According to this week's drought monitor, conditions have improved across the state of Oklahoma with recent rainfall.

Severe drought or worse is now at 3.78 percent, unchanged from last week.

Moderate drought or worse is now at 17.79 percent, down from last week’s 22.3 percent.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are now at 59.9 percent, down from last week’s 67.55 percent.

Checking our neighbor's drought status- Kansas also saw improvement this week versus last- with Moderate Drought or worse falling from 21.29 percent to 18.41 percent last week compared to this week. Likewise, the Abnormally dry of worse sits at 46.88 percent this week versus 54.6% a week ago.

South in Texas- it's more of a mixed bag with severe drought actually increasing a bit from 12.86 percent a week ago to 14.2 percent this week. Moderate drought or worse comes in almost dead even- last week at 15.62 percent versus 25.2 percent this week. And- the Abnormally Dry or worse is 44.96 percent versus 44.96 percent

The Oklahoma Wheat Commission promotes greater use of wheat in domestic and international markets through research, market development and public education.

The Commission is proud to announce the 2024 Junior Wheat Show kicks off this month! Entries are due by 8 AM on July 17, 2024 at the Payne County Fairgrounds- Click here for more details.

Our Commissioners develop policy and programs, direct the funding for research, market development and public education, represent producer interests and, of course, promote Oklahoma wheat!

Learn more about the Oklahoma Wheat Commission by clicking here for their website.

While attending the U.S. Wheat Summer Business Meeting in Oklahoma City, Farm Director KC Sheperd spoke with Outgoing Chairman for U.S. Wheat Associates, Michael Peters about the legacy of his five-year term.

U.S. Wheat Associates has thirteen offices overseas, each of which serves several countries. Peters said, “It has been very rewarding and also humbling. Serving as Chairman of U.S. Wheat, you are representing the U.S. wheat farmers and the quality of wheat that they produce in seventeen different states, as well as overseas in the several countries that we export our wheat to.”

“U.S. Wheat prides itself on quality and service,” Peters said. “Our staff overseas is constantly working to maintain connections with mills and bakeries. From the biggest importers to the smallest ones, the thing that they all know is that if there is a problem, they can call a U.S. Wheat office and there will be someone there to help them.”

While U.S. Wheat itself never sells a bushel of wheat, they serve as an intermediary between buyers, or importers, and sellers, but Peters emphasized that the service that they provide is through technical offices, bake schools, and other such methods to maintain customer satisfaction overseas.

Randy Blach and Andy Bishop: How $13.41 Returns are Fueling the Future of the Cattle Industry

At the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays had the chance to catch up with the President and CEO of CattleFax, Randy Blach, and Chairman of the Cattleman’s Beef Promotion Board Andy Bishop to see their reactions to the recent Beef Checkoff Return On Investment (ROI) study.

Coverage from the 2024 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in San Diego is being powered by Farm Data Services of Stillwater.

“It’s been very evident over time to see the demand growth and the value of the [Beef Checkoff] in our industry,” Blach said. “It has added hundreds of dollars to the value of all of these cattle in our production systems. Export markets have boomed. Domestic markets have boomed.”

Blach emphasized that it isn’t just demand growth that has helped. It is changing the focus on the quality of products being produced to the consistency of the product.

“A $13.41 return on investment, which is up from $11.91 in the last study, speaks volumes,” Bishop added. “Anytime, in your own operation, you can get a thirteen-dollar return on your investment, you would double down and try to do more things to continue to get that return.”



Bishop believes that increase is a testament to what the Beef Checkoff’s contractors are doing and the laser-focus of the Checkoff itself over the past ten to fifteen years in promoting beef. He has confidence in the entire framework of the program that build demand for beef, consumer satisfaction, and confidence in the product being delivered.

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.

Anderson said, “Let’s go back to June 1. That’s the price that I use as my base market price. In Pond Creek, Oklahoma, that price was $6.70. Since June 1, we have seen that price fall $1.49 down to around $5.25. Now if you go back to around ‘09 to ’23, your average harvest price was $5.80 and the average price move in June, July, and August – the harvest months – has been $1.80. So if you look at what’s been going on in the market, prices have been going down. How low can they go? My first estimate is $4.90.”

Russia’s harvest appears to be fluctuating depending on the reporting source, but overall, the world market shows adequate wheat production and below-average prices.

