Wheat planting is just around the corner. Oklahoma State University Extension Wheat Pathologist Dr. Bob Hunger said having a good crop at harvest all starts with decisions being made now. He said it starts with matching the right genetics for the environment and tillage practices. And- farmers need to treat their wheat seed ahead of planting in the weeks ahead. With 20 different plant diseases in Oklahoma, Hunger said diseases have become a bigger problem for farmers today.


"As no-till wheat cultivation has come, with increases of residue, tan spot and septoria have increased some," Hunger said. "Even more recently than that now, the fusarium head blight is something that's new that the breeding is starting to look at. Wheat streak mosaic virus seems to be expanding its range coming from western and northwestern, Oklahoma a little bit more down state."


Dr. Hunger said the front line of defense of plant diseases is selecting the best genetics from the OSU breeding program. Farmers also need to start looking at seed treatments because of bunts and smuts. Flag smut has been found recently in Kansas. Flag smut hasn't been a problem in Oklahoma, but Hunger said farmers need to be looking for it. He said using seed treatments are the best way to address all three smuts and bunts.


At the Oklahoma Wheat Review held on Tuesday at Redlands Community College in El Reno, I talked with Dr. Hunger about making wheat planting decisions. Click or tap here to listen to the full interview or to read more recommendations from Dr. Hunger.

The number of cattle in the nation's feedlots continued to increase with year over year gains for the fifth straight month. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported the number of cattle and calves on feed totaled 10 million head, as of August first. This was three percent above August 2014 and 1.7 percent below the five year average. Nebraska was up three percent, Kansas was up two percent and Texas was down one percent versus a year ago for cattle on feed. Radio Oklahoma Network's Leslie Smith interviewed Tom Leffler of Leffler Commodities after the report came out Friday afternoon. He said marketings came in close to the trade estimates and placements were two points lower than expected, so the report was slightly positive.


Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.55 million head, one percent below 2014. Net placements were 1.49 million head. Leffler said placements were 14.6 percent lower than the five year average. This was the lowest July placements of the past 20 years and the second lowest monthly placement number for 2015. Nebraska's placements were up four percent, Kansas down one percent and Texas was down 11 percent versus a year ago.


During July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 365,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 235,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 327,000 head, and 800 pounds and greater were 620,000 head. Leffler said the 800 plus pound category was up 19.2 percent. Placements for the 800 plus pound category were larger than the previous year for now 11 of the past 12 months.

Leffler also provided reaction to the monthly cold storage report and Pro Farmer's estimate of the nation's corn and soybean production.  Click or tap here to listen to the full interview and to read these full reports.

Two years ago at the Summer Cattle Industry Conference, there was a feedlot cattle condition that was highlighted by showing video of cattle suffering from extreme mobility problems, as they were delivered to a packing plant. Some believed the common denominator was beta-agonists, specifically Zilmax. In August 2013, Zilmax was voluntarily taken off the market by Merck Animal Health.


Now it looks like beta-agonists weren't the total problem. That's according to Dr. Dan Thomson, veterinarian and Director of the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University. He has been involved in a study on the "fatigued cattle syndrome". He said the condition was originally found in cattle at packing plants in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. When these cattle arrived, they were stiff and unable to move and the condition was attributed to Zilmax. Since then, their group has established tests and identified the clinical signs and found several different ways to prevent "fatigue cattle syndrome".


Several universities began to study Zilmax's impact on well being of feedlot cattle , including Oklahoma State University, Texas Tech, University of Nebraska and K-State. Thomson said his group at K-State looked at stress factors in the carcasses.

According to a special report published this summer in the Journal for American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Thomson and his co-researchers believe that while the use of Zilmax might be a factor in developing these mobility problems- it is clearly not the only factor- "Although anecdotal evidence generated concern that cattle fed the ?-adrenergic receptor agonist zilpaterol hydrochloride were at greater risk of developing mobility problems, compared with cattle not fed zilpaterol, this condition is likely multifactorial."


Dr. Thomson says handling cattle in the heat of the day, pushing cattle hard as you work them and transportation- especially long distances- can all be stress factors that can trigger this Syndrome.  

We have a couple of stories that we can point you to this morning- we have our Beef Buzz from Friday that features Dr. Thomson and offers a brief overview of the research done at K-State on this- that's available here.

AND- we have just been provided a copy of the research background and conclusions that have been published in JAVMA- that's packaged with a more complete audio conversation that Dr. Thomson had with Eric Atkinson of K-State's Agriculture Today- click here to jump there.

 

Farm Service Agency Administrator Val Dolcini is encouraging producers to examine the available U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) crop risk protection options, including federal crop insurance and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage, before the sales deadline for fall crops.

