From the Editor- I have been asked to speak today at the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association in Stillwater. I will be speaking on “A Half Century of Wheat Policy, Production, and Personalities!” I have turned to OSU Extension Grain Market Economist Dr. Kim Anderson to reminisce about some of the events that have shaped the ability of Oklahoma wheat growers to survive and thrive. This interview captures some of those important mile markers impacting Oklahoma wheat producers.

When Anderson got his start working with OSU Extension in 1982, he said he knew very little about the Oklahoma wheat industry. Today, one might argue that Anderson is the “go-to” when it comes to Oklahoma wheat information.

“If you go back to ’92, we had a very tight, rigorous government program where wheat went into storage, and we had, at one time, 2.8 billion bushels in the government program- in other words, a year’s crop because U.S. production was around that much,” Anderson said.

Looking back, Anderson said he has seen some major changes come to the wheat industry, for the good, from a government program standpoint, a national wheat industry standpoint, and the world.

Based on the historic farm programs before 1996, Anderson said producers had base acres that they had to plant wheat on to be eligible for government programs.



“If they didn’t plant wheat, they were not eligible for the programs and the protection that the programs gave them,” Anderson said. “The programs limited producers’ ability to react to changes in the market situation.”

Now, farmers have the ability to plant based on market conditions rather than having to plant continuous wheat. Freedom to Farm, Anderson said, made major changes to the Oklahoma wheat marketing system and the farmers’ ability to react to changes in prices.



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To Conform with Recent Supreme Court Decision, EPA and Army Amend “Waters of the United States” Rule

Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of the Army (the agencies) announced a final rule amending the 2023 definition of “waters of the United States” to conform with the recent Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA. The agencies are committed to following the law and implementing the Clean Water Act to deliver the essential protections that safeguard the nation’s waters from pollution and degradation. This action provides the clarity that is needed to advance these goals, while moving forward with infrastructure projects, economic opportunities, and agricultural activities.

“While I am disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision in the Sackett case, EPA and Army have an obligation to apply this decision alongside our state co-regulators, Tribes, and partners,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “We’ve moved quickly to finalize amendments to the definition of ‘waters of the United States’ to provide a clear path forward that adheres to the Supreme Court’s ruling. EPA will never waver from our responsibility to ensure clean water for all. Moving forward, we will do everything we can with our existing authorities and resources to help communities, states, and Tribes protect the clean water upon which we all depend.”

“We have worked with EPA to expeditiously develop a rule to incorporate changes required as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett,” said Michael L. Connor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. “With this final rule, the Corps can resume issuing approved jurisdictional determinations that were paused in light of the Sackett decision. Moving forward, the Corps will continue to protect and restore the nation’s waters in support of jobs and healthy communities.

While EPA’s and Army’s 2023 rule defining “waters of the United States” was not directly before the Supreme Court,the decision in Sackett made clear that certain aspects of the 2023 rule are invalid. The amendments issued today are limited and change only parts of the 2023 rule that are invalid under the Sackett v. EPA decision. For example, today’s final rule removes the significant nexus test from consideration when identifying tributaries and other waters as federally protected.

Ag Industry Concerned About Updated WOTUS Rule

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart released a statement following the Environmental Protection Agency’s revised Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that is intended to conform with the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA:

“The entire cattle industry breathed a sigh of relief when the Supreme Court curtailed the EPA’s overreach under the Clean Water Act. Today’s revised WOTUS definition is an important step toward bringing the EPA more in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling. NCBA looks forward to working with the agency to protect farmers and ranchers from burdensome regulations and provide them with lasting certainty on WOTUS.

“NCBA was proud to lead the fight against burdensome WOTUS rules from Congress to the courts. We will continue analyzing this latest development to ensure that cattle producers are protected.”

