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 has increased to 8.61 percent, from 5.40 percent last week.

Moderate drought, or worse has decreased to 40.51 percent, from 43.79 percent last week.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are now at 79.41 percent, down from last week’s 86.47 percent.

As for our neighbors, swaths of heavy rain fell in parts of northwest Missouri, Oklahoma, northeast New Mexico, and Colorado. From Kansas and north, temperatures were markedly cooler than normal. Parts of Arkansas saw moderate drought and abnormal dryness expansion. Heavier rains in western Texas led to localized improvements where precipitation deficits lessened. 

Kansas has now reached 50% of their state in moderate drought- 50.23% versus 46.64% last week while Texas now is at 30.2% moderate drought versus 24% a week ago.

Click here for the Kansas Drought Monitor Page and Click here for the Texas Drought Monitor Page.

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Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays, is visiting with the Executive Director of Nutrition Research at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Dr. Shalene McNeill, about the value of beef in an infant’s diet.

The NCBA Research Team has been looking closely at each of the developing life stages as children grow and their nutritional needs change, to see how beef can benefit them throughout their childhood and teenage years.

“Infants start incorporating real foods at about six months of age,” Dr. McNeill said. “So, their nutrition needs start right then for that iron, zinc, and other nutrients that beef can complement. Those are critical nutrients for growth and development, and as they continue to grow, some of their needs change, but a lot of those nutrients they need at each of those life stages, is supplied by beef.

“Babies have tiny tummies, so each little bite that they take has to be packed with the most nutrition to give their bodies what they need. Beef is one of the most nutrient-dense foods,” she said. “You can get protein, iron, and other nutrients from other foods, but there is no other food that has all of the nutrients that beef does in one package. No other food really competes for those ten essential nutrients that beef provides and the quality of its protein.”

Hold Your Horses-Cattle and Horse Brand Renewal Starts October First

The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) is announcing the renewal period for current registered cattle and horse brands in Oklahoma will begin on October 1st. Beginning October 1st, current registered brand holders can renew online by going to www.okcattlemen.org/brands. If a registered brand holder would prefer to renew by mail, a renewal notice will be sent to those that do not renew online. Once the brand renewal is received, registered brand holders can renew by going to the OCA website or returning the renewal documentation via mail with the $60 fee.

Brands in Oklahoma are registered for a period of up to five years, with renewal cycles occurring in years ending in “0” and “5.” The renewal fee for each brand is set at $60. This fee must be submitted along with the renewal application to maintain the brand’s registration. Failure to renew may result in the forfeiture of the brand, making it available for registration by another party.

“We encourage all cattle and horse owners to be vigilant about renewing their brands this coming year,” said Jeani Logemann, Oklahoma Brand Registrar. “A registered brand is a vital tool for protecting livestock ownership, and keeping it current is essential.”

Renewal packets will contain all necessary information and instructions. Brand holders are advised to review the materials carefully and submit their renewals promptly to avoid any lapse in registration.

For more information or assistance with the renewal process, registered brand holders can contact the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association at 405-235-4391 or visit our website at www.okcattlemen.org/brands. New brands can be registered anytime by returning the application and fee found on the website.

Congressman Josh Brecheen opposes the Southeast Oklahoma Power Corporation’s (SEOPC) attempts to build a hydroelectric power plant on the Kiamichi River in LeFlore and Pushmataha Counties.

SEOPC has ties to a Chinese Communist Party-linked individual and the project would require the eminent domaining of 35,000 acres of Oklahoma land, including many homes, farms, and ranches in the surrounding area that have been owned by Oklahoma families for generations. All the power produced would then be sold in Texas, not Oklahoma.

“Our office will do everything in our power to prevent this harmful project from moving forward,” said Congressman Josh Brecheen. “Any person or company involved with the Chinese Communist Party, which is an enemy of the United States, has no business operating in Oklahoma.”

