Oklahoma wheat harvest made good progress in most areas at the beginning of the week, but harvest has been hindered in the Panhandle portions and parts of North Central Oklahoma due to heavy rains in the Panhandle and lighter rains in North Central Oklahoma late Tuesday evening, early Wednesday morning. Minor cutting still continues in parts of Southwest Oklahoma down by Walters, Altus and Duke where rain hindered harvest in select areas. Elevator locations reporting a lot of movement prior to the beginning of this week from South Central to North Central Oklahoma, progress has also been made in Northeast Oklahoma. 

In the Panhandle producers have made good progress on dryland wheat harvest and were just getting started on irrigated wheat harvest before the 1,000 year rain event reported by the Oklahoma Mesonet. Oklahoma Wheat Commission is calling wheat harvest for the state 91% 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 80’s. Early harvested irrigated wheat in the Panhandle on Tuesday afternoon had reports on wheat making 75 to 85 bushels per acre. Test weights were reported at 59 lbs. to 61 lbs. per bushel on that early harvested irrigated wheat. The next Oklahoma Wheat Commission Harvest report will be published on Monday, June 24, 2024.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau works to improve the lives of all Oklahomans by supporting our state’s agriculture community. As Oklahoma’s largest general farm organization led by Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, OKFB takes grassroots values and advocates for agriculture at the state Capitol and in Washington, D.C., to ensure our way of life continues for generations to come. Farm Bureau hosts leadership events, supports our state’s agricultural youth and connects consumers with agriculture in order to build a brighter future for our state. Become an OKFB member today online at okfarmbureau.org/join. Together, we are rural Oklahoma.

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, unchanged from last week.

Moderate drought or worse is now at 20.82 percent, up from last week’s 15.79 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are now at 37.17 percent, up from last week’s 27.22 percent.

According to the 6-to-10-day precipitation outlook map, the majority of the state aside from the panhandle and the southeast corner is leaning above a 40 to 50 percent chance of precipitation through June 29th. The panhandle and the far southeast corner are leaning above a 33 to 40 percent chance of precipitation through that June 29th date.

John Stika Applauds Certified Angus Beef for Being Valued by Consumers As They Crave Flavor and Taste

In this episode of Beef Buzz, I am visiting with the President of Certified Angus Beef, John Stika, about domestic beef demand and the taste and quality that CAB brings to the table.

“I think we are all probably very pleased with the position that beef in general is in at the moment,” Stika said. “Grade is pretty good. Probably, the biggest question I continue to get especially from the production sector is, ‘Where are we at with consumer demand?’”

To answer that question, Stika said there is clearly a craving for high-quality beef.

“We continue to see our Certified Angus Beef sales remain extremely strong,” Stika said. “Some of the best months in our history are being experienced right now.”

During peak grilling time this summer, Stika said he expects to see more ground beef consumption than higher-end items due to rising beef costs. Make no mistake, Stika said the demand is still there for those more expensive cuts of beef.

Oklahoma State University’s grain crop market analysist Dr. Kim Anderson talked wheat, corn, soybean and cotton prices and where they might be headed post harvest for wheat and during the growing season for the three spring planted crops. Listen to Lydall Stout and and Dr. Anderson talk crop markets in a segment that can also be seen on this weekend's SUNUP by clicking on the Blue Button below.

We also have the full lineup for the TV Show produced by OSU Ag Communications for this weekend- the show will feature a segment from Scotland with Dr. Derrell Peel who is hosting a group of OSU students on an international study tour over there- and will also feature our friend Lyndall Stout talking with Tyler Schnaithman of Garber as they review the 2024 wheat harvest from a Garfield County perspective.

Bid On Beef- First of Its Kind Auction Platform Launched

On June 1, CK6 Consulting, along with strategic partners Texas Beefhouse, launched the first-of-its kind auction platform for beef sales. 

Bid on Beef is the vision of Chris Earl, owner of Reverse Rocking R Ranch and CK6 Consulting in New Mexico. Working with beef cattle producers across the nation. CK6 Consulting has conducted $150 million in sales through price discovery in auctions, and now the team is taking that same concept directly to the consumer.

“The vertically integrated beef supply food chain is not working for every cattleman and woman in America,” says Bid on Beef founder, Chris Earl. “We believe getting closer to the consumer retail dollar, through the free market, will directly impact ranchers’ bottomline and help create pathways of profitability back to the families we serve Bid on Beef will carefully vet sellers on our platform and our focus will be delivering consistently high-quality Angus and Wagyu beef to our customers. From pasture to plate, the beef will be born, raised, fed, harvested, packaged, and delivered by American cattle ranchers.”

Cattle auctions date back to the iconic American cattle drives along the Chisholm Trail, and Bid on Beef will invite shoppers to buy beef the cowboy way, through an honest bidding process where consumers have the are in the drivers’ seat to pick the ranch, pick the beef cuts, and pick the price. 

The Oklahoma CareerTech Foundation has opened ticket sales for its Hall of Fame banquet in October, when the foundation will honor six inductees.

This year’s Oklahoma Career and Technology Education Hall of Fame inductees are Tom Friedemann, Randy Gilbert, Velta Reed-Johnston, Denise Morris, Joe Robinson and Jack Staats. Banquet tickets and sponsorships are available at https://form.jotform.com/241424586226154.

“Oklahoma is home to the best CareerTech system in the nation, and these six Hall of Fame honorees contributed much to the vision that has shaped career and technology education in Oklahoma,” said CareerTech State Director Brent Haken. “Each of these honorees played starring roles in the state’s journey to becoming the best in career and technology education. They have advanced the mission of CareerTech in unique and extraordinary ways.”

Randy Gilbert has served on the State Board of Career and Technology Education for 20 years. He taught agricultural education and served as FFA adviser at Lawton High School from 1983 to 1988 and has since been operations manager and vice president of Gilbert and Sons Trucking Co. in Tecumseh. He is also co-owner of Crossing Hearts Ranch, an agritourism venue.

Jack Staats worked in agricultural education for 50 years. He taught for 34 years, beginning his career at Freedom High School. He also taught in Buffalo before helping start a two-teacher ag ed program at Alva High School, where he taught for 30 years before becoming state program administrator for agricultural education and state FFA adviser at ODCTE. He retired in 2020 and began teaching agricultural education at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

Staats proudest achievements were helping create or promoting programs such as Blue Coats to White Coats with the OSU medical school, AET recordkeeping system, FFA affiliated membership, national proficiency award participation and agriscience research participation.