In this week's crop progress report, U.S. winter wheat headed reached 6 percent, down one percentage point from the previous year and up one point from the five-year average. Winter wheat conditions rated 56 percent good to excellent, 32 percent fair and 12 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 56 percent good to excellent, 33 percent fair and 11 percent poor to very poor.

Oklahoma winter wheat conditions rated 68 percent good to excellent, 24 percent fair and 8 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 73 percent good to excellent, 23 percent fair and 4 percent poor to very poor. 

Meanwhile- Kansas improved by one point this week versus last to 49% good to excellent while Texas dropped two points to 44% goof to excellent.

All three states are in much better shape than a year ago with their 2024 wheat crop- Oklahoma 48 points better, Kansas 36 points better and Texas 27 points better on their good to excellent stats than at this point in 2023.

Pasture and range conditions in Oklahoma rated 39 percent good to excellent, 42 percent fair and 19 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 38 percent good to excellent, 43 percent fair and 19 percent poor to very poor. 

National Livestock was founded in 1932 in Oklahoma City. National’s Marketing Division offers cattle for sale weekly at the Oklahoma National Stockyards in Oklahoma City. The Finance Division lends money to ranchers across several states for cattle production. The Grazing Division works with producers to place cattle for grazing on wheat or grass pastures. 

The newest addition to the National Family is Dakota Moss- and Livestock Risk Services.

National also owns and operates other livestock marketing subsidiaries including Southern Oklahoma Livestock Auction in Ada, Oklahoma, OKC West Livestock Market in El Reno, Oklahoma, and the nation’s premier livestock video sale, Superior Livestock Auction. National offers customers many services custom made for today’s producer. To learn more, click here for the website or call the Oklahoma City office at 1-800-310-0220.

April is MIO (Made In Oklahoma) Month! Associate Farm Editor Reagan Calk had the chance to visit with the Executive Director of the Made In Oklahoma Coalition, Emily Shuping, about all of the exciting things happening this month to showcase MIO Coalition members and their products.

“The Made In Oklahoma Coalition is a public/private partnership between the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, and Oklahoma food and beverage companies,” Shuping said. “We work to raise awareness for Made In Oklahoma products and increase consumer loyalty for products made right here in the state of Oklahoma.”

Every dollar spent on MIO products creates a positive impact in the lives of Oklahomans by boosting the state’s economy and increasing the number of local jobs available throughout the state and community while expanding the state’s GDP.

Cattlemen’s Conference Part Two Set for May 22nd and 23rd in Stillwater, Oklahoma

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am talking with Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist, about the Cattlemen’s Conference, which will be held on May 22nd and 23rd in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Last May, the Cattlemen’s Conference, in collaboration with Oklahoma State University and the Noble Research Institute, made significant strides in the seedstock industry with the creation of ‘Cattlemen’s Conference: A Blueprint for the Future'. The success of last year’s program, as noted by OSU’s Mark Johnson, has paved the way for a much-anticipated part two of the conference.

Johnson recapped topics from last year’s conference, including integrity, ethics, marketing, genetic trends, beef cattle photography, and more.

“Some really successful breeders and marketers that came and set in sat in on those panel discussions gave our audience the opportunity to react with those industry leaders and ask questions."

By focusing on the development of the right kind of cattle, the Cattlemen’s Conference provides a unique opportunity for attendees to gain insights and diverse perspectives from industry leaders. This knowledge exchange is designed to not only enhance individual understanding but also contribute to the overall improvement of the industry.

Part two of our conversation in tomorrow's email with Dr. Johnson will look at the objective of the 2024 edition of Cattlemen's Conference.

AGCO Corporation (NYSE: AGCO), a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, today announced the launch of PTx, a new brand representing its precision ag portfolio. PTx combines precision ag technologies from the cornerstones of AGCO’s tech stack: Precision Planting and its newest joint venture (JV), PTx Trimble.

The strategic alignment of these brands will facilitate the rapid growth of AGCO’s technology transformation and will support the future development and distribution of next-generation ag technologies for farmers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

PTx will serve farmers around the world through three go-to-market approaches. Specialized precision ag dealers will help farmers retrofit almost any make or vintage of equipment they already own with the latest technologies. PTx will also expand its relationships with more than 100 OEM partners that can integrate products from the PTx portfolio directly at the factory. Similarly, new machines from AGCO’s leading brands – Fendt, Massey Ferguson and Valtra – will also offer factory-fit technology from the PTx portfolio.

Josh Campbell has become the first Oklahoma State University Extension state specialist for beginning farmers and ranchers. The position was created to expand and stabilize programs and efforts that support new and beginning producers in Oklahoma.

Campbell moved to Oklahoma from Arkansas as a child and said agriculture has always been part of his life through experiences on his grandparents’ farms. In college, he learned about different agricultural career opportunities and became interested in Extension. “I was drawn to the possibility of a job that combined my love of agriculture with my interest in education and community service,” Campbell said.

He previously served OSU Extension as a county educator for nine years in the areas of horticulture and agriculture. Campbell’s current role allows him to apply his expertise for new producers. “Having served as a county Extension professional, I have worked with many beginning farmers and ranchers,” Campbell said. “I’m aware of the many challenges they face.”

Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association Supports Registration of Feral Swine Control Bait

The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) has made an official request to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) to register KAPUT Feral Hog Bait for use in Oklahoma. 

The OCA request letter says, “Feral swine cause millions of dollars of damage to Oklahoma property through their destructive behaviors destroying range, pasture and hay lands. OCA members share experiences of overnight loss of entire hay fields due the rooting behaviors of feral swine. Additionally, improved crops that could be used directly or harvested for forage are destroyed by feral swine.”

“Feral swine are known to carry diseases and parasites that can negatively impact cattle,” said Dr. Troy Shelby, President of OCA and a veterinarian. Dr. Shelby continued, “Oklahoma farmers, ranchers and landowners need more tools to control feral swine.”

On February 1st of this year, Texas registered KAPUT for use by licensed pesticide applicators. Oklahoma, like Texas, has seen an explosion in the population of feral swine. “According to the Noble Foundation,” said Michael Kelsey, Executive Vice President of OCA, “unless we control 70% of the population annually, feral swine numbers will continue to increase. Trapping, hunting, and fencing are just not enough to push back against this very invasive species.”