Oklahoma winter wheat planted reached 75 percent, down 7 points from the previous year and down 9 points from normal. Winter wheat emerged reached 54 percent, down 5 points from the previous year and down 14 points from normal. Winter wheat conditions rated 42 percent good to excellent, 44 percent fair and 10 percent poor to very poor.

Kansas winter wheat planted was 91 percent, ahead of 85 percent last year, and near 87 percent for the five-year average. Emerged was 70 percent, ahead of 56 percent last year and 65 percent average. Winter wheat conditions rated 32 percent good to excellent, 32 percent fair and 36 percent poor to very poor.

Texas winter wheat planted reached 73 percent, down 10 percentage points from the previous year and down 2 points from the five-year average. Winter wheat emerged reached 55 percent, down 2 points from the previous year and even with the five-year average. Winter wheat ratings reached 41 percent good to excellent, 44 percent fair and 15 percent poor to very poor.

Winter wheat planted for the U.S. reached 84 percent, down 2 percentage points from the previous year and down 1 point from the five-year average. Winter wheat emerged reached 64 percent, up 4 percentage points from the previous year and even with the five-year average. Winter wheat conditions rated 47 percent good to excellent, 35 percent fair and 18 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. 



Prior to the 2023 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, I had the chance to visit with Oklahoma’s FFA Creed contestant, Corbin Robbins of the Chattanooga FFA Chapter, about the competition.

When asked what inspired him to become involved in the FFA Creed contest, Robbins said his biggest motivator was a family tradition.

“My grandpa and my grandma were in FFA, my parents and my uncle were very competitive in it, so it was kind of bred into me,” Robbins said. “It was something I have always strove to do, and I am very excited to go to Indianapolis and compete for Oklahoma.”

When Robbins recites the creed, he said he enjoys feeling the passion that the author, E.M. Tiffany, had when writing it.

“I come from a fifth-generation farm and ranch, and every time I say the creed, I feel it inside of me,” Robbins said. “It is something I am very passionate about, and I know that FFA is passionate about.”

Our coverage of Oklahoma FFA engaged at the National FFA Convention is being powered by Oklahoma Farm Bureau.  Click here for the OKFB website to learn about how they are making a difference in lives of Oklahomans. Oklahoma Farm Bureau supports the youth of rural Oklahoma year round- and reminds you- Together- We Are Rural Oklahoma!

Grown Tour Fosters Relations Between Wheat Growers and Dietitians

Radio Oklahoma Ag Network intern, Maci Carter had the chance to talk with Executive Director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, Mike Schulte, about the Grown Tour.

“The Oklahoma Wheat Commission, Oklahoma Farm Bureau, and Sherri Glazier, known as the ‘Dirt Road Dietitian,’ have put on a seminar called ‘Grown,’ where we have invited the Oklahoma Academy of Registered Dietitians to do a farm tour and food supply chain tour in northwestern Oklahoma,” Schulte said.

One goal of the event was to demonstrate to dietitians the research that is performed to provide a safe and consistent product that is seen on grocery store shelves.

“We know they (dietitians) are really big influencers with the public that are consumers, and we feel like it has been a great relationship,” Schulte said. “In the past, we have done a couple of things with them, and several of them have said when we have had to discuss regarding celiac disease or gluten sensitivities.”

Registered dietitians had the chance to not only hear about research but to see and learn about wheat varieties that have recently been planted.

After a weekend of interviews, tests and interaction with the National FFA Officer Nomination Committee, Braden Heisler of Waukomis has received his letter confirming that he has advanced into the second phase of being considered for one of six positions as a National Officer of the FFA organization for the coming year.

And- Heisler is a part of a very unique group- four undergrad students at the Ferguson College of Agriculture at Oklahoma State University were in the original 35 students from across the United States that were nominated as National Officer Candidates by their states. ALL FOUR of them- Braden Heisler of Oklahoma, Erynn Allison of Georgia, Amara Jackson of Michigan and Justin Sharp of Oregon- have advanced to the Phase Two group of 21 remaining candidates.

The 21 candidates that are in Phase 2 now will finish their interaction with the Committee- and wait for the final General Session of the National FFA Convention on Saturday afternoon- that's when they will find out if they are one of the 6 National Officers for the coming year of the FFA.

K-State’s Glynn Tonsor Says the Trigger Has Yet to Be Pulled on Herd Expansion

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am visiting with Kansas State University Extension Livestock Market Economist, Dr. Glynn Tonsor, about the heifer numbers in the latest Cattle on Feed Report and Meat Demand Monitor.

Looking back at the October Cattle on Feed Report, “Heifer inventory was up one percent versus the year before, and heifers composed 40 percent of the total inventory, so the remaining 60, of course, were steers, but anytime we have that high of a percentage for the inventory then that is historically, at least, a pretty strong signal that ranches are not keeping their heifers at home and they are still finding their way to the feedyard,” Tonsor said. “It is another fairly direct signal, at least to me, that nationally we have not pulled the trigger on expansion.”

Tonsor said there is a lot of discussion about herd rebuilding, and while some ranches are in the process of rebuilding, collectively, the national cattle on feed-based numbers signal that herd expansion has not begun.

“I do think in ’24 and ’25 we are going to be in the process of rebuilding the herd,” Tonsor said.

McBride Named Outstanding Legislator by Rural Schools Org.

Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, recently was named Outstanding Rural Legislator by the Organization of Rural Oklahoma Schools.

The award was given for McBride’s work to increase funding for public schools throughout Oklahoma, including those in rural areas, and to preserve policies that benefit public education. McBride serves as chair of the House Appropriations & Budget Subcommittee for Education.

“As a product of public schools, I will always be a defender of our teachers and administrators in public education who fight every day to enhance learning for our students and to help graduate Oklahomans who are skilled and trained and ready for the future,” McBride said. “Our rural schools need our help more than ever, and since my tenure as chair of the A&B Education Subcommittee, I’ve worked to ensure they get more equal funding to meet the needs of their student populations and to help them retain teachers. It’s an honor to be recognized for my efforts.”

McBride received the award at the organization’s fall conference held Oct. 26-27 in Shawnee.

Southern Plains Perspective: Worms to the Rescue!

There is a new blog post out at the Southern Plains Perspective. Read below! The Southern Plains Perspective is authored by Clay Pope- who farms with his wife Sarah.

Over the years I have written several articles about how livestock can help save the planet. Take cows for example—they help with nutrient cycling, they reduce wildfire danger by eating the undergrowth that fuels fires and the help by converting vegetation that we can’t eat into protein that we can, all while helping sequester carbon in the soil. I love to discuss how grazing and browsing animals can (with good management) have a positive effect on the environment while at the same time providing us with food and fiber.  We need to remember though, that it’s not just the critters above ground that can have an impact on food production and the environment—more often than not the bugs, bacteria and other life forms under the soil do even more when it comes to feeding the world and protecting our natural resources.

Case in point, a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications showed how earthworms have a huge impact on yields, so much so that each year they may be responsible for an additional 140 million metric tons of crop production across the globe.