According to the latest U.S. Crop Progress Report released on May 28, 2024, winter wheat conditions rated 48 percent good to excellent, 33 percent fair and 19 percent poor to very poor- not changed much from last week.

Plantings of our major spring crops are well on their way being done- the US Corn Crop is 83% planted- US Soybeans are 68% planted and 59% of the US Cotton crop is now planted.

In Oklahoma, winter wheat conditions rated 53 percent good to excellent, 32 percent fair and 15 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated 51 percent good to excellent, 35 percent fair and 14 percent poor to very poor. This time last year, conditions rated 30 percent good to excellent, 43 percent fair and 27 percent poor to very poor.

NASS is calling the Oklahoma Wheat Harvest 12% complete as of May 26th.

Oklahoma's pasture and range conditions rated 57 percent good to excellent, 36 percent fair and 7 percent poor to very poor. Last week’s conditions rated the same. This time last year, pasture and range conditions rated 45 percent good to excellent, 39 percent fair and 16 percent poor to very poor.

In Kansas, winter wheat conditions rated 32 percent good to excellent, 36 percent fair and 32 percent poor to very poor. In Texas, wheat conditions rated 36 percent good to excellent, 44 percent fair and 20 percent poor to very poor. 

The Oklahoma Agriculture Mediation Program knows this is a hard time for farmers and ranchers. We want you to know we are still open, and we are still here for you. The Ag Mediation program is a free service that provides mediation to agriculture producers who may need help with ag-related disputes.

At Oklahoma Ag Mediation, we have been helping people in agriculture resolve conflicts since 1987. We know firsthand about working together to resolve conflicts, so you don’t have to go through the court systems. Let our professional mediators help you. Mediation is allowed for lease issues, farmer/neighbor disputes, family farm transitions, and more. These services are available at no cost for Oklahoma farmers and ranchers in all 77 counties. For more information, you can go to ok.gov/mediation, or give us a call at 800 248 5465.

Below is the latest winter wheat harvest report from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission, released on May 28, 2024.

Oklahoma wheat harvest continued to move forward in Southwest and Central Oklahoma over the weekend, but rains in parts of Southwest Oklahoma and Northern Oklahoma that were received at the time of this report will delay harvest today most likely in those regions the next couple days. More rains are predicted in all regions of the wheat belt over the next few days. Wheat taken in at locations in Southwest, South Central and Central Oklahoma, have had favorable test weights, and yields reported at this time. Protein ranges are varying all over the board, but most locations are reporting an 11.0 to 11.2% average. Early reports of wheat being harvested in Northern, Oklahoma are also showing promising yields with decent test weights.

Early reports in all locations show test weights ranging from 60 to 65 lbs. per bushel. Proteins ranging from 9% to 13.5%, with an overall average of proteins being reported at 11.0% to 11.2%. The wheat being harvested in Southwest Oklahoma has not been stressed as much, so it is thought proteins will get higher as harvest progresses North where we have drought stress. Early yields being reported at 40 to 50 bushels per acre in most regions. Higher yields being reported on intensively managed wheat with some yields on a few fields being reported in the mid 60’s to low 70’s. The state has received a large amount of hail damage in South Central, Southwest, and Northern, Oklahoma over the past two weeks, so this will show losses on overall production. Harvest will be delayed in many areas due to moisture late last night and early this morning, with more rains predicted. The Oklahoma Wheat Commission is calling the state 15% complete with harvest(as of 5/28)

(Picture above comes from our friend Fred Schmedt- who reports 65 bu SY Rugged, SW of Tipton in Tillman Co. 61 test wt. and 13% protein withstood 2 wind events over 50 mph)

Federal Regulatory Procedures Present Challenges in Gene Editing Progress

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am back talking about gene editing with Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam of the University of California-Davis. Dr. Van Eenennaam was the keynote speaker on the first evening of Cattlemen’s Conference Part 2: Blueprint for the Future and was on a follow-up panel the next morning on the science and regulatory challenges of gene editing.

As discussed in part one of the conversation with Dr. Van Eenennaam, gene editing has tremendous potential for the beef cattle industry, but there are some substantial regulatory challenges in the way. Van Eenennaam said one issue is that the FDA has elected to treat gene editing technology like a drug, which slows down the approval process immensely.

“The regulatory approach this has been taken in the United States is to regulate all intentional alterations in the genome as new animal drugs under the Food and Drug Cosmetic Act,” Van Eenennaam said. “That is not the approach that has been taken by other countries.”

Van Eenennaam said creating a highly difficult regulatory process will disincentivize commercial investment and the use of gene editing technology in general. Van Eenennaam also talked with me about where gene editing is going, and new developments.

At the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) annual Washington Watch event in Washington, D.C., Farm Director KC Sheperd had the chance to talk with United Soybean Board Director, Patrick Giberson, about different ways to utilize soybeans.

“The opportunities for soybeans are endless,” Giberson said. “Two of our big ones have just come out.”

Giberson said USB has recently partnered with DeWalt to produce an environmentally friendly bar and chain oil. This new product is available now in 1300 Home Depots nationwide.

The next exciting partnership Giberson talked about is the use of soybeans in firefighting foam which does not contain forever chemicals such as PFAS.

With farmer investment, the safer alternative, SoyFoam™, eliminates this exposure, prioritizing the well-being of our first responders. Cross Plains Solutions’ SoyFoam™ TF 1122 is the first and only firefighting foam GreenScreen Certified® at the Gold level. This partnership between Cross Plains Solutions and the soy checkoff gives firefighters one less thing to worry about while keeping our communities safe.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional the efforts of California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey and Rhode Island to dictate American energy policy. Those five states have brought unprecedented litigation against the nation’s most vital energy companies, and they demand billions of dollars in damages. As litigation proceeds in their state courts, California and the other states threaten to impose ruinous penalties and coercive remedies that would affect energy and fuel consumption and production across the country.

Drummond is part of a 19-state coalition raising the significant constitutional problems with California’s extraordinary tactics and asking the Supreme Court to take up a multi-state lawsuit.

“This wasteful litigation by five states is a brazen attempt to hobble energy policies that positively impact our country,” Drummond said “The energy industry is key to a thriving Oklahoma and nation. No single state – or even five – should be allowed to dictate what is right for another state. I will always defend what is right for Oklahomans.”

Milk Producers Laud FDA’s Approval of Bovaer

From Gregg Doud, President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation:

“FDA approval of Elanco’s Bovaer is another important step on U.S. dairy’s journey toward a net-zero future, one in which dairy farmers have already made great progress. Bovaer and other new technologies that reduce enteric emissions will help U.S. farmers be rewarded for participating in voluntary, producer-led sustainability initiatives, which is critical for the success of such efforts. 

“Consumers around the world are demanding lower-carbon foods. Innovations such as Bovaer will help U.S. dairy farmers remain globally competitive and maintain their role as leaders in more sustainable dairy production. We thank FDA for its recognition of and support for these efforts.”

“We also commend Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and his team at USDA for supporting dairy farmers as they prepare to use Bovaer on their own operations. We are grateful to the department for awarding more than $90 million to dairy farmer-owned cooperatives and partner organizations for innovative feed management under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program for fiscal year 2023. FDA’s approval of Bovaer now enables these key resources to move forward, and sets the stage for dairy to build on this first round in fiscal year 2024.”