Oklahoma Cotton Farmers Double Production in 2014 Versus 2013 Growing Season 

The 2014 Oklahoma cotton crop, while not quite as big as projected a month ago, is still being forecast as being twice as large as the cotton harvest in the state in 2013. More acres- 210,000 acres in 2014 versus 125,000 acres harvested in 2013 is one key- and more pounds of lint grown per acre at 731 pounds an acre in 2014 versus 591 pounds produced in 2013- provided the rest of the increase to end up with 310,000 bales expected to be ginned from the Oklahoma crop in 2014 versus 154,000 produced in 2013. 

Other spring planted Oklahoma crops also ended up better than a year ago- especially when you consider bushels or pounds per acre. The corn acres being harvested in 2014 are down 40,000 from a year ago- but a twenty bushel per acre increase for this year's Oklahoma corn crop produced almost the same number of bushels this year as last- 44,550,000. USDA predicts the Oklahoma yield per acre will be 165 bushels per acre. 

The grain sorghum crop improved by about five million bushels this year versus last- with Oklahoma farmers set to harvest 19,140,000 bushels this season. The October first estimated yield for milo was 58 bushels per acre- down from the 66 bushels predicted a month earlier.  

While Oklahoma produces Canola as a winter crop- planted in the fall and harvested in June- as we do winter wheat- most of the US production is in the northern part of the US and is a spring planted crop- so this October report gives us our first USDA forecast of this past season's crop and harvest.  It confirms that we had about a half a crop for canola in Oklahoma- as we did for wheat- in the 2014 crop production cycle.  Canola producers averaged just 16 bushels per acre, with total production at 2.64 million bushels- or 132 million pounds.

To review the rest of the Oklahoma Crop Production numbers- plus check the links to the two national reports released on Friday- click or tap here. 

USDA Continues to Forecast Record US Corn and Soybean Crop

America's farmers will produce the largest corn and soybean crop in the nation's history this year. That's according to the latest's crop production report released by the US Department of Agriculture. The nation's corn production is being forecast at a record 14.5 billion bushels with a national yield average of 174.2 bushels per acre. If realized, this will be the highest yield and production on record for the United States. This year 22 states are expected to produce a record high corn yield. USDA estimates 83.1 million acres will be harvested.


The nation's soybean bean production will set a new record with USDA forecasting production at 3.93 billion bushels with a national yield average of 47.1 bushels per acre. USDA estimates a record 83.4 million acres of soybeans will be harvested this year. This is a rare occasion that harvested soybean acres will out number harvested corn acres.


USDA lowered the estimate for the nation's cotton production from last month, but total production looks to be 26 percent higher than 2013. All cotton production is being forecast at 16.3 million 480-pound bales, down two percent from last month. Yields are expected to average 790 pounds per acre, down 31 pounds from last year. 

Click here for more information the nation's ending stocks and reaction from Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities on how long this report will influence the market.  

NCC To Hold STAX/Farm Bill Workshops In Cotton Belt

The National Cotton Council (NCC) has scheduled 25 educational meetings across the Cotton Belt to provide its members with in-depth information regarding insurance options for cotton under The Agricultural Act of 2014.


One meeting will be held in Oklahoma on November 20th in Altus at 1pm at the Oklahoma Cotton Cooperative Association.


The meetings will provide an in-depth look at the new Stacked Income Protection Plan (STAX) and the Supplemental Coverage Option. Coverage levels, expected yields and premium rates will be covered in detail in order to better equip producers with the information necessary to evaluate the insurance options for 2015. The sessions also will include an update on overall farm bill implementation. Each meeting will include a question/answer session.


NCC President/CEO Mark Lange said, "This new five-year comprehensive farm law features a greater reliance on crop insurance programs, and our producer members need to understand their options. As with our previous farm bill educational meetings in February, the Council encourages all producers, cotton industry firms and agribusinesses to attend any of these important meetings." 

Click here for the full list of meetings be held throughout the cotton belt.  

