Below is the latest wheat harvest report released by the Oklahoma Wheat Commission on June 13, 2024:

Oklahoma wheat harvest continues to move along in all areas of the state. Elevator locations reporting a lot of movement in all areas with many of the Southern and Central regions getting closer to the finish line. Great progress has also been made the last few days in North Central and Northeastern Oklahoma. Oklahoma Wheat Commission is calling wheat harvest for the state 75% complete.

At the time of reporting, test weights were ranging from 58 to 64 lbs. per bushel for the most part. Most test weights are now ranging from 60lbs. to 61 lbs. per bushel across the state. Proteins ranging from 9% to 13.5%, with an overall average of proteins being at 11.8% as of today. 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 next Oklahoma Wheat Commission Harvest report will be published on Monday, June 17, 2024.

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This Week’s Oklahoma Drought Monitor Shows Minor Changes

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 is now at 1.20 percent, down from last week’s 1.41 percent.

Moderate drought or worse is now at 15.79 percent, up from last week’s 14.51 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are now at 27.22, virtually unchanged from last week’s 27.23 percent.

According to the 6-to-10-day precipitation outlook map, the majority of the state aside from the western half of the panhandle is standing at a “near normal” chance of precipitation through June 22nd. The western half of the panhandle is leaning above a 33 to 40 percent chance of precipitation through June 22nd.

2023 WLAC Champion Jacob Massey Looks Back on His Year Marketing Cattle Across the Countryside

At the 2024 LMA Convention and World Livestock Auctioneer Championship in OKC, I had the chance to catch up with the 2023 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion, Jacob Massey of Petersburg, Tennessee.

After being crowned champion at last year’s competition in Florida, Massey said he hit the ground running, traveling to a wide variety of livestock markets that make up the cattle industry landscape. Massey talked about how his title did not come overnight, as he has been competing in the WLAC competition for over a decade.

In his travels this year, Massey said he was able to play a role in marketing the livelihood of producers across the country. On Saturday’s competition at the OKC National Stockyards, Massey said 31 contestants will be in the same role, as the competition utilizes cattle consigned by actual producers.

“Everyone is welcome to come,” Massey said.

Massey added that seating will be limited at the sale ring on Saturday, but there will be live streaming available to watch at the Stockyards. To watch the contest from anywhere, tune-in to the livestream on the Livestock Marketing Association's YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@SellatAuction. 

By the way- this is the fifth time that the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship has been held in Oklahoma- the third time for the Oklahoma National Stockyards and one time each at the Tulsa Stockyards and OKC West in El Reno. The most recent stop in Oklahoma was in 2010.

Farm Director KC Sheperd is talking with State Climatologist Gary McManus about the resurgence of La Niña and what to expect in the coming months.

While some may believe the state may have received more moisture than it did this time last year, McManus explained that may not be the case.

“Last year, we had really good rain from May through basically mid-July in Oklahoma and we had record rainfall in some cases,” McManus said. “When we look at this year, we have had pretty good moisture in all areas except northwest Oklahoma, so it kind of moves around as we go from season to season and year to year.”

As we move into the July through September period, McManus said La Niña is expected to develop. McManus added that according to the Climate Prediction Center, there is a 65 percent chance that La Niña will surface during that period.

This week on SUNUP is Oklahoma State University Extension grain market economist Kim Anderson. During this week’s edition, Anderson talks about the latest WASDE report, USDA Crop Production, and an update on crop prices.

“U.S. wheat production was projected to be 1.88 million bushels compared to 1.81 last year an average of 1.89,” Anderson said. “World wheat production was projected to be 29.1 billion bushels, which is a near record. It was 28.9 last year and your average is 28 million.”

Winter wheat production for the U.S. is forecast at 1.29 billion bushels, up 1 percent from the May 1 forecast and up 4 percent from 2023. As of June 1, the United States yield is forecast at 51.4 bushels per acre, up 0.7 bushels from last month and up 0.8 bushels from last year’s average yield of 50.6 bushels per acre.

“You have really got average U.S. wheat, above average world wheat production and below average or right at average hard red winter wheat,” Anderson said. “The important numbers for wheat are the stocks to use ratios. If you look at U.S. wheat for ’24 and ’25, it is projected to be 39.4 percent. It was 37.5 last year and the average is 40.8.”

Farm Director KC Sheperd talked earlier this week with the Communications Resource Officer at the American Meat Science Association, Christi Calhoun, about the association’s role in advancing scientific knowledge in the meat industry. The Reciprocal Meat Conference will be held at the OMNI Hotel and Convention Center in Oklahoma City on June 16-19. The conference, which celebrates its 77th anniversary, provides a platform for researchers, academics, and industry professionals to exchange information and learn about the latest developments in meat science.

“We are a professional society of about 2300 members associated with the meat industry in some way,” Calhoun said.

The Reciprocal Meat Conference will feature a lineup of dynamic speakers, Calhoun said, with expert views on many different facets of the industry. To see the lineup of speakers, click here.

Early Voting for the Oklahoma Primary Underway Friday and Saturday

Early voting, also known as in-person absentee voting, begins today for voters across the state! Early voting locations will be open Friday, June 14 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Early voting will also be available Saturday, June 15 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. No excuse is needed to vote early, but you must vote at an early voting location in the county where you are registered to vote. A list of early voting locations is available on the State Election Board website.

Voters are reminded that Oklahoma has modified, closed primary elections. In order to participate in a political party’s primary election, you must be a registered voter of that political party – unless the party has chosen to open its primaries to Independent (unaffiliated) voters. There are three recognized political parties in Oklahoma: Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian.

For the 2024-2025 election years, the Democratic Party has chosen to open its primaries to Independent voters. The Republican and Libertarian parties have chosen to keep their primaries closed.