After four weeks of no changes in the exceptional drought category, this week, exceptional drought has increased from 8.86 percent to 11.21 percent in Oklahoma.

Extreme drought or worse is still at 36.64 percent- the same as weeks before.

Severe drought or worse is virtually unchanged, moving from last week’s 50.58 percent to this week’s 50.12 percent.

Moderate drought or worse is unchanged from last week at 59.07 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are also the same as last week at 65.61 percent.

According to the 6-10 day precipitation outlook map, the northwest corner and the panhandle regions of Oklahoma stand at a near normal chance of precipitation through April 1. The southwest corner, up through central Oklahoma, and the northeast corner of the state are learning above a 33 to 40 percent chance of precipitation. As for the southeast corner, that part of the state is learning above a 40 to 50 percent chance of precipitation through April 1.

To view this week's Oklahoma Drought Map and Numbers, click the Oklahoma Drought Map above the story.



National Livestock was founded in 1932 in Oklahoma City. National’s Marketing Division offers cattle for sale weekly at the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City. The Finance Division lends money to ranchers across several states for cattle production. The Grazing Division works with producers to place cattle for grazing on wheat or grass pastures. 

National also owns and operates other livestock marketing subsidiaries including Southern Oklahoma Livestock Auction in Ada, Oklahoma, OKC West Livestock Market in El Reno, Oklahoma, and the nation’s premier livestock video sale, Superior Livestock Auction. National offers customers many services custom made for today’s producer. To learn more, click here for the website or call the Oklahoma City office at 1-800-310-0220.

This Week on SUNUP is Oklahoma State University Extension grain market economist Kim Anderson. During this week’s edition Anderson talks about the latest in the grain markets.

Russia’s exports are backed up, Anderson said, and their ending stocks are projected to be relatively high as they are looking at an average crop following a record crop last year.

“Then you have got the Russia and Ukraine export agreement,” Anderson said. “It is due to be renewed. Russia said they are going to extend it for 60 days. The Ukraine wants 120. That had some little impacts on the market.”

Anderson said there is also some movement impacting markets going on in Brazil and Argentina.

Brazil is projected to have a big soybean crop, Anderson said, and for the first time, Brazil will be the number one exporter of corn compared to the United States.

“The big news is La Niña is dead,” Anderson said. “It came out this week. The weather forecasters are saying La Niña has moved over to a neutral position.”

In the next few months, Anderson said, we will move to El Nino, which means more precipitation and higher production.

North America Continues to Satisfy Demand for Grain-Fed Beef Around the World

At the recent International Livestock Congress in Houston, Texas,I had the chance to talk with the Executive Vice President of the Canadian Cattle Association, Dennis Laycraft.

“We actually have a great story in the North American cattle industry,” Laycraft said. “We are amongst the most efficient cattle producers in the world, which means we have the lowest greenhouse gas footprint in the world.”

Canada and the United States, Laycraft said, have been working together to ensure that animal agriculture is better understood in sustainability conversations.

“Attending meetings like this where we are sharing the best possible information, I think helps all of us when we engage in that bigger conversation,” Laycraft said.

Laycraft also talked about how the cattle industry in the U.S. and Canada is very similar in terms of genetics, feeding methods and more.

“We have been seeing cattle move back and forth for probably 150 years, so it is not surprising we would be very similar,” Laycraft said.

There are still two or three good bands of rain falling across Oklahoma this morning as we finish writing our Friday email- one still in northeastern Oklahoma extending back down to the northside of the OKC metro- and a much bigger set of showers that stretch from just east of Lawton across south central Oklahoma and extend up to around McAlester.

The graphic above shows the rainfall that has covered from Grandfield in the southwest (7 tenths there) to Jay in the northeast not far from the Arkansas line with just over 4 inches of rain- almost all of that happening since 5 pm on Thursday.

While we will see some additional rainfall amounts pile up in south central Oklahoma and points east- much of western Oklahoma has gotten little or no rainfall from this latest system that has rolled in from the west coast. The Mesonet graphic above is linked to the 48 hour rainfall map on the website so you will have a chance to see real time totals on into the weekend.

The Drought Monitor story that is further up in the email shows how dry it is in the areas that did NOT get rainfall from the this current system- where drought drags on in Oklahoma- no relief was received and nothing is on the immediate horizon.

After this system moves out of Oklahoma- there are some small chances the next few days but nothing major over the next few days.

Wildlife Watch: Abundant Ground-nesting Birds Sign of Healthy Grasslands

Ground nesting bird populations are essential indicators of your ranch’s ecological health.

Ground-nesting birds serve as an important indicator of a healthy ranch, according to Alan Sparks, senior research associate at Noble Research Institute. Such birds belong to a diverse group, from shorebirds that nest on sandy and rocky areas along ponds and lakes, such as killdeer and sandpipers, to some species of waterfowl that tuck their nests away in deep vegetation.

But, when it comes to evaluating ranch management, not all ground-nesting birds are created equal. The presence and prevalence of grassland ground-nesting game birds, such as the northern bobwhite quail and wild turkey, are key clues about your land’s ecological health and diversity.

“I think using grassland birds is like a blanket indicator. If they’re functioning properly, then you can, in a general statement, say the ecosystem on your ranch is functioning properly, as well,” Sparks says.

Grassland ground-nesting birds, especially quail, can be good barometers for healthy land because they thrive in diverse native pastures. Quail coveys, or small flocks, prefer bunch grasses, such as little bluestem, big bluestem and Indiangrass to nest in, and they rear their young in the spaces between the bunches. They also need large forbs and brush to provide cover from predators. In addition to habitat requirements of quail, turkeys also need mature wooded areas near water, because the adult birds roost in trees.

Russian Intervention Has Fueled Every Wheat Price Spike Since 2007

Once again, and tragically this time, Russian intervention is the underlying source of dramatic global wheat price volatility.

“…We are closely monitoring prices for the most essential social goods such as food, including bread,” said Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin this week about its domestic wheat supply. “Russian grain is in good demand from abroad, and its price is increasing. That said, it is necessary to provide the necessary raw materials, first of all, to the domestic baking industry.”

The Prime Minister made this comment with specific reference to the hyper reaction of global wheat prices to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the immediate impacts of the widespread economic sanctions levied on Russia in response. Yet it spotlights the core tenants of Russia’s protectionist and heavy-handed wheat supply and price control policies. Russian intervention has been front and center since the country first entered the global wheat export trade.

Anyone who does not take the Prime Minister at his word on this sets themselves up for a very disappointing and expensive lesson. Defending Russian domestic supplies and keeping domestic prices low by withholding supplies from the world will always be their primary wheat policy weapon. And they deploy it without regard for the harm and expense it creates for anyone

Cribbs Red River Red Angus Production Sale Set for Saturday

The Cribbs Red River Red Angus Production Sale is happening on Saturday, March 25th at the Vernon Livestock Auction in Vernon, Texas.

Lunch will be served at noon with the sale to start at 1 PM.

They will be selling over 230 head- Cattle bred to successfully compete in today’s marketplace

Low birth weights & great weight gain and great staying power

33 two year old Red Angus Bulls

40 Red Angus Fall Pairs

150 Red Angus Spring Cows

and more

Click here for the sale catalog

Online Bidding

Live Streaming Sale Day with Online Bidding

To view the sale and bid online, you will need to register in advance so we have time to approve the bidder. Call 580-481-0339.

BidPhone Number: 580-954-0606

Click here for the home page of their website- scroll down to the button on the website for the lives stream.

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