Farm Director KC Sheperd is talking with Oklahoma State University small grains extension specialist Dr. Amanda Silva about this year’s wheat crop and more.

“We are very excited with this fall forage growth this year, especially as we compare with last year,” Silva said.

Silva said winter wheat in Oklahoma is looking good, as there has been a lot of growth, and cattle are out grazing wheat pasture.

“I haven’t heard much about insect damage or disease problems, so fortunately, our fall forage production has been very good this year,” Silva said.

Last year’s drought hurt forage growth significantly, Silva said, so this year is already looking up, as there have been some good rains. To see this current wheat crop across the finish line, Silva said there will need to be mild temperatures and additional moisture.



Oklahoma Farm Bureau works to improve the lives of all Oklahomans by supporting our state’s agriculture community. As Oklahoma’s largest general farm organization led by Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, OKFB takes grassroots values and advocates for agriculture at the state Capitol and in Washington, D.C., to ensure our way of life continues for generations to come. Farm Bureau hosts leadership events, supports our state’s agricultural youth and connects consumers with agriculture in order to build a brighter future for our state. Become an OKFB member today online at okfarmbureau.org/join. Together, we are rural Oklahoma.

The Multi-County Grand Jury has indicted three men for a scheme that allegedly enabled non-Oklahomans to illegally obtain commercial licenses for medical marijuana in the state.

Prosecutors allege Kevin Paul Pham, 47, and Alex Shiang Lin Chang, 48, paid Richard Gregorio Ignacio, 36, to serve as a “straw owner” for medical marijuana grow operations in Kingfisher County and elsewhere in the state, effectively serving as a front for out-of-state individuals.

Non-state residents cannot legally be licensed by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority or registered with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBN).

The investigation was conducted by the OBN.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond said the charges in the case reflect his office’s commitment to enforcing Oklahoma’s criminal laws against those who allegedly exploit the state’s legalization of medical marijuana.

Livestock Market Economist Derrell Peel Has Bullish Outlook for 2024 Cattle Markets

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am talking with Oklahoma State University Livestock Market Economist, Derrell Peel, about the cattle markets.

“We had such a runup in markets, both cash and futures all year, so as we got into the fall, the idea that we would see a correction wasn’t really a big surprise, but what happened was a combination of a futures market correction and then geopolitical events, a bearish cattle on feed report, and it really snowballed in the futures market,” Peel said.

This correction, Peel said, has impacted the cash markets for heavier-weight feeder cattle and fed cattle. As for the reason the futures markets have been hit so hard, Peel said there are a few different factors at play.

“Obviously, the big runup we had was built on a long position, and it is outside money,” Peel said. “It is not really fundamentally based; it is investor-type money. After a runup like that, the idea that they are going to sell off some and take some of those profits out of the market is not a surprise.”

Climate change and resulting food and nutrition insecurity around the world create numerous challenges for global stability, but investments in agricultural research, development, and technology can help mitigate geopolitical risks, according to a group of experts speaking at COP28 in Dubai.

The increasing frequency of extreme weather events worldwide threatens food production, especially in lower-income countries where large proportions of the population rely on agriculture, and people often have limited capacity to adapt to greater risks. Global hunger and malnutrition have risen significantly in the past few years due to factors including climate change, conflict, and the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the United Nations. Food insecurity is linked to numerous geopolitical risks, including mass migration, radicalization, terrorist threats, and lost economic opportunity, according to a recent report commissioned by Farm Journal Foundation.

“A critical imperative to resolving the climate crisis is enhancing global food security, which is in the U.S. national interest. Food insecurity is fueling instability due to conflict and migration,” said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who provided the keynote address at the Dec. 9 event. “The U.S. has an abundance of technical resources and advanced best practices that we must continue to share with growers around the world to strengthen food systems and enhance resilience. We have so much to offer. American generosity has been a hallmark of us leadership and the strength and effectiveness of soft power.”

An Update on the 2022 Emergency Relief Program from Plains Cotton Growers

Late last month, 2022 ERP payments were suspended as USDA began an investigation into the number of applications with an “underserved producer” status and/or change to a standard beneficial interest (SBI) status. That suspension has been lifted and payments are again being issued.

According to Jim Wiesemeyer with ProFarmer, USDA is responding to criticism from Republican lawmakers regarding their management of the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) for 2022 losses. A USDA spokesperson explained that the main issue is a lack of funding from Congress. They stated that Congress allocated only $3.2 billion to cover losses totaling over $10 billion. This funding gap forced USDA to make difficult choices to prioritize assistance for those in greatest need. The spokesperson added that if members of Congress are dissatisfied with these choices, they should advocate for more resources to enable the USDA to fully compensate farmers for their losses.

Plains Cotton Growers CEO Kody Bessent says his group is supportive of the Congressional efforts to fix this- :“Plains Cotton Growers Inc., strongly supports efforts led by the House, Senate and agriculture industry to rectify the recent disparities created by USDA in the implementation of the Emergency Relief Program for the 2022 crop year. USDA is operating on their own accord and against congressional intent in the application of this program, specifically in the newly developed progressive payment factor used to prorate payments inequitably and the biased method used to incorporate producer-paid insurance premiums and fees. Cotton farmers across Texas and the U.S. have been vastly impacted by concurrent events in 2022 brought on by mother nature — this is especially true in the Texas High Plains region. A correctly implemented program by USDA as Congress intended will greatly help the agriculture industry in such times of financial strain and loss. We look forward to continuing the work with Congress to swiftly correct the disparities and inadequacies created by USDA in administrating the ERP for the 2022 crop year.”

Mullin Takes Up Valley Fever Bill for Western Oklahoma

Today, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) was announced as the Senate Republican lead for a bipartisan bill to encourage the prevention and treatment of Valley Fever—a fungal disease endemic to the Southwestern United States. If passed, this legislation would add Valley Fever to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Tropical Disease Priority Review Voucher (PRV) list.

“Humans and animals in the American Southwest are contracting Valley Fever through fungus that grows in the dirt and soil, costing the U.S. healthcare system $3.9 billion each year,” said Sen. Mullin. “There are few drugs currently available to treat this disease, but PRV programs can help incentivize the development of treatment that will improve health care outcomes, lower costs, and ultimately save lives. I’m glad to join Senator Mark Kelly and Congressman Kevin McCarthy in leading this important bipartisan legislation to improve care options for Western Oklahoma.”

Valley fever infection rates have been steadily increasing since 2014, with Oklahoma’s most prominent cases being in the Oklahoma Panhandle.