Crop Insurance Deadlines for winter canola is August 31st for Oklahoma and Texas- for Oats and winter wheat- the sales deadline is September 30.

"Deadlines are quickly approaching to purchase coverage for fall-seeded crops," said Dolcini. "We remind producers that crops not covered by insurance may be eligible for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program. The 2014 Farm Bill expanded NAP to include higher levels of protection. Beginning, underserved and limited resource farmers are now eligible for free catastrophic level coverage, as well as discounted premiums for additional levels of protection."

Federal crop insurance covers crop losses from natural adversities such as drought, hail and excessive moisture. NAP covers losses from natural disasters on crops for which no permanent federal crop insurance program is available, including forage and grazing crops, fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, floriculture, ornamental nursery, aquaculture, turf grass, ginseng, honey, syrup, bioenergy, and industrial crops.

Read more by clicking here.

In every sense, 2015 has been a miracle year for Oklahoma. The state had been battling drought and it seemed like drought was on the menu for another summer, then from out of nowhere the rain arrived and the whole situation turned around. Oklahoma State University Mesonet Agricultural Coordinator Al Sutherland said the record rainfall in May into June took the state from drought to flooding in some locations.


"The good thing was it really pulled up the amount of moisture in our soils," Sutherland said. "We filled that soil profile, then we had enough runoff that went in and filled the ponds, those filled, then we went onto fill the lakes up completely."


Across the state, the rains have continued into July and August. With some hot, windy days, the summer crops have been taking up some of that moisture and that has dropped the amount of moisture available in the soil. Sutherland said soil moisture is really spotty, depending on the location. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor report has drought starting to reappear in the southeast part of the state and pockets of dryness in the southern and north central part of the state. Sutherland said it's hard to tell if that trend will continue with August predicted to be cooler and wetter than average.

Our own Leslie Smith talked with Sutherland at last week's Oklahoma Irrigation Conference.  Click here to listen to their conversation.

The Commissioners of the Land Office (CLO) had an exceptional year for funds earned and distributed to its public education beneficiaries in the state of Oklahoma during the fiscal year which ended June 30. The second-highest distributions in agency history of $97.5 million were made to common schools, as well as the second-highest total annual distributions for all common school and higher education beneficiaries of $128.96 million were distributed in fiscal year 2015.


Harry Birdwell, secretary of the CLO, announced the news to the commissioners last week while reviewing FY 2015 agency highlights.


"In a year when resources are scarce, we were pleased to be able to increase distributions to public education," Birdwell said. "We were able to distribute $4.0 million more to common schools (K-12) than the previous year by maximizing budget efficiencies, diversifying investments and improving yields in the investment portfolio that can be distributed to beneficiaries immediately."


During the past five fiscal years the agency distributed $649 million to its common school and higher education beneficiaries. That represents an increase of $264 million than in any other five year period in state history. During the same five year period CLO's permanent investment trust funds increased by $700 million.  Click here to read more from Governor Mary Fallin.

In Case You Missed It- click here for the video from Saturday morning as seen on KWTV News9- featuring a conversation that we had with Dallas Henderson and Michael Kelsey of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association.

The 31st anniversary of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association (OCA) and Oklahoma Ford Dealers Range Round-Up will be returning to the Lazy E Arena near Guthrie. The OCA Range Round-Up will be held this coming Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29 with both performances at 7 p.m. Tickets can be bought at the door or reserved early online through the Lazy E website. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. to allow time for attendees to visit the trade show.

There will be a total of 12 teams competing that will be representing a total of 17 Oklahoma Ranches.  Those ranches that will be taking part in the 2015 edition of the Roundup include:  Alfalfa County Land & Cattle, Cherokee, Okla.; Spur Ranch, Vinita, Okla.; Buford Ranches, LLC, Welch, Okla.; Davison & Sons Cattle Co., Arnett, Okla.; Wayland Cattle Co., Arnett, Okla.; Drummond Land & Cattle Co., Pawhuska, Okla; Gray G Bar Ranch, Grainola, OK; Hall Ranch, Comanche, Okla, Daube Cattle Co., Ardmore, Okla.; McCoy Ranch, Ada, Okla.; Beebe Livestock, Ada, Okla.; Kelly Ranch, Marlow, Okla.; Bearce Ranch, Marlow, Okla.; Treadwell Land & Cattle Co., Frederick, Okla.; McPhail Land & Cattle, Snyder, Okla.; Lazy Rafter Slash Ranch, Lenapah, Okla.; and Stierwalt Ranch & Cattle Co., Shidler, Okla.