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 10.24 percent, from 8.61 percent last week.

Moderate drought, or worse, has improved slightly to 39.66 percent, from 40.51 percent last week.

Abnormally dry or worse conditions are now at 72.17 percent, down from last week’s 79.41 percent.

As for our neighbors, a high-pressure ridge continued across the southern Plains, bringing dry and very hot weather, especially to Texas. Mississippi experienced a 70% loss of field corn in the east-central portion of the state during the mid-June through early July dry period. Extension agents are reporting a likely significant loss of cotton and soybeans in this region as well. Cotton plants are dying, and soybeans in many locations set pods without beans.

Kansas Drought Monitor continues to show roughly half of the state in Moderate Drought- 50.55% this week versus 50.23% last week. Texas Drought ratings jumped 10 percentage points to 40.01% versus 30.19% a week ago.

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

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

Our Commissioners develop policy and programs, direct the funding, represent producer interests and, of course, promote Oklahoma wheat!

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

The final countdown is on for the end of groceries being hit with Oklahoma’s sales tax, and Oklahoma State Representative Kevin Wallace of House District 32 is excited. As of Thursday, August 29th, the state sales tax will no longer be charged in Oklahoma groceries and supermarkets for food items.

Wallace was the House co-author of HB 1955, which ends the sales tax on groceries, a 4.5% savings on each dollar spent. He says the savings are significant- “Absolutely, it’s 418 million dollars annually in revenue that is being turned back to taxpayers and consumers.”

Oklahoma Farm Report’s Ron Hays talked with Wallace a week out from the first day of the sales tax exemption for groceries to take effect. The local sales tax will remain in place- but the state sales tax ends next Thursday. “It is historic- proud to be part of that…it’s time to give back to the people and I’m glad that we were able to get that done.”

They also talked about some of the other legislation that Wallace had a part in this past legislative session. Wallace says his district 32 is a rural district and that he is pleased one of the measures he has been able to work on is to benefit rural fire departments. “The operating grant funds for those- over the last couple of years, we have been able to increase those dollars from $4600 to over $10,000 for each rural fire department.”

2024 Farm Bill Comparison and Update with OSU’s Dr. Amy Hagerman

Farm Director KC Sheperd caught up with OSU Ag Economics Professor, Dr. Amy Hagerman, to talk about the 2024 Farm Bill’s progression and what its completion might mean to Oklahomans.

Dr. Hagerman said that due to a rapid progression of the Farm Bill this past May, people were optimistic about the Farm Bill’s imminent passage to legislation as it approached the markup in the Ag House Committee.

“Now, here we are in August. It’s pretty late to get a Farm Bill done this year when we don’t have text from the Senate yet. Which means that the Conference Committee can’t come together to reconcile the two bills before it goes out for full floor votes so the President can sign it,” Dr. Hagerman explained.

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays talks with NCBA Senior Director for Producer Education Michaela Clowser about foreign objects found in beef, especially buckshot and birdshot.

Birdshot or shotgun shell pellets have been found and reported in the beef supply since the first National Beef Quality Audit in the early nineties. Still, the presence of this foreign material in the food we produce is not subsiding. It was a major point of discussion in the industry strategy meeting that came from the most recent audit.

“We saw foreign object contamination both on the fed and the market cow and bull side, but we’re focusing more on birdshot and buckshot on the market cow and bull side,” Clowser said.

She said that one hundred percent of the audited processing plants reported finding birdshot and buckshot in beef.

This week on SUNUP, OSU Extension livestock marketing specialist Dr. Derrell Peel explains why heifer retention could tighten up the market.

Dr. Peel says that the cattle market is currently in the expected summer doldrums, there hasn’t been a lot occurring. He mentioned the big stock market shock a few weeks ago that impacted the feeder and live cattle futures and subsequently the cash markets. He said that taking advantage of the summer market lull dropped the cash market slightly. He said that the rebuild out of that will be slow, but it is already in progress.

“Beef production is down somewhat this year, but not as much as we expected it to be, “ Dr. Peel said. “It’s only down about 1.5% so far this year. Almost all of that is due to decreased cow slaughter. On the fed beef side, steer and heifer slaughter is not down all that much, and carcass weights have been exceptionally heavy this year, so fed beef production is actually up on a year over year basis.”

He expects strength in the markets to increase as fall arrives.

We’re thrilled to announce that Joe Locke of Marietta has been elected as the new president of the Oklahoma Pork Council for the 2024-2025 membership year.

With over 30 years of experience in the pork industry, Joe brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this leadership role. He currently serves as the Director of Operations for Tyson Foods The Pork Group (TPG) and has previously held senior leadership positions at Seaboard Foods.

Joe’s dedication to the pork industry extends beyond his professional career. He has been an active member of the Oklahoma Pork Council for many years, serving on the board of directors, as an officer, and even as a volunteer pitmaster.

As board president, Joe is committed to building unity, promoting continuous learning, and executing on the Oklahoma Pork Council’s strategic intentions. We’re excited to see what he’ll accomplish in the coming year!