Across the US- the weekly Crop Progress numbers from NASS showed hot and mostly dry conditions pushing the good to excellent ratings lower for our crops and pasture/ranges. The US Corn Crop Good to Excellent rating slipped two points to 56%- Soybean good to excellent ratings dropped one point to 58%, Sorghum ratings fell 6 points to 45% good to excellent while the US Cotton crop held steady at 33% good to excellent. The Pasture/Range good to excellent ratingsint he lower 48 states slipped one point to 36% good to excellent- our neighbor to the south- Texas- has the worse numbers in the couontry at just 4% good to excellent- off three points this week and the Lonestar state reports a 78% poor to very poor rating on their pasture/rangelands.

In Oklahoma- Corn conditions rated 69 percent good to excellent, 22 percent fair and 9 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 74 percent good to excellent, 18 percent fair, and 8 percent poor to very poor. 

Soybeans conditions rated 54 percent good to excellent, 39 percent fair and 7 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 69 percent good to excellent, 24 percent fair and 7 percent poor to very poor. 

Peanuts  conditions rated 97 percent good to excellent and 3 percent fair. Last week’s conditions rated 98 percent good to excellent and 2 percent fair.

Cotton conditions rated 14 percent good to excellent, 11 percent fair and 75 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 14 percent good to excellent, 21 percent fair and 65 percent poor to very poor.

Pasture and range conditions rated 45 percent good to excellent, 30 percent fair and 25 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 49 percent good to excellent, 31 percent fair and 20 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.

At the 2023 AgHERculture conference hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Intern Maci Carter had the chance to speak with the Chief of Staff for the Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor, Kirby Smith. Carter and Smith talk about her background in agriculture and what fueled her passion for her career today.

The event, Childs said, was aimed at bringing young college women from across Oklahoma to the Capitol to network and find opportunities for mentorship.

“I am a rural western Oklahoma Beckham County girl,” Smith said. “Fourth generation. I love being known as an ‘ag girl.’ In my professional daily life, it is not ag on the surface, but that is what I am known as, and that is the very foundation of who I am.”

FFA was a large part of Smith’s background, as she talked about how her involvement with the organization helped shape who she is today. Smith said FFA was the first thing to push her out of her comfort zone and made a lasting impact.

Opportunities to Improve Grazing Lands for Oklahoma Ranchers with Steve Swaffar

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am featuring comments from Farm Director KC Sheperd’s visit with Steve Swaffar of the Noble Research Institute about improving pasture conditions.

For the past few years, Swaffar said it has been a challenge to exceed 50 percent good to excellent pasture and range conditions across the Southern Plains. For example, Oklahoma stands at 49 percent good to excellent conditions, according to USDA’s Crop Progress Report released on August 21, 2023.

“The statistics show that from 1982 to 1992, in Oklahoma and across this region, our pasture and range conditions were, for the most part, either fair or poor,” Swaffar said. “Very rarely did we come up above 50 percent of those acres being either in good or excellent condition.”

Looking into the more recent past, from 2011 to 2022 in Oklahoma, Swaffar said there were only two years in that time period where conditions were above 50 percent good to excellent.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Oklahoma Grassroots Rural and Ag Business Accelerators program has launched a new customized development program with six Oklahoma companies in the inaugural cohort.

The customized development program provides tailored resources and mentorship plans in the form of three to four action items for companies that have already completed at least 60% of the work covered by the existing Activate Oklahoma rural development pipeline or Cultivate Oklahoma agricultural innovation pipeline.

The following businesses comprise the inaugural cohort: 

Newalla Fish Company of Newalla uses cutting-edge recirculating aquaculture technology to produce superior pond-ready sportfish and organic fish-manure-based biological fertilizer boosters.

Rich Consulting PLLC of Muskogee is a military and United States Department of Defense contractor focusing on service member health, psychological resiliency and defense readiness.

ISEEYOU360 Inc. of Grove is a targeted safety and security solutions company engaged in the research, design, development, integration and sustainment of advanced-technology products, including mixed-reality goggles for use with unmanned aerial and ground vehicles.

Saddle & Sirloin Honors Jarold Callahan

What do purple banners, board room gavels and steno pads have in common? They’re all items that epitomize Jarold Callahan’s significant influence on the beef industry. Aptly, the Edmond Oklahoma cattleman has been chosen as 2023 inductee into the Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery.

Largely considered one of the highest honors in the livestock industry, the Saddle and Sirloin Gallery was established in 1903 and recognizes one individual each year for their lifetime of exceptional service to the livestock business both nationally and internationally.

“I am extremely honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award,” said Callahan when told he would be the 2023 inductee.

Callahan grew up near Welch, Oklahoma on a diversified family farm and cattle operation where he developed his passion for farming and ranching. He continued on to be a member of the Northeast Oklahoma (NEO) A&M Livestock Judging team and the Oklahoma State University (OSU) Livestock Judging team where he was second high individual overall at both Fort Worth and Houston, as well as third high individual overall at Chicago.

Farm Credit Farmer-Owned Cooperatives Merger Effective Oct. 1

The merger of Farm Credit of New Mexico and American AgCredit Farm Credit cooperatives will be effective Oct. 1, 2023, creating one Farm Credit Association with enhanced marketplace stability, increased funding capacity, and better access to technology. The voting stockholders of Farm Credit of New Mexico re-voted for the proposed merger after a reconsideration process established by the Farm Credit Administration (FCA).

“This merger makes us a better partner for our customers,” said Curt Hudnutt, CEO, American AgCredit. “With an asset base of nearly $21 billion and a diverse agricultural portfolio, we’re able to better fulfill our mission – serving the farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses in our seven-state territory. And now especially throughout New Mexico, helping them grow their future.”

According to James Duffey, Board of Directors Chair, Farm Credit of New Mexico, this merger means more for customers, employees, and the Farm Credit mission. The size and scale of the merged Association helps ensure the future of agriculture in New Mexico.

Hudnutt will lead the merged American AgCredit, which will have more than 900 employees. The Oct. 1, 2023 effective merger date is pending final FCA approval.

2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac: Winter Forecast Inside!

Newest edition predicts snow, seasonable cold, and all of winter’s delights! Also: sea secrets to Earth’s climate; a recipe for the best bread for toast; the least-grown, easiest-grown garden edible; and more!

The 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac has arrived with a winter forecast sure to excite snow bunnies and sweater lovers alike: The coming season promises a whole lot of cold and snow across North America! The Almanac, which has been issuing its 80 percent–accurate forecasts since 1792, is available everywhere starting on August 29, 2023.

WINTER WONDERLAND: Most areas of the United States that typically see snow should be prepared for crisp temperatures and oodles of fluffy white throughout the season. Snow totals will be at or slightly above normal, with just the right amount of chill in the air for an afternoon of adventurous snow sports or enjoying a big ol’ mug of hot cocoa by a crackling fire.

Keep a shovel at the ready early, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, where snow will arrive beginning in November with storms, showers, and flurries continuing through the start of spring....