Weekly Crop Progress Shows a Deteriorating US Corn Crop and a 55% Complete Oklahoma Wheat Harvest

The latest Crop Progress report continues to paint a bleak early season picture for the US Corn Crop. Nationally, the US Corn Crop drops another 5 points in the Good to Excellent ratings to 50%. The two states we have been watching closely- Illinois and Missouri- continue their slide because of dry weather conditions ahead of pollination.

Illinois's corn crop now sits at 26% good to excellent- down 10 points over this past week while Missouri is now at 31%- off 12 points from a week ago.

The US Winter wheat harvest has reached 24 percent complete, down 15 percentage points from the previous year and down 9 points from the average.

In Oklahoma, winter wheat harvested reached 55 percent, down 32 percentage points from the previous year and down 24 points from normal.

Corn conditions rated 70 percent good to excellent, 28 percent fair and 2 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 72 percent good to excellent, 26 percent fair and 2 percent poor to very poor.

Soybeans planted reached 70 percent, down 4 points from the previous year and down 2 points from normal. Soybean conditions rated 72 percent good to excellent, 22 percent fair and 6 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 65 percent good to excellent, 33 percent fair, and 2 percent poor to very poor.

Cotton planted reached 91 percent, down 2 points from the previous year and down 1 point from normal. Cotton conditions rated 76 percent good to excellent, 21 percent fair and 3 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 82 percent good to excellent, 17 percent fair and 1 percent poor to very poor. 

Pasture and range conditions rated 53 percent good to excellent, 30 percent fair and 17 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 59 percent good to excellent, 28 percent fair and 13 percent poor to very poor. 



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Combines On the Move- Oklahoma Wheat Commission Sees Harvest 57% Complete

Below is part of the latest harvest report from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission released on June 26, 2023.

The Oklahoma Wheat Harvest made greater progress in areas over the weekend, even with continued rains in multiple regions throughout this past week. 

Harvest in Southwest and South Central, Oklahoma is wrapped up for the most part although producers are still cutting in regions where they have been fighting rains. Harvest in Southwest, Oklahoma is 95% complete.  In Central Oklahoma greater progress was made in most areas over the weekend. The OWC is now calling that region 60% complete in most places.  In parts of Northwest Oklahoma, up by Burlington and Alva, harvest is 80% complete. As you move into North Central regions along the Hwy 81 corridor east up along I-35 around Tonkawa, Ponca City, Blackwell and Braman, that area is 35% complete.  In Northeast Oklahoma in the Afton and Miami regions, that area is 85% to 95% complete depending on location.

In the Panhandle regions producers have been fighting untimely rains for wheat harvest in many places. No dryland wheat or irrigated wheat is being reported as being harvest in the Balko region.  One field of irrigated wheat has been reported as being harvested south of Hooker and was making 55 bushels per acre on early cuttings, but no irrigated wheat has been reported as being taken in at elevators within that region.  Some samples have been received on irrigated wheat at Hooker this morning and they were 17% moisture, so producers were hoping to get into the fields today. (No dryland wheat will be harvested in this region most likely.)

In Southern Oklahoma test weights at most locations have fallen a bit now ranging mostly at a 59 lbs. per bushel average for that region. In Central Oklahoma test weights are not as high ranging from 56 to 61 lbs. per bushel, but most coming in at 57 lbs. to 59 lbs. per bushel. Early reports from Northern Oklahoma across the state have test weights ranging from 60-62 lbs. per bushel, with a few lower test weights being reported at 58 lbs. per bushel. Quality has still been holding up on wheat in this area as the rains have not as impacted it as much as Central, Oklahoma.

Cattlemen’s Beef Board Works to Make Best Use of the Beef Checkoff

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am talking with Rancher and Chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, Jimmy Taylor. Taylor and I talk about the work that the Cattlemen’s Beef Board has been doing to spread the word about the benefits of eating beef.

The Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion Board is responsible for collecting and investing the dollar per head Beef Checkoff on behalf of the cattle industry. Taylor said volunteers who make up the beef board are committed to getting the most ‘bang’ for the dollar per head Beef Checkoff, and one of the things they struggle with is having many great ideas to invest in, but not enough dollars to spend.

The dollar-per-head Beef Checkoff is different than some of the other commodity checkoffs, in that it is a fixed amount that is collected each time an animal is sold.