While they are not native to the United States, feral hogs have made Oklahoma their home, and farmers and ranchers have the damage on their property to prove it.


When feral hogs are on your property there are several indicators that give away their stealthy lifestyle, said Dwayne Elmore, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist.


"They have tracks that are similar to deer, but more rounded," he said.


Rooting is the most evident footprint left by hogs, however. In softer soils, the rooted areas can be up to 3 feet deep, leaving large wallows. They root around a lot looking for food, usually in broad areas leaving massive soil disturbances, loss of plant material and erosion problems. The hogs then rub on trees, removing bark and leaving mud plastered to treetrunks a few feet off the ground.


Feral hogs have been leaving destruction in their paths throughout Oklahoma.  Click here to learn more about controlling feral hogs.  

More than once Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials have said 'Waters of the US' (WOTUS) proposal is not a land grab and it is not EPA's intention to regulate more lands than they currently have under their jurisdiction. Richard Gebhart is President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association and the current Treasurer of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Besides being a cow/calf operator in northeast Oklahoma, Gebhart is also an attorney. He has read this rule many times and finds it to be a huge land grab, you just have to read it.


"I can not believe how shocked I am by the overreach of this rule," Gebhart said. "EPA consistency tells us in our conversations with them that is not their intent to regulate all lands, but when I read this rule I see it gives them the authority to regulate all lands."
 

This week EPA extended the comment deadline for another 25 days. The public comment period will close on Friday, November 14, 2014. 

Click here to read more or to listen to Gebhart's view on how WOTUS is an Gebhart said the overreach and intrusion of this rule into your daily agricultural lives from EPA and US Army Corps of Engineers is breath taking. He said it's time for ag producers to make a comment about this proposal. 

Protect Yourself and Your Pigs This Flu Season

In anticipation of this flu season, the Pork Checkoff is reminding producers, farm personnel, veterinarians and others who have contact with pigs to get the seasonal flu vaccination as soon as possible to help protect human and pig health. The flu season can start as early as October and can last through May.


"It's always wise for producers and swine farm workers to reduce the risk of getting sick and bringing influenza to the farm or workplace by getting vaccinated," said Dr. Lisa Becton, director of swine health information and research science and technology for the Pork Checkoff. "Vaccination for influenza is another way that demonstrates the industry's We Care approach to protecting employees, animals and public health."


Becton recommends other practices to reduce the spread of infection among workers and of the pigs with human influenza viruses. Among them is modifying sick-leave policies to encourage workers to stay away from the farm if they are suffering from acute respiratory infections. "Virus shedding is at its peak when the clinical illness is most severe, but people may remain 'contagious' as long as the symptoms last, from three to seven days," she said.


According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, all people over six months of age should be immunized for influenza each year.  Click here to learn how getting a flu shot and good animal husbandry practices can reduce transmission of flu viruses.  

Rainfall and Strong North Winds Roar Into State to Greet Columbus Day

Rainfall and strong north winds are greeting us on this Columbus Day morning- and if you track back to this past Thursday morning- rainfall totals have been significant statewide- except for seven or eight southwestern Oklahoma counties- and in much of Grant County along the Oklahoma-Kansas border in north central Oklahoma. Those are the locations where we have received less than an inch of rain- other areas- especially in the eastern half of the state- have piled up- with Wilburton in Little Dixie the current leader at more than seven inches of rain from these last two systems of the end of last week and early this morning.  

Here's the graphic with the rainfall totals going back to last Thursday morning:

To review the rainfall totals since Friday morning and since Sunday morning- click or tap here.

And to watch current radar- here's the link to the News9 KWTV radar for the state of Oklahoma- showing rain leaving the state and more rolling into western counties.

I mentioned Columbus Day- it's one of those quasi holidays in that it is recognized by Uncle Sam- banks are closed as are most Federal Government offices- however, markets are generally open and the state of Oklahoma is open for business today- Columbus Day is not a state holiday.