Oklahoma's drought continues to disintegrate from this spring's heavy rains. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report has none of state classified as being in extreme or exceptional drought, something Oklahoma hasn't seen since March 8, 2011.

And it is remarkable to look at the numbers from one year ago.  As we prepared to harvest the worst wheat crop since the late 1950s- Oklahoma's drought status was in dire shape just ahead of the rains that came and kept many farmers out of the fields just as they were trying to harvest what little wheat we had.  Over 61% of the state was in extreme to exceptional drought at this point last May- now that number is zero.


The latest report shows the state continues to show recovery from drought. This week nearly half of the state did not receive a drought classification across much of central and eastern Oklahoma. Meanwhile, the western half of the state continues to try to shake off the drought. The latest report shows eight percent abnormally dry, nearly 33 percent of the state remains in moderate drought across the Panhandle and western counties and almost nine percent remains in severe drought across the north central part of the state. 


The Mesonet rainfall map shows how plentiful moisture has been over the last 30 days. Weather stations recorded five plus inches in the Panhandle to over 19 inches in the south central part of the state. The weather forecast for the Memorial Day weekend looks to be wet with several inches being forecasted between now and Thursday, May 28th. 

Click here to see the latest Drought Monitor map and the 7-day outlook.

AND- just in this morning as we prepare to send this EMAIL out- a great graphic from our News9 buddy Jed Castles showing just how wet it could be this holiday weekend- more flooding may be a reality.

U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Passes Bipartisan Federal Grain Inspection Reauthorization

The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Thursday held a business meeting and passed the "U.S. Grains Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015," which authorizes USDA's Federal Grain Inspection Service to establish marketing standards and conduct inspection and weighing for a variety of grains and oilseeds. The Act was last reauthorized in 2005.


"This bipartisan legislation provides much needed transparency and predictability throughout the federal grain inspection system to prevent future export disruptions - like we saw at the Port of Vancouver last summer," Chairman Roberts said. "I look forward to this being the first of many bipartisan bills that will pass through the Agriculture Committee this Congress."


"The United States is the world leader in agricultural exports," Ranking Member Stabenow said. "Whether its Michigan soybeans or Kansas wheat, our nation's farmers grow the highest quality products available. That's why we must have a robust federal grain inspection system to back the integrity of our exports. This bipartisan bill does just that, and I thank Chairman Roberts for his partnership in developing this legislation. I urge my colleagues to pass this commonsense legislation as soon as possible"
 

Click here to read more about this legislation reauthorizes provisions of the U.S. Grain Standards Act until Sept. 30, 2020.

OSU's Kim Anderson Finds Better Oklahoma Crop and Strength in Wheat Prices

The Oklahoma wheat crop has done a massive turnaround in the last month. In mid-April, half of the state was in extreme to exceptional drought. Then, the spring rains arrived and conditions have improved drastically. On this weekend's edition of SUNUP, Oklahoma State University Crop Marketing Specialist Kim Anderson reminds everyone that earlier this spring he projected the state would produce 80 million bushels wheat crop. As the crop has recovered from drought stress and freeze damage, he now projects the state will produce closer to 120 million bushels.


"That's about a 50 percent increase in production," Anderson said. "There's some concerns about the potential quality of it, especially if it continues to rain."


With the heavy rain there are concerns with lodging, along with sucker heads and how farmers will harvest a crop with two different maturity levels. But only time will tell how this will turn out as harvest nears.   

SUNUP host Lyndall Stout asks Anderson about the outlook for domestic and world wheat production and how that impact prices.   Click or tap here to listen to the full interview and a complete rundown of this weekend's SUNUP program to be seen on OETA. 

Dave Langert Defines the 3-P's of Sustainability: People, Planet, Profit

Consumers are in the driver's seat when it comes to agricultural sustainability. For those that live and work on the land, ag producers struggle in understanding what consumers mean in using that term? Dave Langert of the Green Biz Group was one of the speakers at this week's 2015 REBELation Conference put on by Alltech, an animal nutrition company. He formerly served as their vice president of sustainability for McDonald's. In the beef breakout session, he discussed beef sustainability.


"It's a very meaningful concept, the concept that beef is not only about assured supply and quality and performance," Langert said. It's also about treating animals well, treating the earth well and treating the people well."


The whole sustainability movement is being driven forward by consumers. Langert said companies like McDonald's are not doing this because they have activists on their doorstep, demanding sustainability but rather because consumers as a whole want this and they care about care about where their food comes from, what's in it and how it's processed. It's a challenge that consumers have become skeptical of their food. He said agriculture can overcome that by being more transparent.


"All of us in the beef industry need to take charge, develop our own strategy and be way more proactive about telling our story," Langert said.


