To view the latest Oklahoma Drought Monitor details, CLICK HERE.

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

Severe drought or worse fell to 5.5 percent, down from last week’s 9.12 percent.

Moderate drought or worse is now at 20.4 percent, down from last week’s 28.1 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are now at 48.3 percent, down from last week’s 58.9 percent.

Meanwhile- our neighbor to the north, Kansas reports a mixed bag with severe drought edging higher to 28.8 percent from 27 percent last week- while moderate drought did shrink to 48.55 percent- dropping almost 8 percentage points versus last week.



In Texas– the numbers showed limited improvement- severe drought went from 13.4 percent to 13.2 percent this week while moderate drought or worse dropped from 27.4 to 26.4 percent this week.

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We invest in Oklahomans, and we take pride in their success. Our energy facilities provide jobs, tax revenues, landowner payments and other sources of local economic development.

For more information, visit www.InvenergyOklahoma.com

 

Earlier this year- I had the opportunity to catch up with Dale Strickler as we talked regenerative principles as they apply to grazing management. Strickler operates a consulting firm, Regenerative Wisdom, which focuses on soil, pasture, crop and drought prevention consulting.

“In no other arena in agriculture do we extract so little of the potential that is out there than in grazing management,” Stricker said. “I have seen people side by side, right across the fence, and one person on one side is running a cow for every 12 acres and their grass looks like a pool table. The person on the other side is running a cow for every three acres, and they have grass that is knee-high.”

Strickler said proper grazing management can mean more forage production with fewer inputs.

When one truly understands how grass grows, Strickler said a producer can manage properly to meet its needs and help it grow better. While many enjoy going out and buying new equipment for their property, Strickler said the most important piece of equipment on the farm or ranch is one’s brain.

“With grazing management, the inputs are minimal,” Strickler said. “That doesn’t cost you a whole lot of money. Especially in this day and age. You can order books online, you can go to YouTube, you can get on Google, or you can attend sessions. It doesn’t cost a lot of money to do that.”

Kim Anderson- Wheat, Corn and Soybeans Experiencing a Spring Rally

This week on SUNUP is Oklahoma State University Extension grain market economist Kim Anderson. During this week’s edition, Anderson talks about the latest in the crop markets.

“This was a good week in the markets, just like the week before,” Anderson said. “Prices have continued to go up.”

Anderson said forward contracts for the wheat crop got up to $6.35, corn prices have been around $4.60 despite an excess of corn, and soybeans have rallied back up to $11.50.

“It’s a spring rally,” Anderson said. “Nearly every spring, normally it’s in April, we get a little rally in prices. People get excited the winter is over. We’re getting planted. We got a better handle on planted acres of wheat, corn, beans, cotton, and what’s going on. And it looks good relatively right now.”

Anderson recommends watching production and stocks to use ratios.

“As those numbers change (stocks to use rations), those prices are going to change,” Anderson said.

On today’s Cow-Calf Corner, OSU’s Mike Trammell talks about establishing native grasses.

Establishing a native grass pasture can be an intimidating process. The pros relative to native perennial pasture grasses are noteworthy. On the other hand, after the cons are considered, few producers decide to attempt a native grass planting. However, successful establishment can occur through attention to detail during the establishment process. The following are key steps to guide producers who want to establish a new stand of native grass.

1. Identify the species of native grasses found on good condition native range sites of your soil type.
2. Soil test! If soils are deficient in phosphorus or potassium, or have a low pH, these deficiencies will need to be corrected prior to planting.
3. Eliminate competition prior to planting. Native grass seedlings are not tolerant of competition.
4. Prepare a smooth, firm, weed free seedbed. The soil should be worked to a depth of 3 to 5 inches until it is free of clods.
5. Purchase a seed mixture similar to the plants listed in the Web Soil Survey ecological site of the targeted planting area. Include the mid-successional species in equal proportion to the high successional species.
6. In Oklahoma, native warm season grasses should be seeded between March 15 and May 15 to capitalize on favorable moisture patterns.
7. Control weed competition throughout the growing season. Most native grasses will not germinate until soil temperatures reach 60 F.
8. Avoid grazing new stands during the establishment year or lightly (top) graze only after plants are well established.

OSU Landscape Architecture Offer Outdoor Living Space Design Workshops Starting Today

Oklahoma Farm Reporter Maci Carter met with Professor Qing Luo to discuss the upcoming Outdoor Living Space Design workshop series.

“This design course has a series of three days of classes,” said Qing Luo, an associate professor and extension specialist in landscape architecture at Oklahoma State University. “It’s all about residential outdoor living space design, and it’s a hands-on course, so the participants will learn how to design their yard and organize their functional areas, including their deck, patio, pools, fire pits, outdoor kitchen-shaped structures, water feature pavings, seating, and gardens.”

Luo added this course is open to the public and is for anyone interested in design and creativity. No prior experience is required.

“After the three days, participants will learn the most important fundamental knowledge that they can bring home and that they can spread out drawings and look at their own backyard, their neighbors or their community spaces and design and plan their own outdoor living space,” Luo said.

The event is set to take place May 10, May 17 and May 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register for the event, visit the OSU Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Facebook event page. For more information, Professor Qing Luo can be reached at qing.luo@okstate.edu.

American and Australian Cattle Producers Commit to Partnership Through Joint Statement Signing

Today, leaders of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Cattle Australia (CA) signed a joint statement at the Beef 2024 convention in Rockhampton, Australia to further the two organizations’ partnership on issues related to cattle health, lab-grown proteins, and sustainability.

“America’s cattle farmers and ranchers stand with Australia’s cattle producers and look forward to being partners in combatting foreign animal diseases, promoting sustainability, and ensuring proper oversight of lab-grown proteins,” said NCBA President Mark Eisele, a Wyoming rancher.



“In signing the joint statement of priorities, we are encouraging the Australian and U.S. governments to join forces in combating devastating foreign animal diseases; promoting sustainable global trade that encourage efficient production practices; and ensuring science-based food safety and marketing regulations of emerging food technologies such as lab-grown proteins,” said CA Chair Garry Edwards.

The joint statement outlines both countries’ commitment to protecting cattle health and wellbeing with vaccine banks to counter the threat of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). While FMD only impacts cloven-hoofed animals and does not pose a risk to humans, the disease can still cause immense financial harm to farmers and ranchers. The United States has been FMD-free since 1929 and Australia has been FMD-free since 1872.

View the statement here.