According to the latest Oklahoma drought monitor report, exceptional drought remains at zero percent, unchanged from 3 months ago.

Extreme drought or worse is now at 13.47 percent, up from last week’s 8.48 percent.

Severe drought or worse is now at 33.91 percent, up from last week’s 29.44 percent.

Moderate drought or worse is now at 48.24 percent, up from last week’s 43.11 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are now at 73.02 percent, up from last week’s 63.32.

Click the Oklahoma drought map above the story to view this week's Oklahoma drought numbers.

Across the region- Kansas has gotten slightly worse- Severe drought jumps from 47.9%to 50.2% this week- Missouri is also worse than last week with severe drought now at 31.8% versus 28% last week while there is a slight improvement in Texas numbers- severe drought now stands at 53.45% versus 55.9% a week ago. Finally, Louisiana is at 96.93% in severe drought- about the same as last week but when you compare that to zero severe drought a year ago- that's amazing.



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When Adding Heifers to Your Herd, Bob Weaber Says Select For Genetics that Will Go the Distance

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am featuring comments from Kansas State University’s Dr. Bob Weaber about what is ahead for genetics in the beef industry.

The Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University regularly conducts a podcast with experts on staff. One of the recent podcast episodes features comments from Weaber, who specializes in beef breeding, genetics, and cow-calf operations.

“I think one of the really interesting dialogues that is going around in the producer world is some refocusing on maternal genetics,” Weaber said.

Some of these attributes in this conversation over maternal genetics, Weaber said, include a focus on what genetics will create cows to go the distance and help with low cost while also producing outstanding calves.

In the midst of continuous liquidation of the cow herd, Weaber said as producers eventually start to rebuild, he is hopeful that producers will be selective with their replacements.

Kim Anderson Says Flat Prices in Wheat Market and No Impacts from Israel-Hamas War

This Week on SUNUP is Oklahoma State University Extension grain market economist Kim Anderson. During this week’s edition, Anderson talks about the impact of the Israel-Hamas war on the market and current prices.

Anderson said in his opinion, the Israel-Hamas war has had zero impact on prices, although the war does increase the risk of something happening.

“When you increase risk, you have a tendency to decrease prices just a little bit, but for all practical purposes right now, I don’t think there is going to be any impact,” Anderson said.

Wheat prices in northern Oklahoma are around $6.10, Anderson said, and close to $5.80 in southern Oklahoma.

“Not much is going on in the wheat market right now, but prices are flat,” Anderson said.

The world stocks-to-use ratio for wheat is projected to be about 33 percent, Anderson said, and the average is 35 percent.

Farm Director, KC Sheperd, is talking with Rann Williams about his late father’s induction into the Cotton Research and Promotion Program Hall of Fame.

The 2023 honorees of the Cotton Research and Promotion Program Hall of Fame were chosen from nominations made by Certified Producer and Importer Organizations and voted upon by a Committee of Cotton Incorporated Board of Directors.

His father, Murray Williams, was an innovative grower from Oklahoma who has been recognized on local, state, and national levels for his leadership and dedication to the industry. A proponent for soil and water conservation, Murray Williams oversaw his family farming operation of over 6,500 acres. In the late 1960s, he was the first grower in Oklahoma to use the new pre-plant herbicide Treflan®. On the forefront of new practices, he was the first in his area to implement the installation of laser-guided drainage pipes, aiding in land production, as well as the first to build tail-water pits to allow for the recycling of irrigation water.

Additionally, Murray Williams donated his land to Oklahoma State University for cotton test plots, helping to further advance cotton production in the state. Along with being on the cutting edge of technology on the farm, he served on the National Cotton Council, the National Cotton Board, and the Cotton Incorporated Board of Directors. For his contributions to the industry, Murray Williams was recognized by Cotton Farming Magazine as the United States Cotton Farmer of the Year in 1980, and by Progressive Farmer Magazine in 1983 as the Man of the Year in Service to Oklahoma Agriculture.

Rep Carl Newton to Hold Study on Underground Water Use

Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee, will examine the historic use and impact of water consumption from Oklahoma’s underground aquifers.

The interim study, IS23-011 is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, in Room 206 at the State Capitol, 2300 N Lincoln Blvd.

“I want to look at how much water we’ve consumed from our underground aquifers and how it has been used so that we can determine best practices to preserve this precious resource going forward,” Newton said.

He explained that in many parts of Oklahoma, there is limited surface water. Farmers, ranchers and other residents and consumers have to rely on these aquifers to provide water for people, animals and crops.

“It’s important that we be good stewards of our water supply,” Newton said. “I’m gathering a team of experts to help guide our discussion.”

Industry Groups Form Genetic Merit Pricing Task Force

Price discovery in the feeder cattle market rarely includes genetic information. Almost nothing is known about the genetics of 98% of feeder cattle being sold on a weekly basis. That is unfortunate and it holds the industry back, because genetics control approximately one-third of growth, efficiency and carcass results.

Enter the Genetic Merit Pricing Task Force, a coalition of 32 producers from all industry segments assembled to help the industry accelerate toward widespread use of genetic information in pricing feeder cattle. Ken Odde, Ph.D., former Kansas State University animal science department head and group facilitator, believes the Genetic Merit Pricing Task Force has a critical mission that can help make all industry segments more efficient and prosperous.

“If you look at crops, pork, poultry, dairy and virtually all other agricultural products, genetics are heavily emphasized,” Odde explained. “Yet in the beef industry, we trade millions of feeder cattle and calves annually, while knowing next to nothing about their genetics. Without objective genetic information on potential growth rate, feed efficiency, marbling and other key traits, we cannot accurately project how a given group of cattle will perform or how valuable their carcasses will be. That lack of genetic information creates a big hole in our ability to price cattle according to their true value.”

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