Oklahoma Drought conditions are getting worse- while our neighbors all continue to deal with even bigger drought problems. At the top of the list- Texas. 85.68% of the state is now in moderate drought or worse versus 75.8% a week ago. Kansas also slipped deeper into drought this week with 69.84% of that state in moderate drought or worse- versus 66.8% last week. And even Missouri continues with bigger numbers than Oklahoma with 53% of the Show Me state in moderate drought or worse- just slightly above the 52.8% of a week ago.

According to the latest Oklahoma Drought Monitor, the trends all point to dryer and dryer:

Severe drought or worse is now at 24.96 percent, up from last week’s 19.7 percent.

Moderate drought or worse is now at 43.39 percent, up from last week’s 35.98 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are now at 66.50 percent, up from last week’s 58.27 percent.



NOW- There may be some relief coming- According to the 6-to-10-day precipitation outlook map, the majority of the state is leaning above a 40 to 50 percent chance of precipitation through September 16. The far northeast corner of the state is leaning above a 33 to 40 percent chance through that date. The far southwest corner is likely above a 50 to 60 percent chance of precipitation through that September 16 date.

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



Oklahoma Farm Bureau works to improve the lives of all Oklahomans by supporting our state’s agriculture community. As Oklahoma’s largest general farm organization led by Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, OKFB takes grassroots values and advocates for agriculture at the state Capitol and in Washington, D.C., to ensure our way of life continues for generations to come. Farm Bureau hosts leadership events, supports our state’s agricultural youth and connects consumers with agriculture in order to build a brighter future for our state. Become an OKFB member today online at okfarmbureau.org/join. Together, we are rural Oklahoma.



Drought and Government Overreach Topics of Concern at OKFB August Meetings

Oklahoma Farm Bureau members recently gathered for a series of 11 August Area Meetings to discuss issues, challenges, and opportunities facing agriculture and rural Oklahoma in preparation for the organization’s grassroots policy development process.

Farm Director KC Sheperd is visiting with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Vice President of Public Policy, Steve Thompson, about the highlights from the OKFB August Area Meetings. 

More than 400 Farm Bureau members and guests attended the meetings where top issues surfaced by OKFB members included the upcoming farm bill, water rights and water infrastructure, the state’s marijuana industry, electric vehicle incentives and taxation, foreign ownership of land, EPA pesticide rules, native American tribal jurisdiction and more.

“It was a good year,” Thompson said. “I think the tone and the mood were mostly positive and mostly calm. It felt like earlier on, at the beginning of them, there had been a little more rain, particularly out in the panhandle, so they were in a better mood. As the month went on and the heat went on, it seemed like the drought and water became more of a topic.”

July Pork Exports Continue Above Year-Ago; Slow Month for Beef Exports

Building on a robust first-half performance, July exports of U.S. pork continued to outpace year-ago levels, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports took a step back in July, posting the lowest volume since January, but export value per head of fed slaughter again exceeded $400. 

July pork exports totaled 219,014 metric tons (mt), up 5% year-over-year, while export value increased 1% to $628.7 million. Through the first seven months of 2023, pork exports were 13% above last year’s pace at 1.69 million mt, valued at $4.67 billion (up 10%). 

Beef exports to Mexico continued to gain momentum in July, climbing 31% from a year ago to 17,663 mt. Export value soared 55% in July, reaching $105.1 million. Through the first seven months of the year, exports to Mexico increased 17% to 117,834 mt, valued at $662.6 million (up 24%). Mexico is the leading volume destination for beef variety meat, and those exports have increased at a similar pace – up 18% in volume (61,762 mt) and 24% in value ($175.2 million).

After a slow start in 2023, beef exports to Taiwan have exceeded year-ago levels in three consecutive months. July exports to Taiwan climbed 15% to 5,298 mt, while value increased 2% to $52.2 million. Through July, exports to Taiwan remained 7% below last year’s record pace at 39,090 mt, valued at $379.8 million (down 23%). 

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am back talking with professor and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist at Oklahoma State University, Dr. David Lalman, about hybrid cows.

As expenses are directly related to a cow’s ability to thrive in a forage environment, Lalman said a hybrid cow might be a good idea, especially in times of drought and high feed prices.

“If you have to go purchase all of those harvested feeds to either maintain a cow that is of larger weight but not maybe weaning a bigger calf, that is going to work against your bottom line,” Lalman said. “I think there is a lot of opportunity to improve there.”

When it comes to researching the improvement of individual cow forage intake and efficiency, Lalman said there is tremendous variation.

“We found some cows that weaned big calves and give a lot of milk and only consume 20 to 25 pounds of hay a day and maintain their body condition,” Lalman said. “We found a few of those cows that are just rockstars.”

Wheat Harvest and Grain Market Update with OSU’s Kim Anderson

This Week on SUNUP is Oklahoma State University Extension grain market economist Kim Anderson. During this week’s edition, Anderson talks about wheat harvest around the globe and gives an update on the grain markets.

“We have got about a 29.2-billion-bushel world crop being harvested and 1.73 billion here in the United States,” Anderson said. “We have harvested about 80 percent of what world wheat crop and the majority of U.S. wheat crop.”

Harvest starts around mid to late March, Anderson said, around India and North Africa. By the time June rolls around, Anderson said 25 percent of the world’s wheat crop has been harvested.

“That is mostly importing wheat countries rather than exporting countries,” Anderson said. “Then you have got a relatively large harvest in June, July, and August. When we get to September, we have got about 80 percent of the 2023 crop harvested, and it goes on out and moves to the southern hemisphere.”

Right now, Anderson said, all that is left to harvest is spring wheat in the northern hemisphere.

“Then we will move to Argentina and Australia and Southern Africa somewhere in late October, and it will go through October, November and December,” Anderson said.

OKFB YF&R Shotgun Shoot raises more than $15,000 for Foundation for Ag

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers raised $15,595 for the OKFB Foundation for Agriculture during the 2023 YF&R Shotgun Shoot Fundraiser Saturday, Aug. 27, at Silverleaf Shotgun Sports near Guthrie.

More than 34 teams with 136 shooters participated in the sporting-clays-style tournament across 12 stations that tested their skills mimicking real-world hunting scenarios.

Awards were given to top shooters in high school and open divisions. The Western Oklahoma State College shooting sports team won the open competition, with team member Dillon Lopez earning the competition’s top shooter award. The Sand Springs competitive shooting team won the high school division.

The winning team in the open division received $400 for each shooter, a shotgun shell pouch and OKFB hats. The winning high school division team won a shotgun shell pouch and ammunition.

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