For the U.S., winter wheat planted reached 77 percent, down 1 percentage point from the previous year and the five-year average. Winter wheat emerged reached 53 percent, up 6 points from the previous year and even with the average.

In Oklahoma, winter wheat planted reached 71 percent, up 2 points from the previous year but down 4 points from normal. Winter wheat emerged reached 52 percent, up 13 points from the previous year but down 4 points from normal.

In Kansas, winter wheat planted was 85 percent, ahead of 74 percent last year and 79 percent for the five-year average. Emerged was 57 percent, ahead of 44 percent last year, and near 55 percent average.

In Texas, winter wheat planted reached 68 percent, down 6 percentage points from the previous year an down 1 point from the five-year average. Winter wheat emerged reached 45 percent, even with the previous year and the five-year average.

Nationally- harvest is moving right along- the US Corn crop is now 59 percent harvested- five points ahead of the five year average- soybeans are 76% harvested- nine points ahead of their five year average and cotton is 41% harvested- two points ahead of the five year average. Grain sorghum is also ahead of the five year average when it comes to harvest numbers- 67% harvested versus the 61% five year average.

Further down in the email- we dive into pasture and range ratings in detail- check it out.



Midwest Farm Shows is proud to produce the two best Farm Shows in the State of Oklahoma annually- the Tulsa Farm Show each December and the Oklahoma City Farm Show each April.

The Tulsa Farm Show is Oklahoma’s premier agricultural and ranching event- and returns to the SageNet Center (Expo Square) December, 7-8-9, 2023. 

Now is the ideal time to contact the Midwest Farm Show Office at 507-437-7969 and book space at the 2022 Tulsa Farm Show.  To learn more about the Tulsa Farm Show, click here.  



Next week, the Science Committee is preparing to introduce The Weather Act Reauthorization, comprehensive legislation that continues to strengthen and advance the U.S. weather system.

I had the chance to talk with Congressman Frank Lucas about his work on weather reauthorization as Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

The Weather Reauthorization Lucas will soon be covering in committee will be important for Oklahomans and the Oklahoma Mesonet system. Reauthorization will ensure the state’s system remains thriving and successful and a model for other states and regions to learn from.

“The goal of the Weather Act, of course, is how to simultaneously move forward to use the accomplishments of the previous bill, develop promising technologies and techniques from everything from hurricane forecasting on down the line, improve the speed with which we get our forecasts, extend the length of those forecasts…,” Lucas said.

Weather impacts everything and everyone, Lucas said, regardless of place or industry. Lucas said the Weather Reauthorization Act will improve NOAA’s efforts at modernization flexibility and accuracy.

Derrell Peel Says Heifers Continue to Fill the Feedlots- All But Insuring Smaller Beef Cow Herd in January 2024 Report

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am back talking with Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist Dr. Derrell Peel about the latest Cattle on Feed report issued by the USDA and heifer numbers in feedlots.



In the report issued on October 20, placements were up six percent from one year ago. Peel said while this number is eye-catching, the number he is paying closest attention to is the number of females in feedlots.

“What is really important in this report is the quarterly breakdown on steers and heifers,” Peel said. “If you look at absolute numbers, the number of cattle on feed now is up 71,000 head from a year ago, and 60,000 head of that increase year-over-year is heifers.”

Peel said heifers represent 40 percent of total cattle on feed inventory. In the short run, Peel said there are more cattle in feedlots, but in the long run, this report shows that heifer retention has not commenced and will most likely be postponed well into 2024.

“Without a doubt, we will see a smaller beef cow herd in January, and depending on what happens next year with drought and producer expectations, that will probably be the cyclical low, but I suppose at this point we have to kind of wait and see,” Peel said.

Oklahoma State University recently honored an outstanding group of individuals who have brought distinction to the Ferguson College of Agriculture and demonstrated a continuing commitment to agricultural sciences and natural resources.

During the OSU Agriculture Honors ceremony on Oct. 20, the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, comprised of the Ferguson College of Agriculture and two state agencies – OSU Extension and OSU Ag Research – recognized honorees of the 2023 Distinguished Alumni and Champions for OSU Agriculture awards.

The late Lionel Bentley of Washington, Heather Buckmaster of Oklahoma City, Gary Clark of Stillwater, Andy Cole of Amarillo, Texas, Eddie Fields of Wynona and Terry Tippens of Edmond were honored as 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.

In addition, the late Win Ingersoll and wife Kay of Inola as well as Jon Newell of St. Louis, Missouri, were honored as 2023 Champions for OSU Agriculture.

A Deeper Dive Into Pasture and Range Conditions

This week is the next to last Pasture and Range ratings for 2023- and it continues to paint the picture of stressed pasture ratings across our region- but much better than a year ago in Oklahoma and Kansas. (A typical picture of 2022 seen above)

Pasture and range conditions for Oklahoma rated 28 percent good to excellent, 31 percent fair and 41 percent poor to very poor this week. That good to excellent rating is two points less than a week ago but is far better than the two percent good rating of a year ago.

Our neighbors north and south are in worse shape with their Pastures- Texas is at seven percent good to excellent this week- the same as a week ago and actually a little worse than a year ago when Texas had 11% good to excellent pasture-range ratings.

Kansas is 10% percent good to excellent on their pastures and ranges this week- down four points from a week ago but better than their 4% good ratings a year ago.

Missouri is at 10% good this week- up one point from a week ago and down one point from 2022.

Our Neighbor just to the west of our Panhandle- New Mexico- is actually is pretty good shape at 25% good to excellent- down four points from last week and down 11 points from this time a year ago.

Finally- due north of us- another major beef cattle state- Nebraska is in much better pasture-range condition than in 2022- they stand at 44% good to excellent this week versus a rating of ONE percent this week in 2022.

BASF unveils Poncho Votivo Precise seed treatment – offering protection from nematodes and insects

Nematodes are the leading cause of soybean yield loss in the United States, costing growers an estimated $1.5 billion in yield annually.[1] These microscopic organisms are present in most areas where soybeans are grown, and because they feed on the roots of the plant, the damage caused by nematodes is often invisible without any aboveground symptoms. With the release of Poncho® Votivo® Precise seed treatment, BASF Agricultural Solutions provides soybean growers with another way to defend their fields from multiple generations of nematodes, increasing early-season crop vigor and maximizing yield potential.

Poncho Votivo Precise seed treatment creates a living biological barrier that grows with the root, preventing damage from a wide range of nematode species and encouraging plant growth. Enhanced root growth and biomass at key development stages is critical to increasing yield potential, and Poncho Votivo Precise seed treatment supports a strong start to the season.

“Protection from nematodes is paramount to maximizing soybean growth and yield potential,” said Troy Bauer, BASF Senior Field Technical Representative, Seed Treatments. “Poncho Votivo Precise seed treatment is unique in that it combines a biological and insecticide. The biological grows with the root system to protect the soybean from nematodes while the insecticide delivers immediate protection from key insect pests.”