I talked with Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association as the Summer Cattle Industry Business meeting was winding down in San Diego. Kelsey is pleased with the variety of policy and checkoff work that was accomplished this week. 

The new policies passed by NCBA members direct the association to improve disaster relief and risk management programs, advocate for reduced capital gains tax, and oppose burdensome business registration and reporting requirements like the Corporate Transparency Act. Several existing policies were also renewed or amended.

Kelsey was pleased that cattle producers also discussed the implementation of USDA’s new animal disease traceability rule that will take effect in November.

USDA’s traceability rule updates a previous 2013 rule that requires intact cattle 18 months of age or older, rodeo and exhibition cattle, and dairy cattle moving interstate to have a visually readable ear tag. The new traceability rule simply switches the type of tag from visually readable to both electronically and visually readable. This new rule will take effect on Nov. 5, 2024.

In the Cattle Health Committee meeting- Kelsey was impressed by the presentation made by USDA’s Director of Traceability efforts Dr. Alex Turner- enough so that he says they will having him do a similar presentation via Zoom to their Board of Directors meeting that will be a part of the OCA Annual Convention July 19th.

Listen to their conversation by clicking on the Blue Button below:

The American Soybean Association invites soybean farmers to attend a new event designed to help them evaluate the many conservation incentive programs available to them—and to connect with the organizations and ASA industry partners offering these opportunities. The ASA Farmer Forum: Building Your Conservation Program and Profit Potential will be August 26 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa, the day before the annual Farm Progress Show.

The ASA event will offer a deep dive into conservation programs, consumer perspectives and farm-level decision making. Conservation technicians and crop advisors from several organizations and companies will be available to answer questions and help farmers identify the best conservation program for their unique farm situations. These informational sessions will take place 1:00 – 5:45 p.m., followed by a reception from 5:45 – 7:30 p.m. All farmers who register by August 20 will receive a free one-day admission to the Farm Progress Show in nearby Boone, Iowa. The Farm Progress Show, Aug. 27-29, is one of the largest outdoor farm shows in the country, attracting thousands of attendees from more than 30 countries.

“Farmers are always looking for ways to improve their operations while remaining good stewards of the environment and protecting our natural resources,” said ASA President Josh Gackle, a soybean farmer from North Dakota. “It’s exciting to see so many companies and organizations coming forward with financial incentives to adopt conservation practices, but it can also be a challenge to figure out what program makes sense for your individual farm. I’m thrilled to see ASA offer this event as a new resource to help farmers navigate these opportunities.”

Lead sponsors of the ASA Farmer Forum event include the United Soybean Board/Our Soy Checkoff, PepsiCo and Nutrien. During an afternoon break and evening reception in the FFA Enrichment Center Atrium, attendees will have time to visit sponsor exhibits and engage in discussions with other farmers, industry representatives and conservation experts while enjoying drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

The event agenda and registration link are available by clicking here.

Lankford, Mullin, Full Senate Honor Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe

Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and every member of the Senate supported passage today of Lankford and Mullin’s Senate resolution to honor the life, legacy, and memory of Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe, after his passing on July 9. The Senators were joined by their colleagues to honor Inhofe, Oklahoma’s longest-serving US Senator, and his long career in public service in which he served Oklahomans, fought for our military and veterans, protected our nation’s infrastructure, provided support and recognition to African nations and the humanitarian and strategic defense relationships we share, worked to support aviation, and much more. Lankford led numerous Senate colleagues in remembering Inhofe on the Senate floor this week.

“Senator Inhofe was a remarkable father, husband, brother, friend, mentor, and an accomplished United States Senator with an exemplary record of service to the state of Oklahoma,” said Lankford. “Our resolution cements his legacy into the written history of the Senate to ensure future generations know his many contributions to our state and nation, particularly for our military and veterans. Cindy and I join Senator Inhofe’s family, friends, former staff, and the entire Senate to officially recognize the many debts our state and nation owe to the service of James Mountain Inhofe.”

“Senator Jim Inhofe was a mountain of a man and someone we could all learn from,” said Mullin. “His legacy will be long lasting in Oklahoma and in the halls of Congress. May we always strive to serve our state with the tenacity and values of God and Country that Senator Inhofe held so dear. It’s an honor to join my colleagues in officially recognizing Senator Inhofe’s life of service and his contributions to our great state.”