“The Checkoff was born in the 1985 Farm Bill, and it was set at a dollar a head,” Taylor said. “Well, there is no room for that to fluctuate, so as inflation happens and the dollar value changes, that dollar does not. So, we are operating on 1985 dollars. Our dollar today is worth about 41 cents of what it as in 1985.” (Editor’s Note- once lawmakers added the Checkoff into the Farm Bill- it was approved by a vote of cattle producers.)

Oklahoma State University will honor six individuals who have brought distinctive credit to the university’s Ferguson College of Agriculture and contributed significantly to society.

Lionel Bentley (posthumously), Heather Buckmaster, Gary Clark, Andy Cole, Eddie Fields and Terry Tippens have been named the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.

The honorees will be officially recognized during the OSU Agriculture Honors ceremony on Oct. 20.

“These individuals have had a tremendous impact on the Ferguson College of Agriculture and made significant contributions through their careers and to their communities, the state and the university,” said Thomas G. Coon, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. “We are proud to honor this group of alumni with such an esteemed award.”

Established in 1983, the Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes individuals whose accomplishments serve as a model for current and future Ferguson College of Agriculture students.

“As part of our land-grant mission, the Ferguson College of Agriculture takes pride in developing ethical leaders who are committed to service,” said Cynda Clary, associate dean for the Ferguson College of Agriculture. “Our honorees live out this commitment every day through their words and actions. Our college and its students are fortunate to have these significant role models as examples of impactful service and excellence.”

OSU Agriculture names Champions for 2023

Oklahoma State University will honor individuals who have demonstrated a continuing commitment to agricultural sciences and natural resources.

Win and Kay Ingersoll and Jon Newell are recipients of the 2023 Champion for OSU Agriculture Award. The honorees will be recognized during the OSU Agriculture Honors ceremony on Oct. 20.

“These individuals embody the ideals and mission of OSU Agriculture and support our rich tradition and history of improving the quality of life for Oklahomans through science-based research,” said Thomas G. Coon, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture. “Each of the honorees makes us proud, and we look forward to recognizing them and celebrating their achievements.”

Established in 2011, the Champion for OSU Agriculture Award recognizes individuals who are not graduates of the university’s Ferguson College of Agriculture but who have brought distinction to the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

The division is comprised of the Ferguson College of Agriculture and two state agencies: OSU Extension and OSU Ag Research.

Mislabeled Jalapeno Seeds Lead to Confusion Among Gardeners

Farm Director KC Sheperd had the chance to visit with Ali Cude about a recent jalapeño seed switch-up that has impacted the floral shop that she works for and many others nationwide.

Ali Cude is the office manager at Sedan Floral in Kansas. As some of her customer’s jalapeño peppers are coming into bloom, Cude has been notified that the peppers are turning out yellow rather than traditional jalapeño green.

“The company is 75 years old,” Cude said. “I don’t think a mixup has ever been this big. This is a nationwide issue.”

Cude reported that it’s not just her shop that has been impacted by this mistake; the issue is nationwide. It all traces back to the seed producer who sold around the country, she added.

“There’s nothing you can do at this point,” Cude said. “But what we have been told by the vendor is that what they’ve sent us was a yellow jalapeño.”

Growth Energy Applauds USDA Biofuel Infrastructure Investments

Growth Energy praised the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) release of $25 million of biofuels infrastructure grant awards today as well as the upcoming availability of $450 million in additional biofuels infrastructure funding. The funding, announced by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, can be used by retailers to expand access to higher ethanol blends like E15—a fuel made with 15% ethanol. 

“Secretary Vilsack’s announcement is great news for biofuel producers, retailers, and consumers,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Over the last two summers, we’ve seen E15 prove itself again and again as a proven source of savings for working families and a shield against volatile fossil fuel markets. The grant funding announced today will help our retail partners to expand options at the pump so more American drivers can save money and reduce their carbon emissions.” 

Today’s announcement builds on the USDA’s past efforts to support sales of higher biofuel blends through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), which received a $500 million boost under President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Since 2014, Growth Energy has helped retailers across the country acquire $230 million in federal, state, and private grants that have gone toward making the necessary changes for them to offer E15 to their customers. 

“These historic investments would not have been possible without the support of Secretary Vilsack and rural champions in Congress,” said Jake Comer, Growth Energy’s vice president of Market Development. “We’re grateful for their efforts, and we look forward to working with them to tear down remaining barriers to higher ethanol blends, including outdated restrictions on summer sales of E15.”