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Rainfall arrived over the last thirty days- and in a dramatic swing, drought has been reduced in much of Oklahoma during the month of April because of that rainfall. The latest Drought Monitor looks much better than what was seen earlier in April. Overall, the total drought number of 59% of the state in some level of drought- moderate through exceptional is little changed from a week ago or even back to the start of the calendar year- but is twenty percentage points of an improvement compared to one year ago. The Drought Monitor graphic is available here.

What has happened within the overall drought number is a substantial easing of drought conditions in the last week. A week ago, the severe to exceptional drought number was just above 37%- this week that number has fallen to 24%. 

And what is exciting is that the rains of spring are not done with us yet- the seven to fourteen day indicators show more rain than normal is possible in a good bit of the state.

Here's the seven day rain outlook map- as of last night- the rain in the outlook comes after four days of sunshine to help farmers get spring planted crops into the ground and aid the winter canola and wheat to progress toward harvest.

Approval of Right to Farm in Oklahoma Legislature Cheered by Ag Groups

The Oklahoma House of Representatives Wednesday overwhelming approved Senate amendments to HJR 1012, Right to Farm. The vote was 85 to 7. In yesterday's email- we shared comments from the authors of the bill- as well as the Speaker of the Oklahoma House- Jeff Hickman.  This morning- we feature reaction from several of the farm groups that pushed lawmakers to get this proposal across the finish line.


"We are extremely pleased with the vote," said Tom Buchanan, Oklahoma Farm Bureau president. "We applaud State Rep. Scott Biggs and State Sen. Jason Smalley for their leadership and tenacity guiding this resolution through the legislative process. We look forward to working with Attorney General Scott Pruitt on the exact language of the state question as it will appear on the ballot in 2016."


Buchanan said adoption of this resolution by the state's voters will reduce outside influence on our agricultural industry. Click here for the written statement released by Farm Bureau and the audio of Buchanan's thoughts about Right to Farm.

Michael Kelsey, Executive Vice President, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association also weighed in on Right to Farm- here is his statement released after the successful House vote:


"Final passage of HJR 1012 - Right To Farm in the House today was a great effort by all of Oklahoma agriculture standing together. Overwhelming approval in both the House and Senate is a clear signal that Oklahoma rejects the Washington DC corporate special interest groups whose objectives do not align with the family values of Oklahoma farmers and ranchers. Oklahoma agriculture is unified in message and that message is simply this - Oklahoma farmers and ranchers are hardworking families that care foremost for our land and animals and are committed to the highest standards of wholesome and safe food production." 

In having this voted on by the people of Oklahoma, American Farmers and Ranchers/Oklahoma Farmer's Union organization President Terry Detrick said this is a real opportunity to inform the state's consumers about where their food comes from.


"It's an opportunity for us to be able to sell the public on the safety and the reasons we have abundant food," Detrick said. "And I just hope we will be able to capitalize on that effectively and turn any kind of negativism into a positive."

Click here to listen to my conversation with Detrick regarding the passage of HJR 1012- the Right to Farm ballot initiative.      

Just ahead of the vote- we also had comments with Roy Lee Lindsey of the Oklahoma Pork Council- who is also supportive of the measure- click here for that earlier story to hear his comments about getting this through the legislature and the battle that is ahead to get it approved by a vote of the people.  

House Ag Committee Advances Two Bills to Reauthorize Programs Vital to Agriculture

The House Agriculture Committee Thursday approved H.R. 2088, the United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, and H.R. 2051, the Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2015. Each bill reauthorizes a law set to expire on September 30, 2015, and ensures that the laws continue to operate in a manner that serves the public interest.


H.R. 2088, introduced by Chairman K. Michael Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson, along with General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee Chairman Rick Crawford and Ranking Member Tim Walz, would ensure that the official inspection and weighing of bulk grains and oilseeds are done in a reliable, uninterrupted, consistent, and cost-effective manner.


H.R. 2051, introduced by Chairman Conaway, Ranking Member Peterson, and Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer, would reauthorize livestock mandatory price reporting, which has become an essential tool for producers and packers to compete as the industry continues to evolve.  

Click here for more information, including Chairman Conaway's opening statements and the archived webcast.  

CareerTech Director Brings Enthusiasm to Strengthen Education

The head of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education has a big vision for education in the state. Dr. Marcie Mack came on board this year as the 8th state director. Mack wants to see the number of programs offered through CareerTech grow even more. That's a great signal that the state's agricultural education program will get even stronger, as one of the areas offered through CareerTech. Dr. Mack was in Oklahoma City this week for the 2015 Oklahoma FFA Convention. She said the event highlights all of the great accomplishments of FFA students throughout the year.


