The U.S. corn harvest kicked off at a slightly ahead-of-average pace, according to USDA NASS’ weekly Crop Progress report released Monday. Winter wheat planting has begun in the Southern Plains- Oklahoma at 5 percent planted(versus 10% yer ago), Kansas at 4 percent planted(versus 3% year ago), and Texas at 7 percent planted(versus 15% year ago).

Winter wheat planted for the U.S. reached 7 percent, down 2 percentage points from the previous year and even with the average.

In OKLAHOMA:

Winter wheat planted reached 5 percent, down 5 points from the previous year but unchanged from normal.

Cotton continues to struggle with the heat and dry conditions- standing this week at 12% good to excellent versus 11% a week ago.

Grain Sorghum has seen harvested begun- with 5% harvested this week. 54% is now rated good to excellent- up one point from last week.

Corn harvested for grain reached 25 percent. Corn conditions rated 73 percent good to excellent, 19 percent fair and 8 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 75 percent good to excellent, 17 percent fair and 8 percent poor to very poor.



Soybeans dropping leaves reached 10 percent, down 1 point from the previous year but up 1 point from normal. Soybean conditions rated 58 percent good to excellent, 28 percent fair and 14 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 57 percent good to excellent, 33 percent fair and 10 percent poor to very poor. 

Pasture and range conditions rated 34 percent good to excellent, 21 percent fair and 45 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 33 percent good to excellent, 33 percent fair and 34 percent poor to very poor. 



Union Mutual of Oklahoma Turns 85 Years Old

Back in July of 1938 when Union Mutual of Oklahoma was founded, FDR was in the White House, EW Marland was in the Governor’s Mansion, and the Soldiers of Gettysburg were gathering for a reunion on the old battlefield. Union Mutual was born out of necessity in Oklahoma and serves as one of the oldest rural insurance carriers serving only the people of Oklahoma. Union Mutual was created 85 years ago for one purpose, that was and is to serve and protect rural Oklahomans and their property. That mission has bever wavered.

Union Mutual Insurance of Oklahoma was chartered in 1938 to write property and casualty insurance in the state of Oklahoma. Over the years, Union Mutual has maintained the attitude that started the company, “Protection for Oklahomans by Oklahomans.” In poor economic times, in times when national insurance companies either stopped writing or completely left the state, Union Mutual has been there for Oklahomans. Today, Union Mutual writes insurance in all 77 counties of Oklahoma through almost 300 agency locations. These agents provide fast and reliable quotes for most lines of insurance.

Union Mutual of Oklahoma CEO Monica Collison had this to say on the company turning 85 years old. “I am humbled to lead such and extraordinary company and team with the history and legacy of Union Mutual. Union Mutual has stood with rural Oklahoma for 85 solid years and I look forward to helping it for the next 85 years.”

For the agent nearest you, go to unionmutualic.com or give them a call at 405 286-7703.



Beef Promotion Operating Committee for Beef Checkoff Selects Projects for 2024- Jimmy Taylor Explains

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am talking with the Chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and Oklahoma Rancher, Jimmy Taylor. Taylor and I talked about the Beef Promotion Operating Committee meeting that took place in Denver on September 6 through 7.

The twenty members of the Operating Committee have zeroed in on the distribution of 38 million dollars for projects that will be part of the 2024 fiscal year plan for the beef checkoff.

“This was the culmination of several months of hard work by producers that are involved in the program,” Taylor said. “It started back in June. Our contractors turned in rough drafts of projects that we might like to look at, and then they were brought to our Summer Business Meeting in San Diego, where over 200 producers from across America listened to presentations of these projects from the contractors and then gave their thoughts on what was good, what was bad, what might need to be changed, and what might need to be pulled out.”

Through the month of August, Taylor said five different webinars were held where contractors were able to make tweaks to their projects. The most recent meeting in Denver, Taylor said, was looking at the final versions.

“We had a 20-member operating committee that listened to contractors present their final projects,” Taylor said. “We were able to ask questions and drill down deep and get the information we needed to determine which ones we were going to get the biggest bang for the buck.”

