Our friend Matt Muller in Jackson County posted this picture last night on Facebook showing a good looking wheat field being harvested with his son Lincoln in the seat in the combine.

Mike Schulte with the Oklahoma Wheat Commission has been told that the folks at Wheeler Brothers have taken in a load or two at their Reeding seasonal location that is located a few miles west of Cashion. Mike reports that they are saying that first load taken there had a test weight of 61 pounds- no yield reported.

I'm not sure how many custom crews have arrived yet- but it seems likely that they when they pull in- the wheat will be ready. The picture below was between Amber and Tuttle (northern Grady County) yesterday afternoon- that field and others around it are darn close.

If you have harvest pics this season- share them with us- email me and tell me your harvest results as it unfolds.

Dating back to 1891, Stillwater Milling Company has been supplying ranchers with the highest quality feeds made from the highest quality ingredients. Their full line of A & M Feeds can be delivered direct to your farm, found at their Agri-Center stores in Stillwater, Davis, Claremore and Perry or at more than 125 dealers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas. We appreciate Stillwater Milling Company’s long time support of the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and we encourage you to click here to learn more about their products and services.

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) joined forces with the American Farm Bureau Federation to garner support from 900+ agricultural stakeholders supporting the federal fix to California Prop. 12 to be included in the 2024 Farm Bill.

Several County Farm Bureaus from Oklahoma signed the letter- as did Oklahoma Farm Bureau and the Oklahoma Pork Council.

Laying out robust arguments in a letter to U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA) on Prop. 12’s damaging implications, the coalition highlighted several issues including marketplace mayhem, patchwork of state laws to fuel consolidation, international trade threats, and more.

The letter includes signatures from over 40 states, as well as the following national organizations: the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference of American Trucking Associations, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Sheep Industry Association, Beef Alliance, Livestock Marketing Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Lamb Feeders Association, National Milk Producers Federation, National Pork Producers Council, National Sorghum Producers, National Turkey Federation, Rural & Agricultural Council of America, and U.S. Cattlemen’s Association.

Senators John Boozman and James Lankford Talk Farm Bill, Foreign Land Ownership, and More at Heritage Place in OKC

After the Farm Bill listening session last week, Senator James Lankford and Senator John Boozman agreed to take a few questions outside of Heritage Place in Oklahoma City. Several agricultural producers and agricultural groups were on hand to talk about agriculture with the Senators.

Lankford first talked about his excitement for having the chance to spend the day showcasing the ins and outs of Oklahoma agriculture to Senator John Boozman.

“It is a very full day trying to get the ranking member as much exposure as we can to Oklahoma agriculture, but also talk about the importance of food, fiber, and how important that is, and the effects of inflation right now that so many families are experiencing just based on the cost of food,” Lankford said. “The cost of food has gone up 20 percent across the country.”

Boozman said he is not a stranger to Oklahoma, as he grew up in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

“We are here talking about the Farm Bill,” Boozman said. “It is one of the most important things we do in Congress. We do it every five years, and it is all about feeding America, and not only about feeding America but feeding the nation. We are blessed with the safest, cheapest food supply in the world and that is because of the hard work of our farm community.”

At the Oklahoma State FFA Convention, I had the chance to talk with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Director of Grassroots Advocacy and Spokesperson Development, Chandler Mulvaney.

In his role at NCBA, Mulvaney said he helps equip and elevate advocates across the country to find their story and share it best across the media.

“This is one of the first times we have been at a state FFA convention, so this is a really exciting new venture for us in the past three to four years, expanding into this new avenue where we really see an opportunity to connect with teachers, but then also FFA members as well where they can see the value of Masters of Beef Advocacy, or MBA as a resource in the classroom or their role as an incoming Freshman at a local institution or academic institution.”

Masters of Beef Advocacy is your go-to program for training and resources to be a strong advocate for the beef community. This free, self-guided online course provides farmers, ranchers, service providers, consumers, and all members of the beef community the tools and resources to become a beef advocate and answer tough questions about beef and raising cattle.

Adapting Forage Supply and Stocking Rates Ahead of La Niña: Strategies for Resilient Ranching

By the midpoint of the growing season, ranchers typically should have accumulated more than half of the necessary forage their livestock will need for the year and the remainder of the dormant season. However, during La Niña years, such as 2024 is predicted to be, forage production can fall short in the next six months if and when weather patterns shift toward drier and warmer conditions in many states.

Understanding and adapting to these changes is not just beneficial for ranchers – it’s essential for sustainable operations.

La Niña conditions can drastically alter precipitation levels and temperature patterns, depending on the region. Across the Southern U.S., La Niña events tend to bring dry conditions that can lead to decreased forage growth, which challenges ranchers who depend on grazing native pastures year-round.

Hugh Aljoe, director of ranches, outreach and partnerships at Noble Research Institute, says the key to proactive forage management is first understanding how a La Niña year may impact your area and your ranch.

“Understanding the specific impact of La Niña on your region’s climate – particularly how it influences drought conditions – is crucial,” he says. “It allows us to make informed decisions about adjusting our forage supply strategy.”

Spring Management Checklist with OSU’s Mark Johnson

Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist, offers herd health advice as part of the weekly series known as the “Cow Calf Corner,” published electronically by Dr. Peel, Mark Johnson, and Paul Beck. Today, Johnson talks about management factors in the spring.

The commercial cow-calf business does not require intensive day-to-day management to the same extent of the other industry segments. That being said, timely management input is critical to maximizing forage production, shortening the calving season and creating profit potential. The key to capitalizing on the future value of cattle is to run your operation as a business. Managing your operation like a business means making sound financial decisions and concentrating management and labor into some of the critical control points through the annual production cycle.