"They have the opportunity to have over 430 programs in the state of Oklahoma and teach young people about agriculture, about agricultural education and the importance of it, not only in the state of Oklahoma, but for the nation as a whole," Mack said.


Through agricultural education, members learn a variety of technical skills. Mack said students learn about animal science and agri-science, but one of the unique components of the FFA organization is the opportunity for students to learn leadership, teamwork and communication. She said students get to practice those skills on a daily basis in working with other individuals and working on their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project.


In looking at the future of CareerTech, Mack also wants to ensure the institution is providing the best quality education and providing the necessary resources to teachers and their classrooms.  I caught up with Dr. Mack at the state FFA convention, click or tap here to have the opportunity to listen to the full interview.  

OSU's Kim Anderson Analyzes New Bloomberg Survey on Winter Wheat Production

This week Bloomberg released their wheat projection estimate ahead of the Wheat Quality Council hard winter wheat tour next week. Bloomberg's all winter wheat estimate came in at 1.484 million bushels. That compares with last year's production of 1.375 million bushels and a five year average of 1.5 million. Oklahoma State University Grain Marketing Specialist Dr. Kim Anderson said he thinks that is pretty close to where production will be this year.


On this weekend's edition of SUNUP, Anderson said he felt Bloomberg is overestimating their production estimate for the Oklahoma wheat crop. Bloomberg has estimated Oklahoma's wheat production at 109 million bushels. Last year's production came in at 48 million and the five year average around 100 million bushels. Anderson said that's an optimistic estimate.


"So, they're predicting a 127 percent increase above last year and about nine percent increase over the five year average," Anderson said.


Anderson think's the state's wheat production will be closer to 80 - 85 million bushels. He said there are several unknowns, such as abandoned acres and yield variability with the size of wheat heads.


Anderson also address world wheat production and the harvest price outlook.  We've got Lyndall and Kim's full interview for you to hear- and a complete rundown of this weekend's SUNUP program to be seen on OETA click or tap here.

Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains- Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.

Farm Tours Vital In Telling the Dairy Story

While it's not easy to bring all consumers to the country, a group that represents Oklahoma dairy farmers has worked to bring at least key influencers out to dairy farms. Dairy MAX has hosted farm tours for health care professionals and recently the group hosted 20 registered dieticians from Oklahoma City. The dieticians had the opportunity to tour a dairy farm near Kingfisher, Oklahoma. Dairy farmer Angie Meyer said these farm tours are vital to share agriculture's message.   


"With fewer than two percent of Americans being in farming, it's imperative that we let them know how their food gets from the farm to the fridge," Meyer said.


For most of the individuals this was their first time to visit to a dairy farm. Meyer said the dieticians were very curious and they had a lot of questions. After seeing the milking parlor and the whole farm, she said the group was impressed by the housing for the cattle and the 24 - hour care.


"We want to do every that we can to produce that safe, wholesome product for your families and mine," Meyer said.  

I caught up with Meyer to talk about this experience. Click or tap here to read or to hear the full interview.


Meyer will be joining me for the weekly "In the Field" report on KWTV News 9 in the Oklahoma City market on Saturday morning at 6:40 a.m.  

Peel Finds Beef Cow Numbers 'Spike off the Bottom' with Herd Expansion

Spring rains have brought some relief to the Southern Plains. The on-going drought conditions have held down cattle numbers in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas and Missouri. According to Oklahoma State University Livestock Market Economist Dr. Derrell Peel said the drought mind set has a lot of times trumped what producers have wanted to do on rebuilding the mamma cow herd.


"I think it's pretty clear that producer's intensions were somewhat different than what the reality was that they had to deal with," Peel said.


Peel said he doesn't think producers have had a liquidation mindset for the last three years. He thinks producers have been ready to expand their cowherd and they were aware the industry was smaller than necessary, but physically they haven't been able to expand. Peel said there a certain amount of pent up expansion, which may explain what he calls the "spike off the bottom". That is the rapid transition from liquidation to expansion. That spike off the bottom was seen clearly earlier this year when the U.S. Department of Agriculture cattle inventory report showed strong growth in beef cow numbers in Oklahoma and Texas as well as retention of beef heifers.
 

Click here to read or to listen to listen to this Beef Buzz feature.