Meanwhile- the Chairman of the House Ag Committee, GT Thompson- is not happy with the EPA/Army Corps effort- "“America’s farmers, ranchers, and landowners have come under regulatory assault from the Biden Administration. The Supreme Court rightfully curtailed EPA’s regulatory overreach, however, EPA’s bureaucratic sleight-of-hand circumventing the rulemaking process leaves the door open to agency abuse and regulatory and legal uncertainty for American agriculture."

Many others that offered reaction were even less kind to the Biden Administration. Click on the links below for multiple

Click below to read more reactions:

• American Farm Bureau Federation reacts to WOTUS ruling
• ASA Expresses Concerns with EPA’s ‘Confusing & Harmful’ Final WOTUS Rule
• NASDA Reacts to Updated WOTUS Ruling
• NCGA Disappointed in EPA’s WOTUS Rule
• NCFC Statement on New “Waters of the United States” Rule
• Agricultural Retailers Association Reacts to WOTUS Ruling

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am back featuring comments from Steve Swaffar of the Noble Research Institute. Swaffar talks to Farm Director, KC Sheperd, about pasture management to maximize forage quality and quantity.

“When we open up a pasture, and we put them (cattle) out there, and they can just go anywhere at any time all the time, they are going to find that particular spot of that particular plant that gives them the highest nutritional value and really makes them feel good as an animal,” Swaffar said.

In a day or two, when the animal returns to that part of the pasture to eat the same preferred plant that is now growing again, Swaffar said not allowing that plant to grow causes stress to the root system and more.

“If we don’t give them free choice all of the time, we can have some greater recovery on those plants and we can maybe get them to eat a few less-desirable species that are still nutritious, and we get some better distribution across the pasture with our manure and our urine,” Swaffar said. “We have the ability to manage animal behavior. If we let animals manage themselves, they are going to do what is the easiest thing for them to do. They are going to take the easiest route, and they are going to walk down that same path every time.”

With fencing, distribution of hay, and distribution of water, Swaffar said animals can be moved around to help increase pasture health.

Oklahoma Cotton Producers Tour Mid-South Operations, Growers Encouraged to Apply for Climate Smart Cotton Program

Farm Director, KC Sheperd, is talking with a cotton grower from Altus, Austin Leverett, about his recent farm tour, Oklahoma’s cotton crop, and the benefits of the Climate Smart Cotton Program. Leverett has just returned from the Mid-South P.I.E. Tour.

The P.I.E. Tour was set up to help producers get to meet other producers from multiple states, Leverett said, and to travel around the country to see how producers grow their crops.

One of the main differences Leverett said he saw while on tour was production goals.

“I was fairly taken back that they don’t shoot for higher yields, but after sitting through the research center and talking to producers, a lot of their problem is too much water,” Leverett said. “Too much water at inopportune times and having to spray for plant bugs. They just have a lot worse cases of plant bugs.”

Where in Oklahoma, a producer might spray two or three times, Leverett said other states, such as Louisiana and Mississippi, are spraying seven to ten times.

“Some of the first guys we saw had gone to 60-inch-wide beds, so they could do cotton down the middle and come back with corn or beans on 30’s on either side of it,” Leverett said. “Just getting to see several of the guys that are trying things. A lot of times, you don’t know until you try it. I don’t think it would work around here, but it was interesting to see how these guys are trying to double crop in their areas.”

When Will We See Significant Rain Next?

The summer started off with some great, drought-busting rains, but has quickly turned back to the dry, hot desert.

According to State Climatologist Gary McManus, the 6-10 day Precipitation Outlook shows below normal chances of rain,.

“Just looking at some of the forecast model output for that time frame tells me the chances for SIGNIFICANT rainfall, those that would put the flash drought on the back burner for a bit, are pretty slim as of now," McManus said.

McManus says if we don’t see any pattern changes take place, the flash drought could continue.

“I’ll just say that the pessimistic forecast means our flash drought (and long-term drought for those in far SW and NC Oklahoma) will continue unabated for a while longer.," McManus said. "The non-official “official” beginning of this flash drought can be traced back to around July 12, so as we look at the stats going forward from there, we see that it will probably approach 2 months long before it has a chance to get better.”