Plains Grains will once again be releasing weekly hard red winter wheat reports this harvest season- this past Friday- they have called the Oklahoma wheat crop currently at 3% harvested- and Texas up to 18% complete.

The report shows the following notes for Oklahoma- "Cutting, mid-20s to low 40s yields. 12-13.5% moisture, protein 12.5-15%. TW 60-64"

The Texas wheat harvest number is actually the Crop Progress number of last week- so the updated number that will be released this afternoon will actually be well into the 20s or further when Uncle Sam gives us that stat.

This is the first year that Mark Hodges, who helped establish Plains Grains, is not writing the weekly update. That duty has fallen to the new Executive Director of Plains Grains, Royce Shaneman who is based out of Lincoln, Nebraska.



The Oklahoma Agriculture Mediation Program knows this is a hard time for farmers and ranchers. We want you to know we are still open, and we are still here for you. The Ag Mediation program is a free service that provides mediation to agriculture producers who may need help with ag-related disputes.

At Oklahoma Ag Mediation, we have been helping people in agriculture resolve conflicts since 1987. We know firsthand about working together to resolve conflicts, so you don’t have to go through the court systems. Let our professional mediators help you. Mediation is allowed for lease issues, farmer/neighbor disputes, family farm transitions, and more. These services are available at no cost for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers in all 77 counties. For more information, you can go to ok.gov/mediation, or give us a call at 800 248 5465.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack issued the following statement regarding the announcement by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) that the United States has requested dispute settlement consultations with Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). These consultations are in regard to Mexico’s agricultural biotechnology policies.

“USDA supports success for all farmers, and that means embracing fair, open, science- and rules-based trade. In this spirit, the USMCA was written to ensure that producers in all three countries have full and fair access to each other’s markets,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We fundamentally disagree with the position Mexico has taken on the issue of biotechnology, which has been proven to be safe for decades. Through this action, we are exercising our rights under USMCA while supporting innovation, nutrition security, sustainability, and the mutual success of our farmers and producers.”

The announcement is the latest action USDA and USTR have taken to address the United States’ concerns with Mexico’s biotechnology policies. In March, USDA and USTR requested technical consultations with Mexico under the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Chapter of the USMCA.

Integrity is Vital in Today’s Cattle Industry as Marketing Tactics Evolve

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am back featuring comments from Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Intern, Maci Carter’s interview with Executive Vice President of the American Hereford Association, Jack Ward, talking about Cattlemen’s Congress.

One aspect of Cattlemen’s Conference, a blueprint for the future of the beef cattle industry, was about practicing ethical behavior and integrity. Ward put together a synopsis at the end of the conference about what was said.

Marketing and sales have changed significantly over the last 20 years, Ward said, as there is more utilization of online and video sales.

“Over two million head of feeder cattle in ’22 were sold through video sales,” Ward said. “When you start doing that, and buyers or consumers aren’t necessarily seeing the product before they buy them, you have to be very honest with them upfront. Ethics and integrity are so vital.”

The bottom line, Ward said, is putting integrity and ethics at the very highest level when doing business. Ward also talked about how technology has progressed in the industry over the years, aiding in genetic advancements.

At this year’s Cattlemen’s Conference, Blueprint for the Future, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Intern, Maci Carter, had the chance to visit with Dr. Jeff Goodwin of Texas A&M about enhancing the soil health of grazing lands.

Soil health, said Goodwin, is really about understanding the soil’s capacity to continue functioning, support, and work as a living ecosystem.

Goodwin shared that soil is much more than just a medium for our crops or grasses; it is a living ecosystem. The health of these ecosystems plays a vital role in the productivity of the soil.

“From a soil health perspective, it really is sort of pinned on our ability to sequester or increase the accumulation of organic matter in our soils,” Goodwin said. “As we start to build and repair these ecological processes, we start to see the sort of core four ecosystem processes start to get better. They also provide sort of these feedback loops that really help the ecosystem function at its best pace.”

Goodwin said increasing organic matter is the best way to make soils more resilient. He added that the increase raises infiltration capabilities, increases drought resilience, and it repairs some of the ecological processes, which will provide feedback and continue to improve the ecosystem’s productivity.

Ag Groups Applaud Move by U.S. Trade Representative to Initiate Dispute Settlement with Mexico Over Corn Decree

The U.S. Trade Representative announced Friday that it is filing a dispute settlement under the U.S.- Mexico-Canada Agreement in response to the steps Mexico has taken to ban biotech corn for human consumption.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), which along with affiliated state associations, has been leading calls for the Biden administration to act, praised the development.

“Mexico’s actions, which are not based on sound science, have threatened the financial wellbeing of corn growers and our nation’s rural communities,” said NCGA President Tom Haag. “We are deeply appreciative of Ambassador Katherine Tai and USTR for moving this process forward and thankful for the efforts of Secretary Tom Vilsack and members of Congress for standing up for farmers in such a meaningful way.”

The U.S. Grains Council strongly supports the U.S. government’s action today as the decree explicitly bans the export of biotech white corn to Mexico, and appreciates U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack for always insisting that genetically modified crops are science-based, sound and safe.

The result of this decree as written will be to raise corn prices in Mexico, further exacerbating food security issues there, while also trying to block biotechnology as an important tool U.S. farmers can use to sustainably feed the world. U.S. Grains will do all in their power to support the U.S. government’s consultations so free and fair trade of corn between the United States and Mexico continues as was agreed to in USMCA.

The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products including distiller’s dried grains with solubles and ethanol. With full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in more than 50 countries and the European Union. The Council believes exports are vital to global economic development and to U.S. agriculture’s profitability.

U.S. Wheat Associates Hires Luke Muller as Assistant Director in West Coast Office

U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) has hired Luke Muller as Assistant Director of its West Coast Office in Portland, Ore. Muller, who began his new role on May 30, comes to USW with a broad set of skills and experience in agricultural research and economics.

Raised on his family’s wheat, cotton, sorghum, canola, soybean and alfalfa farm in southwestern Oklahoma, Muller has a bachelor’s degree in Plant and Soil Sciences and Agribusiness from Oklahoma State University (OSU). He earned a master’s degree in Agriculture, Food and Resource Economics at Michigan State University (MSU).

Muller worked as a Research Assistant in MSU’s Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Economics, where his duties included investigating fungal and insect effect on crops in the Midwest. He also served as a consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, Italy. His work and study abroad offered an opportunity to see firsthand how other countries develop sustainable food chains through technology, research, and policy.

“Luke’s expertise in agricultural economics, coupled with his understanding of wheat farming and his excellent communication skills, will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts to support and promote the U.S. wheat in the overseas market,” said Steve Wirsching, Vice President and Director of USW’s West Coast Office.

Rainfall Since Friday Morning- Northwest Oklahoma Takes Lions Share

Rainfall totals are impressive in northwest Oklahoma- the map above is a snapshot in time from Friday morning until Monday morning- and Alva has recorded over 6 inches of rain. If you go back another day- the four day rainfall map shows Alva almost at 7 inches of rain- lots of moisture profile building rain and plenty for pond filling, too.

Also impressive- Butler has 5.25 inches and Bessie has 4.92 inches of rainfall over the last three days.

Honorable mention has Beaver, Fairview and Woodward with over 3 inches of rain as shown on the graphic.

These are all rains that will help change the next Drought Monitor numbers that will be out this coming Thursday.

AND- there continues to be rain in the forecast this week across parts of the state as well. Drought ain't over yet- but seems to be on the run!