Drought Severity in Oklahoma Climbs in this Week’s Drought Monitor

In our region- drought is little changed- Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri are slightly worse than last week while Kansas is fractions better.

Moderate Drought in Kansas is 68.57% versus 69.84 % last week. Texas reports Severe Drought or worse is 68.27% versus 66.95% last week. And Missouri checks in with Moderate Drought or worse at 54% versus 53% last week.

Meanwhile- here's the key numbers for Oklahoma:

**This week’s rains in parts of Oklahoma should (hopefully) be reflected in next week’s drought monitor.

Moderate drought or worse is now at 45 percent, up from last week’s 43.39 percent.

Severe drought or worse is now at 29.8 percent, up from last week’s 24.96 percent.

Moderate drought or worse is now at 45 percent, up from last week’s 43.39 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are now at 62.07 percent, improved from last week’s 65.50 percent.

According to the 6-to-10-day precipitation outlook map, the majority of the state, aside from the far southeast corner, is leaning above a 40 to 50 percent chance of precipitation through September 23. The southeast corner is leaning above a 33 to 40 percent chance of precipitation through September 23.

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



Oklahoma AgCredit supports rural Oklahoma with reliable and consistent credit, today and tomorrow. We offer loans for land, livestock, equipment, operating costs and country homes (NMLSR #809962) to farmers, ranchers and rural businesses across 60 counties. As a cooperative, we are owned by the members we serve. Through our Patronage Program, we have returned more than $74 million to our members since 1997.

For more information on our services or to find a location near you, visit our website here.

Oklahoma Ranchers Can Participate in OSU Research on Internal Parasite Resistance in Beef Cattle

Farm Director KC Sheperd is talking with Oklahoma State University State Extension Beef Veterinarian, Dr. Rosslyn Biggs about the latest research study on internal parasites in beef cattle at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Anthelmintic (dewormer) resistance is a growing concern, and OSU researchers are evaluating levels in Oklahoma beef cattle herds through ongoing studies. This research is important for the cattle industry in developing parasite management strategies that preserve the effectiveness of dewormers while maintaining cattle production levels for the future.

A study was conducted a few years ago on internal parasites in beef cattle, and Biggs said it has recently been published. The research being conducted today builds on that information and looks deeper into the level of internal parasite resistance in Oklahoma beef cattle.

“This project that we have going on builds upon that information, and we are looking for producers and their veterinarians to take part,” Biggs said.

Ideally, Biggs said they are looking for at least 50 different groups of cattle from all over the state. Individual operations, depending on size, Biggs added, could have multiple groups within their operation.

USMEF Trade Mission in Asia Focuses on Telling the Story for U.S. Producers

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am talking with the president and CEO of the United States Meat Export Federation, Dan Halstrom, about the USMEF Trade Mission in Asia.

“The Asian markets, Japan and Korea in particular, are our bread and butter on the beef side,” Halstrom said. “(They were our) first and third largest markets last year, and historically, that is usually where they fall. Very important on the pork side as well.”

Having a USMEF trade team of producers abroad to see their checkoff dollars at work, Halstrom said, is just as important as the trade in these markets having the chance to see who is producing these U.S. products.

“We always have huge success bringing the producers themselves into the markets and having them help us tell the story to our very important customers, not only in Japan and Korea but all over the world,” Halstrom said.

As for marketing U.S. meat products during the USMEF Trade Mission in Asia, Halstrom said the team utilizes two main strategies.

“One is a short-term strategy, and that is using our producer group to really help tell the story,” Halstrom said. “It is very effective, and in the discussions we had in Korea earlier this week, the first topic was never about price.”

Pollard Farms 26th Annual Production Sale Set for Saturday, September 16th

The 26th Annual Production Sale of Pollard Farms is happening on Saturday, September 16th- at 12 noon at the ranch in Waukomis, Oklahoma. The ranch is located one mile east of US 81 on Wood Road.

Dr. Barry and Roxanne Pollard will be offering 113 Registered Angus Lots- including Young Fall Pairs and heavy breds, Fall Yearling Open Heifers, Spring Open Heifer Show and Donor Prospects, Donor Dams, Spring Bred Cows with Calves and Spring Bred Heifers.

The cattle can be viewed today and tomorrow up to sale time at noon.

Attend in person or you can participate online at LiveAuctions.TV.

Click here for the Pollard Farms website- where you can find the Sale Book, Videos and other last minute info.

NASDA Adopts Various Policies at Annual Meeting

At the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture’s 2023 Annual Meeting, NASDA members adopted policies regarding clear labeling instruction for cell-based meat products, improving federal disaster relief programs for farms impacted by catastrophic events, and supporting the right to farm.

Read details about each by clicking the buttons below:

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) recently shared the results of a muti-year collaboration with the Soil Health Institute (SHI) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which highlight the positive impacts of improving soil health on farm profitability and resilience. Extensive interviews were conducted with 30 farmers implementing soil health management systems (SHMS) across 20 states to learn about their experiences with adopting those systems and to assess the impact of that adoption on net farm income.

The executive summary can be found here . The guided story map will take you through all 30 interviews. One of the interviews is with Rick Jeans of Kay County, Oklahoma.

Rick Jeans farms 3,000 acres of grass and cropland in Kay County, Oklahoma. Rick is a third-generation farmer and began farming after he graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1981. He has served on the Kay County Conservation District board for over 25 years.

Rick and his wife Diane grow mostly soybeans, grain sorghum and winter wheat, and 500 acres of their operation is in pasture for 100 heads of cattle. The operation has been no-till for about 30 years, and the pair have been using cover crops since about 2013.

“What got me into no-till was I had a neighbor down the road that had been doing some no-tilling of some soybeans; he was having really good results,” he said. Rick and his family started experimenting with the practice and saw success.

NAWG Hosts Farm Bill Fly-In

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) completed the second part of its 2023 summer Farm Bill fly-ins. The first round of hill visits happened earlier this summer in July.

During the hill visits, wheat growers from across the country reinforced NAWG’s core priorities and underscored the need for Congress to work together to ensure farmers can continue to provide safe and affordable food for all Americans. Between both summer fly-ins, wheat growers met with over 110 offices. On Tuesday and Wednesday, growers from 14 states met with their delegations, staff from the four corners of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, and leadership offices in efforts to continue to educate lawmakers and advocate for an effective farm safety net.

Additionally, during the July visits, our growers met with Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Boozman and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Thompson, along with other members of Congress to discuss priorities in the Farm Bill.



In these meetings, NAWG continued to underscore the need to get a Farm Bill done, which works for wheat growers and rural America.

Stories for Your Weekend Reading