To build the plant, SEOPC needs the approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). SEOPC’s applications have thus far been denied, most recently in March 2024 when FERC said SEOPC had failed to do their “due diligence” regarding the extent of eminent domain requirements. However, SEOPC continues to pursue the project and issued another application for approval to FERC on May 7th.

Over the past three years, we have written a lot of articles about the need for a new farm bill that increases the support provided by the farm safety net. While it was important three years ago, it is much more important now. The steady decline in market prices has continued, with current price projections from USDA below the average cost of production for some crops (Table 1). Why? While costs for some inputs have decreased from their 2022 highs… commodity prices have fallen more. While Marketing Year Average (MYA) prices in Table 1 don’t look very good, current futures prices at harvest look even worse.

Some producers still have their 2023 crop in storage, holding on and not wanting to sell below their cost of production. The 2024 harvest is not far away. Using corn as an example, the USDA projected marketing year average price is $4.40/bu for the 2024/25 marketing year which is right around the U.S. average cost of production. That would mean producers still holding their 2023 crop would be looking at two crops in a row not making any money.  Reports from Federal Reserve banks around farm country indicate loan delinquencies are on the rise. What does all this mean?

Either we see a farm bill this year or there will be loud calls for financial assistance for farmers. Recall, in the last presidential election year (2020), record amounts of assistance were provided to agricultural producers due to short-term price declines when the pandemic almost broke the supply chain. A strong farm bill would be much better than ad hoc assistance, but if Congress can’t come to an agreement…there will be pressure to help producers endure the current financial downturn. And, even if a new farm bill is put in place this Fall, the fact that it is not slated to kick in until the 2025 crop year – with support not arriving until Fall 2026 – will undoubtedly put tremendous pressure on Congress to help bridge the gap. 

Oklahoma State University Extension is partnering with the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association and Cedar Creek Pecan Farm to host the 2024 Fall Pecan Field Day on Sept. 19. The event is free and includes dinner in the orchard.

“Our goal with the field day is to provide information to potential, novice and seasoned growers that will help them improve their return on investment,” said Becky Carroll, OSU Extension specialist for fruit and pecans. “Nearly 114,000 acres are devoted to pecan production in Oklahoma, of which 81% of those acres are native pecans. This industry directly impacts the state’s economy.”

What: The field day will cover a variety of topics beneficial to members of the pecan industry. Mike Smith, owner of Cedar Creek Pecan Farm, has decades of experience in pecan research and will share his story of pecan production.

When and where:

Check-in begins at 2:30 p.m., Sept. 19, at Michael Smith’s Cedar Creek Pecan Farm, 364839 E. 5200 Rd, Cleveland, Oklahoma. The program starts at 3 p.m.

This Week on SUNUP: John Michael Riley- Soybean Prices Dive

Oklahoma State University Agricultural Economist John Michael Riley says that the WASDE Report was a surprise for the Soybean market. Although the Future’s trade expected the numbers to be more in line with what was seen in July, there were big adjustments to acres and yield which trickled down into larger ending stocks.

“The weather throughout the growing season has been very favorable for corn and beans,” Riley said. “We saw soybeans come in with a yield of 53.2 bushels per acre. That is an increase of 1.2 from last month’s report. Stocks to use for soybeans at 12.8 percent from this most recent report, that is an increase from 10 percent from the number we saw in July. Those are really seismic changes across the board on the supply side which really sent markets in a tailspin.”

Soybean prices are currently $9.66 on the futures market which is much lower than what they were at coming into the report and even at this time last week.

Wheat and Corn numbers were similar to the futures report and trade expectations; however, both were lower in overall acres, yield, and production. Ending stocks were in line with what trade was expecting.

“Ending stocks for wheat are currently at 42 percent. That is about a percentage point decline from last month’s report,” Riley said. “Corn is 13.9 percent, just a little bit lower than the 14 percent from the July report in terms of stocks to use.”

Express Ranches The Big Event Starts Today and Continues Saturday