Oklahoma Reaches 97 Percent Wheat Harvest Completion- Kansas Still Only 71% Done

U.S. corn and soybean conditions improved again last week, according to USDA NASS’ weekly Crop Progress report released Monday. Both crops also continued to mature at a slightly ahead-of-average pace.

In the Southern Plains- Wheat Harvest is not quite done. Oklahoma's Winter wheat harvest has reached 97 percent, down 3 percentage points from the previous year and the average. Texas is also at 97% done. But Kansas has a ways to go- now at 71% complete- up 12 points from last week but way behind the 98% done a year ago and the 94% five year average.

Checking other Oklahoma Crop and Pasture Conditions:

Corn silking reached 55 percent, up 13 points from the previous year and up 8 points from normal. Corn conditions rated 76 percent good to excellent, 18 percent fair and 6 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 79 percent good to excellent, 12 percent fair and 9 percent poor to very poor.

Soybeans planted reached 95 percent. Soybeans emerged reached 86 percent, down 2 points from the previous year but up 2 points from normal. Soybean conditions rated 71 percent good to excellent, 24 percent fair and 5 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 72 percent good to excellent, 17 percent fair and 11 percent poor to very poor. 

Pasture and range conditions rated 66 percent good to excellent, 26 percent fair and 8 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 71 percent good to excellent, 23 percent fair and 6 percent poor to very poor.



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.



2023 Honorary Angus Foundation inductees announced- Two Oklahoma Families Inducted

Whether it is the glaring passion of the Jenkinses or the subtle smile of the Pollards, there is an indisputable dedication to supporting the future of Angus in this year’s inductees of the Honorary Angus Foundation. Milford and Peggy Jenkins of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Dr. Barry and Roxanne Pollard of Waukomis, Oklahoma, were recognized as the 2023 inductees for their outstanding support of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA). The NJAA provides numerous youth development opportunities for the next generation thanks to generous Angus donors.

The award was announced July 7, at the National Junior Angus Show in Grand Island, Nebraska.

“My wife Peggy and I have been very blessed to be part of the Angus Foundation, and we are extremely humbled and immeasurably honored by this recognition,” Milford Jenkins said.

The Jenkins were selected for their many years of leadership in the Angus Foundation and their sustained support of the NJAA.

Boester said the Angus Foundation would not be what it is today without the Jenkins and Pollard families’ enthusiasm.

The Pollard family has a long history of passion for supporting Angus youth.

“Supporting the future of the Angus breed, starting with youth is so important,” Dr. Pollard said. “Programs like the National Junior Angus Association are key and fundamental in creating positive leaders and upstanding citizens.”

Dr. Troy Shelby talks Cattle Care During Hot Summer Months

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am featuring comments from Farm Director KC Shepherd’s interview with Veterinarian Dr. Troy Shelby about the impacts of heat on cattle.

Shelby performs veterinary services for the Oklahoma National Stockyards each week and at the Southern Oklahoma Livestock Market out of Ada. Shelby is a southcentral Oklahoma Cattle producer and the current Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association president-elect.

As heat is hard on cattle, Shelby said shade and water should be of top priority. Working animals in the heat of the day, Shelby added, can also increase stress.

In southcentral Oklahoma, where Shelby ranches, he said the drought hit them hard, but recent rains have made a big difference.

“Here about a month ago, we started catching some pretty good runoff and some big rains, and it has gotten a lot better,” Shelby said. “We have got adequate levels of water, but sometimes the quality is not too good when you get this hot weather, you get some stagnant water, some algae growth, and those types of things.”

Associate Farm Editor, Reagan Calk, had the chance to visit with the Founder and Director of Think Regeneration, Ryan Slabaugh. Slabaugh talks about the upcoming Transition to Organic Partnership Program Leadership Seminar, Think Regeneration, in Bixby, Oklahoma, on August 3-4 at the Euchee Butterfly Farm.

“We have got an invitation out to local growers and farmers and ranchers who want to participate in our program,” Slabaugh said.

The series starts in Bixby, Oklahoma, and will also be traveling to Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Colorado.

“The real goal is to help farmers and ranchers manage change on their farm and build communities around the changes they have to make,” Slabaugh said.

Farmers are being asked to do so much these days, Slabaugh said, and most of that involves managing change in their operations. Producers are having to evolve with changing times, Slabaugh said, including changes in the marketplace and the tactics and systems they manage with their soil, crops, and livestock.

Cattle Industry Summer Meeting Education Session to Focus on Resilience

U.S. cattle producers will be gathering in San Diego, July 24-26, for the industry’s Summer Business Meeting to discuss critical issues, develop initiatives, and establish direction for various projects aimed at improving the beef cattle industry. One of the highlights of the event is the education session “Optimizing Resources and Leveraging Technology to Build Resilience” on Wednesday, July 26, which will provide leaders with a glimpse into building resilience.

This session, sponsored by Envu, will feature Dr. James Oltjen, Cooperative Extension Animal Management Systems Specialist at the University of California, Davis, with a look at the most recent research on water use in U.S. beef production. NCBA’s Senior Director of Sustainability Samantha Werth will moderate a panel discussion focused on the tools and technologies available to help producers optimize water resources and grazing management. Panelists include Mike Williams, Diamond W Cattle; Steve Wooten, Beatty Canyon Ranch; Justin Hossfeld, Envu; and Gary Tiller, Vence.

“Water and grazing management play a critical role in ensuring the success of operations,” said Todd Wilkinson, NCBA president and South Dakota rancher. “I hope this unique session provides insights for cattlemen and women on how to tackle challenges and prepare their businesses for the future.”

The cattle industry Summer Business Meeting includes leaders representing the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, American National CattleWomen and National Cattlemen’s Foundation. For more information, visit www.ncba.org.

Our coverage from the 2023 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego is being powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

ASA Appreciates EPA SRE Decision

The Environmental Protection Agency has denied 26 Small Refinery Exemption petitions for the Renewable Fuel Standard spanning compliance years 2016-2018 and 2021-2023, demonstrating the agency’s continued commitment to ending the backlog of pending SREs.

ASA applauds EPA for its continued transparent and fair assessment of SREs through more stringent hardship and economic impact requirements and appreciates efforts to uphold the integrity of the RFS. Historically, significant SRE approvals without clear and consistent metrics for evaluation created vast market uncertainty and undermined the intent of the RFS, creating a challenging environment for continued growth in the biomass-based diesel industry.

EPA has worked in recent years to develop new parameters for petition approvals that have proven effective at strengthening the RFS. ASA is pleased with this progress and hopes EPA will continue to work with the biofuels industry to implement the RFS as intended.

With the finalization of these 26 SRE petition denials, EPA has cut down SRE backlogs significantly, with only two outstanding petitions remaining from compliance year 2018.