Beef Promotion Operating Committee's 2024 Plan of Work Includes 12 Approved Projects From 8 National Groups

The Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) will invest approximately $38 million into programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing, and producer communications during fiscal 2024, subject to USDA approval.

In action at the end of its September 6-7 meeting in Denver, Colorado, the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC) approved Checkoff funding for a total of 12 “Authorization Requests” – or grant proposals – for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2023. The committee, which includes 10 producers and importers from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and 10 producers from the Federation of State Beef Councils, also recommended full Cattlemen’s Beef Board approval of a budget amendment to reflect the split of funding between budget categories affected by their decisions.

Nine contractors and three subcontractors brought 15 Authorization Requests worth approximately $49 million to the BPOC this week, approximately $11 million more than the funds available from the CBB budget.

“We’re consistently impressed with the proposals that our contractors bring forward each year, and choosing which initiatives to fund is a real challenge,” said Jimmy Taylor, CBB and BPOC chair. “Our budget amounts to slightly less each year because of inflation. To put it in perspective, a dollar in 1985 is worth just 35 cents1 today. That means we simply don’t have the buying power that we had when this program first started.

“As we expected, the Authorization Requests we reviewed this week were full of new ideas and innovative approaches supporting the Checkoff’s core programs of research, promotion, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information and producer communications. Our committee did a great job of balancing our budget and distributing our limited funds in what we believe is the most optimal way possible. I personally thank our contractors and committee members for all their hard work, and I look forward to future Checkoff successes throughout FY24.”

Associate Farm Editor, Reagan Calk, had the chance to talk with the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation, Mariah Reimer, about the upcoming Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation Women’s Seminar. Open to women of all ages, the event is set for 9 a.m. on September 21st at the Oklahoma State University Alumni Center in Click Hall.

“The inspiration behind the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation Women’s Seminar was mainly to get a broad audience of women, both involved in agriculture and not involved in agriculture, and help them find the bridge gap,” Reimer said.

As all women are in different places in their lives, whether they may be in college looking for the start of their career or currently pursuing a career and looking for that next step- Reimer said the event is aimed to help those women gain the confidence, skill set, and support system to take further action.

“With this seminar, I am hoping to find women of all ages and help bridge those gaps and help them professionally develop those skills and find confidence and purpose in where they are supposed to fit in any industry,” Reimer said.

Certified Angus Beef Launches Direct-to-Consumer Program

Could your freezer beef carry the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB) brand logo? Perhaps. With the launch of a new program, Angus farmers and ranchers have the option to market their beef directly to consumers as CAB product.

Ranch to Table, a direct partnership program between CAB and cattle operations using Angus genetics, allows ranchers to use the brand’s trusted reputation for increased gain.

“Many Angus ranchers take a tremendous amount of pride when they see the Certified Angus Beef logo on product, whether it’s in their local grocery store or on a restaurant menu,” says Kara Lee, director of producer engagement for CAB. “This is just another way for them to continue to have equity in the brand by being able to hang brand standards on those cattle that ultimately qualify.”

To participate in the Ranch to Table program, a producer’s cattle supply must incorporate registered Angus genetics, which may require American Angus Association® active membership or proof of bull registrations. Producers must also be Beef Quality Assurance certified.

NASDA Foundation Welcomes NASDA’s Next Generation Class of 2023 Including OSU’s Sarah Curley

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation welcomes NASDA’s Next Generation class of 2023, featuring 13 students from 10 states. The NASDA Next Generation class of 2023 will network with commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture, industry leaders, and stakeholders at the NASDA Annual Meeting.

The purpose of NASDA Next Generation is to advance our future leaders’ understanding of agriculture policy and the role of state departments of agriculture in ensuring a healthy and thriving food system for all. Through the NASDA Next Generation programming, students learn about pressing food and agricultural policy issues, NASDA’s mission, and careers in public service. During the meeting events, students will also be able to explore Wyoming’s community-based agriculture.

“The agriculture industry is in need of strong leadership in the next generation, and we are excited to welcome this year’s NASDA Next Generation class to our Annual Meeting,” NASDA CEO Ted McKinney said. “This cohort of students represents the wide variety of experience and dedication to agricultural excellence that will enable the industry to thrive and impact the entire food system moving forward.”