On July 12, 2024, the USDA released the latest Crop Production report. Associate Farm Editor Reagan Calk had the chance to talk with USDA’s Troy Marshall about the report.

“Today we mainly updated that yield and production number for our small grains,” Marshall said.

In Oklahoma, Marshall said USDA noted an increase in yield by 1 bushel, raising the forecast up to 39 bushels per acre for Oklahoma,” Marshall said. “Just recapping from that acreage report, we did increase harvested acres coming in at the end of June. We did see that overall production increase in Oklahoma to just over 105 million bushels.”

This production forecast is up 53 percent from last year, Marshall said, and up 6.5 million from the Oklahoma June forecast.

“I know there is still a little bit of a hard time in the panhandle getting some of those acres out with the rains that are there, but as of July 1st, we saw an increase,” Marshall said.

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.

Farm Director KC Sheperd met with Allendale’s Rich Nelson to discuss the latest USDA reports and their implications for the agricultural market.



Rich explained that while there were some discrepancies and unexpected changes, particularly in the production and stocks of corn, soybeans, and wheat, overall, the report indicated a good-sized crop for the US.

“Wheat was where the superstar discussion happened,” Nelson said. “We have to recognize that this crop is certainly separating itself from the prior two years of problem crops.”

The trade expected a 45 million bushel increase for new crop production, but the USDA reported a 131 million bushel increase on the July report.

Bigger production numbers were seen as bearish for wheat- and both KC and Chicago wheat futures dropped on Friday and are falling more this Monday morning in the overnight trade. KC September is $5.55 3/4 at 5:30 am in the overnight trade- down 12 cents from the Friday settlement.

Market Trends in the Cattle Industry: A Detailed Look with Don Close

At the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays, spoke with Terrain’s Chief Research and Analytics Officer, Don Close. Among other things, Close has previously worked as a senior animal protein analyst at Rabobank, and as a market director for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.

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

“A couple of weeks ago, when we had the two-dollar steer printed in Iowa; I have worked my entire career to see a two-dollar steer,” Close said with a smile. “Out of curiosity, I looked at the percentage change of where fed cattle were trading when I started. On a nominal basis, fed cattle prices have increased 536 percent over the years I’ve been in the business, so that’s been a phenomenal run!”

Even so, Close is still firmly convinced that prices will continue to rise. “Seasonally, the rally probably extended a good three weeks longer than it normally would. The pressure on futures market that we are seeing this week – I think it’s time,” he explained. “The real beauty of the short-term market is not that we will necessarily go higher, but the tight supplies will keep a really, solid base in the market.”

NPB recently partnered with Ortega and Chicory, an online platform that places advertising within recipes on websites, for a Cinco De Mayo campaign. This initiative promoted ground pork and shoulder in a variety of Mexican dishes, spanning 7 retailers across states such as Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The campaign was successful in boosting pork awareness and sales:

• 18.5 million website impressions
• 1.2% sales increase for ground pork and shoulder
• $190,000 estimated in incremental promoted cuts sales 
• 15,453 shoppers added these cuts to their online shopping carts
• $861,000 estimated total fresh pork incremental sales

This partnership not only highlighted the versatility of pork in Mexican cuisine but also demonstrated the effectiveness of targeted online advertising in driving consumer awareness, engagement and sales across the fresh pork case.

Corn growers were responsible for a $151 billion boost to the U.S. economy in 2023, according to a new report released this week by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).



The report, entitled NCGA Economic Contribution Study for 2023, looked at a number of ways in which corn growers shaped the economy, including economic output, contributions to the gross domestic product, tax revenues, labor income and employment statistics.

“This report highlights the crucial role America’s corn growers play in our nation’s agricultural and economic value chain,” said NCGA Lead Economist Krista Swanson who authored the analysis. “The data show that growers remain deeply rooted in rural America where they serve as pillars of economic growth. They work to foster technological innovation, expand commercial opportunities, advance free trade, build the bioeconomy, and feed a hungry world.”

In 2023 U.S. corn farmers produced 15.3 billion bushels of corn, valued at $73.9 billion, across 289,382 farms dedicated to growing corn for grain, according to the report.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented Sunday on the failed assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump on Saturday afternoon at a political rally in Pennsylvania. 

“We condemn in the strongest terms the failed assassination attempt against former President Trump. In a democratic society, political differences must be resolved through dialogue and debate, ultimately decided at the ballot box—not through violence. Such acts of hatred threaten our democracy and the rule of law. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and injured. We thank law enforcement for reacting quickly to limit the loss the life. It is my sincere hope that we, as a country, rise above contempt and disdain to see each other as people and engage in civil discourse.”

President Trump survived the attempt- and has already resumed his schedule- as he has flown on to Wisconsin for the Republican National Convention being held this week in Milwaukee.