At this week's House Agriculture Committee hearing, Congressman Lucas questioned Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack over the Biden Administration’s failed Emergency Relief Program (ERP).

Congressman Lucas noted that producers in Oklahoma were feeling the negative affects of the ERP 2022 program. Secretary Vilsack questioned this claim, prompting Congressman Lucas to defend his constituents.

Watch the video clip with Congressman Lucas and Secretary Vilsack talked ERP by clicking on the picture of Congressman Lucas above.

BACKGROUND:  A year ago, Congress appropriated $3.7 billion in agriculture disaster relief to support farmers who suffered weather-related losses during the 2022 crop year.  The administration rolled out the ERP 2022 program on October 30, 2023. This newest ERP methodology is deeply flawed and leaves many of those hardest hit by drought and natural disasters without the support they need.  In December, Rep. Lucas joined a letter urging Secretary Vilsack to follow Congressional intent of the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) and ensure support goes to producers who suffered drastic crop losses, not those who the USDA deems to be socially disadvantaged. 



The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association is the trusted voice of the Oklahoma Cattle Industry. With headquarters in Oklahoma City, the OCA has a regular presence at the State Capitol to protect and defend the interests of cattlemen and cattlewomen.

Their Vision Statement explains the highest priority of the organization- "Leadership that serves, strengthens and advocates for the Oklahoma cattle industry."

To learn more about the OCA and how you can be a part of this forward-looking group of cattle producers, click here for their website. For more information- call 405-235-4391.

According to the latest Oklahoma drought monitor report, exceptional drought remains at zero percent, unchanged from the start of the calendar year.

Extreme drought or worse remains at zero percent, unchanged from the past seven weeks.

Severe drought or worse is now at .19 percent, down from last week’s 1.36 percent.

Moderate drought or worse is now at 3.23 percent, down from last week’s 7.18 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are now at 16.61 percent, down from last week’s 21.48 percent.

According to the 6-to-10-day precipitation outlook map, the panhandle and the northern border of Oklahoma are leaning below a 33 to 40 percent chance of precipitation through February 24th. The remaining part of the state is leaning below a 40 to 50 percent chance of precipitation through February 24th.

To view this week's Oklahoma drought percentages and more, click the map above the story.

Dr. Jayson Lusk Looks Forward to More Improvements to OSU’s Ag Facilities As New Frontiers Nears Completion

At the OCIA/OGI Meeting in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Farm Reporter Maci Carter had the chance to visit with the Oklahoma State University Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources Vice President and Dean Dr. Jayson Lusk.

Regarding the construction of the New Frontiers Ag Hall, Lusk said that thanks to the help of many generous donors, the building will be ready for classes next fall.

“Construction is nearing completion,” Lusk said. “We should be finished by the end of July, and we have classes scheduled for the new building in August. I was in the building on Friday, and I can tell you it is moving along nicely. They are already putting furniture in some parts of the buildings.”

Lusk also talked about future improvements to the agronomy research stations at OSU.

“Now that New Frontiers Ag Hall is near completion, it allows us to look toward the future and see what is next,” Lusk said. “High on our priority list is the agronomy farm and the research that happens out there. If you look for example, in Oklahoma, about 70 percent of the acres planted to wheat in Oklahoma are planted with a variety that was created at Oklahoma State University at the agronomy farm. Unfortunately, many of those facilities were built in the 1940s and are aging. If we want to position ourselves for the future and continue to have the impacts that we need for the future, we are going to continue to make some investments out there.”

At the 2024 CattleCon held in Orlando, Florida, I talked with the president and CEO of the United States Meat Export Federation, Dan Halstrom, about the value of MAP (Market Access Program) and FMD (Foreign Market Development) funding for foreign beef exports.

Our coverage from the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Orlando is being powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

There has been much discussion during this farm bill cycle about the need to update MAP and FMD spending levels for commodity programs, including for USMEF efforts to promote beef and pork exports. Halstrom said additional funding would be put to work right away.

“The potential is huge with additional investment,” Halstrom said.

Halstrom said a new program that is being rolled out, the Regional Agriculture Promotion Program (RAPP), follows a similar concept to MAP and FMD regarding what those funds can be used for.

“It can increase our presence of the industry globally whether it is beef or pork,” Halstrom said. “We can go into some newer regions of the world…”

This Week on SUNUP is Oklahoma State University Extension grain market economist Kim Anderson. During this week’s edition, Anderson talks about crop prices and the USDA 2024 Commodity Outlook Report.

On average, Anderson said wheat in Oklahoma is around $5.30. That price is slightly lower in the panhandle, and in central Oklahoma and southern Oklahoma, the price is about $5.00 even.

To forward contact wheat for harvest delivery, Anderson said the price is around $5.20. The average wheat price over time, Anderson added, is around $5.80.

Looking at corn, Anderson said corn prices in December were around $4.70 and are now around $4.10 or $4.13. Corn can be forward contract for 2024 delivery at around $4.40.

“Soybeans was our poster child until we got into that November and December time period,” Anderson said. “Peaked out around $13.25. We have knocked two dollars off the bean prices, especially over the last month and a half. We are down to around $11.25 for beans now.”

Separately- Dr. Anderson has provided us with his take on the USDA Outlook Conference Crop Projections for 2024- click here to read those- his conclusion- by the way- if you don't want to click to our story- there's a lot that can happen between now and when those crops are harvested- those numbers are just nice conversation starters.

The Simple Economics of Extended Wheat Grazing and Why it’s a Bad Idea

On this week's Cow-Calf Corner, Eric A. DeVuyst, Professor and Rainbolt Chair, Department of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University talks about extended wheat grazing.

With the current above average temperatures, first hollow stem in wheat pastures will likely be here earlier than is usual. So, it’s a good time to look at the benefits and costs of grazing wheat past first hollow stem.

There are two Oklahoma studies that looked at the impact of extended wheat grazing on wheat grain yield.

Assuming 35 bushel wheat grain yield (without extended grazing), one day of extended grazing is a loss of 1.75 bushels. At $6 per bushel, that’s $10.50 per acre in lost grain. Next, let’s calculate the value of one day of extended stocker grazing. Assuming a stocking rate of 0.64 head per acre, $1.80 value of gain, and 3 pounds per day gain, one day of extended grazing generates $3.46 per acre in added revenue. The difference in returns per acre from one day of extended grazing is -$7.04 per acre.

If wheat price is $6 per bushel, the stocker value of gain would need to be $5 per pound to roughly breakeven on extended grazing. Alternatively, at $1.80 value of stocker gain, wheat price would need to be about $2 per bushel to roughly breakeven on extended grazing. 

The economics are clear: don’t graze past first hollow stem if you intend harvest wheat grain.

Bledsoe Farms Angus Bull Sale Set for Tomorrow

The seedstock Production Sale Season is spinning up quickly- and one sale that we want to call your attention to is happening on Saturday, February 17th.

The Bledsoe Farms Angus Production Sale will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at the Payne County Stockyards, 2405 W 116th (Highway 33) in Perkins, Oklahoma. (Perkins Livestock)

They will be selling 87 lots including

45 Registered Angus Bulls

30 Registered Open Yearling Heifers

12 Registered Spring Calving Cows

The Catalog is available at mcsauction.com- sale videos are also there as well.

You can Participate in the auction in person or bid via DVAuction.Com

Check out the Bledsoe Farms Website by clicking here.

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