Langert said these days you just can't say you're sustainable, cattle producer will have to prove it.  Click here to read more or to listen to this Beef Buzz- as heard on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network.

USMEF Board Meeting Underway in San Antonio

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Board of Directors Meeting kicked off in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday afternoon. USMEF Chair Leann Saunders opened the event by providing members with an update on "Project 40" - a USMEF Executive Committee initiative designed to build on nearly 40 years of success and make USMEF a stronger organization going forward.


Saunders noted that feedback received during a comprehensive survey of the USMEF membership and other interviews conducted as part of Project 40 has been overwhelmingly positive. However, some areas were identified in which members feel the organization could be more proactive and strive for improvement.


"I want you to know that the volunteer leadership and staff of USMEF take these recommendations very seriously," Saunders said. "USMEF is not a complacent organization. We are always striving for excellence, and will work collectively to move toward positive change. USMEF has achieved a high level of member satisfaction, yet we are always looking to continuously improve."


Click here to read more from CattleFax CEO Randy Blach as well as USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng about many of the current challenges facing U.S. beef, pork and lamb exports.

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.

Remember Food Safety When Firing Up the Grill - Tips from OSU and USDA

With warmer weather on the way, many Oklahomans will be firing up their grill. Summer is typically a time of creating fun-filled memories and delicious meals; however, if the meal is not prepared properly, it could be a source of foodborne disease.


According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety & Inspection Service, foodborne illness peaks during the summer months, as harmful bacteria tend to grow faster in warmer, more humid weather.

Oklahoma State University's Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center wants Oklahomans to have a safe and fun summer and suggests the following food safety tips when preparing favorite, summertime meals.  Click here for tips in preparing foods for the grill.

 

Last month, USDA launched its FoodKeeper -- This mobile app, which contains specific guidance on more than 400 food and beverage items, including safe cooking recommendations for meat, poultry and seafood products. The app provides information on how to store food and beverages to maximize their freshness and quality. This will help keep products fresh longer than if they were stored improperly, which can happen more often during hot summer days. The application is available for free for Android and Apple devices.   

To help Americans stay healthy and safe, USDA offers many food safety recommendations.  Click here to read the food safety tips.  

This N That- In the Field, Memorial Day and WOTUS Worries

A quick reminder- this weekend- we have as our In the Field guest Mike Schulte, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission.  In the Field is seen Saturday mornings at about 6:40 AM during the weekend morning news block on News9, KWTV in Oklahoma City.

Later in the day- folks outside of the OKC TV market can check it out on the News9 website- and we will be posting it on our Oklahoma Farm Report website as well.

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The Memorial Day weekend is upon us- markets will be closed, banks closed and government offices will be closed on Monday. While many in this country use this weekend as their unofficial kickoff to the summer season- it is a Day set aside by our country to remember those who have given their lives in order that we may enjoy the freedom that is so precious to us as US citizens.  

Regarding the unofficial kick off to summer- it is one of the most important weekends of the year for the beef and pork industries- as HUGE numbers of Americans will fire up their grills and cook out with family and friends- that demand is key to helping move a lot of red meat through the pipeline- so do your part- grill a steak or pork chop this weekend and enjoy the sizzle!!!

We will pause for an extra day this weekend- and return with our next email update on Tuesday morning- May 26.

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On this Friday- there could be a shoe dropped on rural America.  It would NOT surprise me one bit if Gina McCarty and her team release the FINAL rule to radically change the Clean Water Act to control more land across America than ever before. 

It's been called WOTUS- and that name became so toxic that McCarty decided to stop using that language and revert to calling it changes in the the Clean Water Act- she has been quoted as saying that the majority of the one million plus comments that flooded in last year were in support of her agency and the rewriting of how EPA can interact with landowners in protecting clean water supplies in the US.  

Congressman Markwayne Mullin had said earlier this month that the FINAL rule could be released before Memorial Day- and today would be the perfect day if you are an administrator of an agency wanting to roll out an onerous rule that will provoke lots of backlash against you and your agency- one day ahead of one of the major three day holidays of the year- Congress leaving town for a week for a recess and most of the opposing groups winding down ahead of the holiday. 

I don't know anything special- except how this and previous administrations have worked the news cycle before- so don't be surprised if our Tuesday morning EMAIL will have as its top story details of Gina and her Rule.

By the way- speaking of WOTUS- (it will always be WOTUS)- Agri-Pulse has a good story about Senator Pat Roberts raising cain with an Obama Administration nominee over how McCarty may have manipulated the public comment period last year to get the cover she wanted to publish a finalized WOTUS rule this year. Click here and take a read.