This Week’s Oklahoma Drought Monitor Similar to Last Week with Minor Increases

According to the latest Oklahoma drought monitor, exceptional drought is still at zero, unchanged from the past three weeks.

Extreme drought or worse is unchanged from last week at 2.58 percent.

Severe drought or worse conditions have increased from last week’s 6.64 percent and are now at 7.58 percent.

Moderate drought or worse has worsened slightly since last week, moving from last week’s 17.76 percent to this week’s 17.90 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions have worsened slightly from last week’s 47.61 percent and are now at 47.67 percent.

According to the 6-10-day precipitation outlook map, the western half of the state is leaning above a 33 to 40 percent chance of precipitation through August 12. Central Oklahoma, along with the eastern half of the state, is leaning above a 40 to 50 percent chance of precipitation through that August 12 date.

To see this week's Oklahoma Drought numbers, click the Oklahoma drought map above the story.

Beyond Oklahoma- this week's numbers are not much different in the states around us versus a week ago-

Moderate drought or worse is at 77.21 percent in Missouri.

Moderate Drought or worse in Texas is at 52.09 percent.

And in Kansas- Moderate Drought or worse is at 29.33 percent.



The vision of the Oklahoma Beef Council is to be a positive difference for Oklahoma's farming and ranching families and the greater beef community, and its mission is to enhance beef demand by strengthening consumer trust and exceeding consumer expectations. 

To learn more, visit www.oklabeef.org. Also, don't forget to like its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oklabeef for stories on Oklahoma's ranching families and great beef recipes. 

And Check out this video below that helps you learn more about the Beef Checkoff- check out the latest Drive in Five!

Kim Anderson says Next Week’s USDA Crop Production Report’s Wheat Numbers Will be Significant

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 wheat markets.

Looking at wheat prices, Anderson said there has been quite a dip. Going back to June 1, Anderson said prices were around $7.50, then around mid-July, when Russia announced they were stopping exports out of Ukraine, the prices increase to $8.50.

“We have now taken about $1.40 off of that,” Anderson said. “I think it is important that we watch what is going on in Russia and Ukraine. I think right now what they are saying is that we are going to get that wheat out of there.”

Anderson said it is important to remember that the world is projected to harvest a record wheat crop of 29.3 billion bushels. The U.S. is projected to harvest around a 1.7-billion-bushel crop, which is above the last crop. Hard red winter wheat is estimated at 577 million, he added.

“Watch those numbers as that August 11 report comes out next week,” Anderson said.

Anderson said Drought in Europe, Africa, and Australia could impact prices going into the fall.

Beef Industry Puts Big Focus on Market Fairness When it Comes to Labeling Cell-Based Proteins

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am back talking with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s CEO, Colin Woodall, about cell-based proteins.

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

“This is not necessarily about being afraid of cell-based protein, but it is making sure they have to follow the same rules we do,” Woodall said. “That is why the announcement from USDA, that a certificate of inspection had been provided for this cell-based chicken product, was actually a win for us.”

Woodall said FDA is the company that these cell-based protein-producing entities wanted to be inspected by. Click here for an Associated Press story on the two companies that are producing the cell based chicken products that are now available on a very limited basis.  

“If you are a food manufacturer that has FDA inspection, you might be inspected once a week or maybe once a year based upon your risk assessment,” Woodall said. “That is unacceptable for somebody that is going to be in supposedly the meat or protein business because we have to be inspected every single day.”

Picture above - Cell-Based Meat Seen by Class XX of the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program in Israel this past February During Visit to Aleph Farm Headquarters in Tel Aviv

Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Intern, Maci Carter, had the opportunity to attend the 2023 Bovine Health and Technology Summit, where she was able to visit with Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, a Beef Cattle Extension Specialist at the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Biggs and Carter discussed the summit, the conclusion of this year’s Integrated Beef Cattle Program, upcoming events for the college, and more.

“There were about 80 veterinarians from across Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, that were with us, as well as about 20 of our current veterinary students that are interested in beef cattle medicine,” Biggs said.

The event took place in Stillwater at the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine and was sponsored by Merck Health and hosted by the OSU Vet Medicine Animal Medicine Team, and OSU Extension. It reached a large group of individuals from the regional vet industry.

“Dr. Peel gave us an economic outlook on cattle that are going to be worth a lot of money,” Biggs said. “New technologies in veterinary medicine in animal health, animal identification, and traceability was a discussion point. Got updates from our Merck partners on bovine respiratory disease, and invasive parasites as well."

Coming to a TV station near you-Severe Wildfire warnings

There is a new blog post out at the Southern Plains Perspective. Read below! The Southern Plains Perspective is authored by Clay Pope- who farms with his wife Sarah and is a contractor for the USDA Southern Plains Climate Hub in the area of outreach. Read below!

You can always tell where a person is from based on how they respond to a severe weather warning. Years ago, I was at a national organization meeting in Wichita, Kansas when the national weather service issued a tornado watch for our area. Now for those of us who grew up in “tornado alley” this was no big deal—heck, until you get a tornado warning you basically are dealing with a typical spring day in Oklahoma. 

Even so, it was obvious that the people from other parts of the country were a little nervous. In an effort to elevate their tension, the gentleman presiding over the meeting told everyone to take this opportunity to find out where the people at their table were from. 

“If we hear the tornado sirens and the people at your table say ‘lets go to the shelter in an orderly manner,’ they are from Kansas,” He said. “If they say ‘let’s go the shelter but the women and children should go first’ they are from Texas. But if they say ‘hey, let’s go outside and see if we can get a good look at that thing’ they are from Oklahoma.”

What Implants Can I Use for Cattle on My Operation? Stocker and Grower Cattle

Weekly, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Nutrition Specialist Paul Beck offers his expertise on the beef cattle industry. This is a part of the weekly series known as the “Cow-Calf Corner.” Today, he talks about cattle implants.

The last couple of weeks we discussed the new rules put forth by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration regarding reimplanting of growth promoting implants. In brief, reimplanting within a production phase is now (as of July 1, 2023) off-label unless the label specifically states it is approved for reimplanting.

The FDA provided a list of currently approved and marketed implants available....

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