In this week's crop progress report, winter wheat headed reached 17 percent, up 1 percentage point from the previous year and up 4 points from the five-year average. Winter wheat conditions rated 50 percent good to excellent, 34 percent fair and 16 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s ratings were 55 percent good to excellent, 32 percent fair and 13 percent poor to very poor. Ratings are still up from this time last year, which was 26 percent good to excellent, 33 percent poor and 41 percent poor to very poor across the 18 winter wheat states.

Across the southern HRW belt- crop conditions are falling fast as the crop is ahead of normal development and the crop is dealing with the developing drought. Oklahoma winter wheat conditions rated 49 percent good to excellent, 39 percent fair and 12 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 60 percent good to excellent, 30 percent fair and 10 poor to very poor. Conditions are still looking much better than this time last year as the 2023 crop was historically bad by this point in April- the crop was only 6 percent in good condition and 63% poor to very poor. 

The recent weather is pushing the development of the crop with heading doubled this week from 15% to 30% and is 10 points ahead of the five year average.

Kansas winter wheat jointed was 72 percent, well ahead of 41 percent last year and 48 percent for the five-year average. Texas winter wheat headed reached 66 percent, down 2 percentage points from the previous year and up 2 points from the five-year average.

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.

Today, the Oklahoma Rural Association (ORA) released a new study examining the economic impact of the Energy Discrimination Elimination Act (EDEA) on Oklahoma’s municipal bond market. The study, “Unintended Consequences of the Energy Discrimination Elimination Act in Oklahoma,” which was commissioned by ORA and conducted by Dr. Travis Roach, an associate professor and chairperson of the Department of Economics at the University of Central Oklahoma and founder of the Central Policy Institute, showcases the detrimental impact of the EDEA on Oklahoma communities and taxpayers. 

Notably, the new study finds that Oklahoma’s EDEA policy has resulted in: 

• A 15.7% increase in borrowing costs for Oklahoma municipalities compared to non-EDEA adopting states. 
• $184,777,344 in additional expenses for local municipalities since the policy’s enactment, or $10,869,256 per month of the policy’s tenure thus far.
• Increased borrowing costs, which negatively impact Oklahoma municipalities through:
• Higher taxes.
• Reducing expenditures in other areas.
• Delays or complete abandonment of projects intended to improve infrastructure and quality of life. 

This impact is only projected to increase if Oklahoma’s EDEA policy remains in place and continues to restrict the competitive municipal bond market, further harming taxpayers. 

Introducing Titus Montgomery of the Red Oak FFA Chapter, Your 2024 Southeast Area Star in Agriscience

This morning, our coverage of the 2024 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists continues with Agriscience competitor Titus Montgomery of the Red Oak FFA chapter representing the Southeast Area.

Farm Director KC Sheperd interviewed all 18 Star finalists recently in Stillwater after they were judged in their respective areas- and you can hear KC talk with Titus by clicking on the blue button at the bottom of this story.

“My project has been one I have continued for the last three years,” Montgomery said. “It is about determining the effects of Ivermectin on earthworms as it enters the soil. I have been trying to determine if it is toxic or lethal to earthworms.”

Montgomery said the idea for this project stemmed from a conversation with his ag teacher about using Ivermectin and how it impacts soil health.

“Earthworms are agriculture’s unsung heroes,” Montgomery said. “There is not a better example. Not only do earthworms aerate the soil and provide infiltration through water systems and such, but they are also soil builders. Without soil, we don’t have crops, and we don’t have grass for our cattle to eat, and the world stops.”

Through his project, Montgomery said he has found a passion for scientific research, which has led him to the goal of conducting graduate research at Oklahoma State University one day.

Our coverage of the Stars and the 2024 State FFA Convention is powered by Hilliary Communications.

Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, offers his economic analysis of the beef cattle industry as part of the weekly series known as the “Cow Calf Corner,” published electronically by Dr. Peel and Mark Johnson. Today, Dr. Peel talks about feedlot numbers and more.

The April cattle on feed report pegs feedlot inventories at 11.82 million head, up 1.49 percent from one year ago. Feedlot inventories continue to be stubbornly slow to decline despite declining cattle numbers.  

Feedlot placements in March were down 12.3 percent year over year, a larger decrease than expected. In fact, feedlot placements have been declining for many months in response to decreased feeder cattle supplies. 

How, then, can feedlot inventories be above year earlier levels as they have been for the last seven months? The answer is that feedlot marketing rates have fallen even faster than placement rates. 

Feedlots have an incentive to keep inventories as close to capacity as possible. One way is to slow down the turnover rate effectively making fewer cattle turn into larger inventories. The result is more days on feed and heavier carcass weights. Steer carcass weights have averaged 25 pounds heavier year over year for the past four weeks, with heifer carcasses over 21 pounds heavier. There are limits to how much feedlots can slow marketings, but feedlots are expected to push carcass weights as far as possible in the coming months. Feedlot inventories are expected to decline in the next few months despite feedlot actions to delay the inevitable. 

Oklahoma Ag In The Classroom Hands Out Awards and Promotes Ag Education at the Capitol

Oklahoma Farm Reporter Maci Carter is talking with the State Ag In the Classroom Coordinator, Melody Blosser, about Ag In The Classroom’s part in Ag Day at the Capitol,

“The Ag In the Classroom portion of Ag Day is where we take the opportunity to recognize our overall contest winners,” Blosser said. “We have an early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school, and photography winner. We bring their artwork to the capitol, and we recognize them.”

During Ag Day at the Capitol, Blosser said they awarded the Teacher of the Year, Jackie McGolden of Fairview Public Schools. Awarded the National Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture was Jennifer Croswait from Stillwater Public Schools.

Coming soon is another resource from Oklahoma Ag In the Classroom, Blosser said, called ‘Flat.’

“I am so excited to announce that Annie Davis, one of the other coordinators, has developed the most outstanding resource, and we are so excited it goes to debut here at Ag Day,” Blosser said. “It is called ‘Flat.’ It is similar to Flat Stanley, but we have twins, Flat Aggie and Flat Annie, and they go on different adventures. Their last name is Arthur.”

An Active Forecast for the Week with Rain/Storm Chances will Determine the Wildfire Risk

Statewide Discussion: Early weekend rainfall was held to the southern Oklahoma with dry, cold-front associated air in northern Oklahoma – a disappointing outcome for northwestern and northern counties. An active, unsettled forecast for the week ahead with rain/storm chances from Tuesday into the weekend. Fire weather will become a concern later this week in the Panhandle and northwestern counties dependent upon realized rainfall and dryline placement.

Today: Southerly winds are expected to increase today becoming quite gusty this afternoon and persisting overnight. Good overnight moisture recovery and dew point temperatures above 40° will hold afternoon relative humidity values above critical threshold in all but the western Panhandle counties.

Oklahoma Panhandle: Temperature 81°-84° under clear skies with relative humidity values 11% in Cimarron County to around 23% in Beaver County. Southerly winds will gradually increase into the afternoon when sustained southwest winds 15-22 mph gusting around 30 mph are expected.

Near-Term: While the southern tier of counties received a boost of moisture in the last rain system, the flash drought development across the northern counties intensified from abnormally-dry to moderate drought from Woods County into far western Kay County. Today is the highest fire danger day of the next three days.

The next update to the Oklahoma Wildfire Situation report will be issued Wednesday, April 24.