA Convention on April 30. 

Fanning found a key factor in his beef cattle stocker operation's profitability was the overall health of his herd. To ensure healthy livestock from the beginning, Fanning said he vaccinated and dewormed all animals within a day of their arrival to his facility.

"I have learned a great deal in the areas of health and nutrition," Fanning said. "Healthy cattle tend to gain faster, reach market weight quicker, and are more profitable."

You'll find more of this story, a video and and audio interview with Jake on our website by clicking here.

 

Oologah FFA Member Reighly Blakley Receives Honor as Oklahoma FFA Star in Agribusiness Winner

Oologah FFA member Reighly Blakley has used her knowledge of cattle and plant production, involvement in her community and her organizational skills to earn one of Oklahoma FFA's highest honors: the 2014 Oklahoma FFA State Star in Agribusiness.

Blakley's supervised agricultural experience was rated the best agribusiness project among the 726 FFA members who received the State FFA Degree during the 88th annual State FFA Convention on April 30. In addition to this honor, Blakley received the Governor's Trophy and a $1,500 cash award sponsored by Blue & Gold Sausage Co. of Jones, Okla. 

A descendant on a sixth-generation farm family, Blakley said her family's livelihood depends on production agriculture. Using what she learned in her agricultural education classroom, Blakley keeps records of all her cattle production and sales. She said recordkeeping is the key to success in any business.

Blakley operates her agribusiness in the Oologah farmers' market on every Saturday during the spring and summer and every other Saturday during the fall and winter. She applied for and received a meat license from the Oklahoma Department of Health to sell beef and pork as well as an egg license to sell her farm fresh eggs. Her products also include various vegetables, fruits, house plants and garden plants.

Click here to read more of this story.  You'll also find my audio interview with Reighly and a video presentation.

 

Kingfisher's Gatlin Squires Honored by Oklahoma FFA as Star in Agriscience Winner

What began as a 7th grade as a science fair entry has expanded to garner one of the Oklahoma FFA's highest honors for Kingfisher FFA member Gatlin Squires.

Squires' devotion to scientific investigation led to his selection as the 2014 State Star in Agriscience. His supervised agricultural experience project was rated the best agriscience program among the 726 FFA members who received the State FFA Degree during the 88th State FFA Convention on April 30. 

Through his SAE program, Squires conducted research and experimentation resulting in the development of his own skin and hair products for the livestock industry as well as the enhancement of his critical thinking skills.

"My research has benefited my livestock SAE and my agriscience project," Squires said. "A local entrepreneur and patent holder on livestock products encouraged me and discussed the pros and cons of getting skin and hair products packaged and marketed in the livestock industry."

Click here to read the rest of this story and to find an audio interview with Gatlin and a video profile.
 

Hayden Skidgel Named Oklahoma FFA's Star in Agricultural Placement Winner

Pawnee FFA member Hayden Skidgel pursues his passion for agricultural sales by continuing the family tradition of working at his grandparent's feed mill.

Because of his hard work and dedication to his family's feed mill, Skidgel has secured one of Oklahoma FFA's highest honors: the 2014 State Star in Agricultural Placement. Skidgel's supervised agricultural experience project was rated the best in agricultural placement among the 726 FFA members who received the State FFA Degree during the 88th annual State FFA Convention on April 30. 

Skidgel's interest in agricultural sales began at an early age when he would feed cattle with his father. Feeding cattle not only piqued his interest in the agriculture industry but also taught him how feed was made from start to finish, he said.

His main duties at Stockman's Mill and Grain Inc. in Pawnee encompass everything from cleaning and maintaining equipment to grinding and bagging feed, Skidgel said.

Skidgel credited his success to his grandfather's knowledge and experience in the animal nutrition industry.

You can watch a video profile of Hayden, listen to my audio interview with him or read the rest of this story by clicking here.

 

This N That- New Officer Team for the Oklahoma FFA, Superior Livestock Set for Friday Sale and It's Land Judging Day! 

The new State Officer Team of the Oklahoma FFA is set- and the team of two ladies and six guys will be led by Garrett Reed of the Locust Grove FFA.

Seven additional FFA members will join Reed on the 2014-2015 Oklahoma FFA officer team: Gatlin Squires, Kingfisher FFA, secretary; Megan DeVuyst, Morrison FFA, reporter; Paige Clare, Skiatook FFA, northeast district vice president; Logan Johns, Morrison FFA, northwest district vice president; Cody Dean, Agra FFA, central district vice president; Wyatt Shaw, Byng FFA, southeast district vice president; and Drake Boyce, Cheyenne FFA, southwest district vice president. 

Click here for more on the officer team-  our coverage of the 2014 Oklahoma FFA Convention has been a service of your Oklahoma Ford Dealers.

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Superior Livestock has their next regular satellite and internet based feeder cattle and calf market set for tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM central time- on RURAL TV and on SuperiorClickToBid.Com.

For details about the sale, click here or give them a call at 1-800-422-2117.

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The 63rd Annual National Land and Range Judging Contest gets underway shortly somewhere in central Oklahoma- and we will be covering their awards ceremony this evening at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

Click here for details of the event.