USDA's weekly Crop Progress Report shows that nationwide, harvest is expanding- the US corn crop is now 47% harvested- soybeans are 67% harvsted and the US Cotton crop is now 34% harvested.

Dry weather has Winter Wheat plantings in Oklahoma well behind the 5-year average of 60% at 43 percent with 20 percent of our crop emerged. Our neighbors are much closer to the five-year average with 68 percent planted in Kansas with 36 percent of their crop emerged, and Texas now stands at 61 percent planted with 34 percent of their crop emerged.



Oklahoma's cotton and soybean harvests are underway with cotton at 15 percent, up 4 points from a year ago, and soybeans at 13 percent harvested, down 7 points from a year ago.

The Oklahoma Corn crop is now 78% harvested up 20 points from this point a year ago - while the Oklahoma Grain sorghum crop is now 43% harvested versus 39% a year ago.

The Kansas corn harvest reached 77%, up 7 points from last year. The Soybean harvest is 1 point behind a year ago at 53 percent harvested. The Sorghum harvest is 3 points ahead of a year ago at 39 percent. Kansas cotton is 23 percent harvested, up 8 points from a year ago.

Texas's corn harvest is nearly complete at 98 percent, 13 percentage points ahead of last year.

Their cotton harvest is 38 percent completed, near 36 percent a year ago. Sorghum harvest is also almost finished at 95 percent, a 4-point increase from a year ago. The soybean harvest is 66 percent complete, 3 points ahead of this time a year ago.

Pasture and Range Conditions for the 48 states fell 3 points from last week to 22 percent good to excellent. Oklahoma has declined 6 points to a 23 percent good to excellent rating - Kansas declined 1 point to 19 percent good to excellent - Texas dropped 1 point to a 13 percent good to excellent rating. Missouri now stands at 29% Good to Excellent - down 12 points this week versus last.

The vision of the Oklahoma Beef Council is to be a positive difference for Oklahoma's farming and ranching families and the greater beef community, and its mission is to enhance beef demand by strengthening consumer trust and exceeding consumer expectations. 

To learn more, visit www.oklabeef.org. Also, don't forget to like its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oklabeef for stories on Oklahoma's ranching families and great beef recipes. 

And Check out this video below that helps you learn more about the Beef Checkoff- .

Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays is talking with OSU’s Dr. Josh Campbell about the $739,432 Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Project Grant that OSU received from the USDA on October 9, 2024. Campbell will be the project director for the $719,432 project authorized by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

The portion that OSU was granted was part of USDA’s $46 million investment in projects supporting America’s veteran, underserved, and beginning farmers and ranchers to help aspiring producers enter the business and improve their skills and knowledge to sustain their operations for years to come.

The funds were given in support of OSU’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher programs proposed by Campbell. Aligning with USDA’s mission and in partnership with CoBank and farm credit Organizations, OSU’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher program is designed to aid and support producers early in their agriculture careers by providing financial, educational and technical assistance. The program is designed to encourage those desiring to be involved in agriculture but have limited access to capital or resources.

“As we look at the state of agriculture across the nation, we know that our producers are an aging population, so it is critical that we continue to invest in building up a pipeline of new producers who will carry on the mantel of our nation’s food system,” Campbell stated.

Ribeye Sandwiches: Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association’s Star Attraction at the Tulsa State Fair

In line with their mission to promote beef, the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association has manned a beef tent at the Tulsa State Fair for decades where fairgoers can enjoy a mouth-watering ribeye beef sandwich. Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays caught up with Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association’s Executive Vice President Michael Kelsey to talk about the iconic way to promote beef at the Tulsa State Fair.



“We have done this for thirty-plus years,” Kelsey said. “When Jarold Callahan was the executive vice president, he started it in the early nineties, and we have continued it. That ribeye sandwich is a staple of the Tulsa State Fair.”

At the 2024 event, OCA members served 8,100 steak sandwiches, equating to about 2,200 pounds of ribeye. “That is probably the lowest amount we have done in a while,” Kelsey said. “Our peak was 23,000 sandwiches.”

The reason for the reduction is simply a change in the culture of the Tulsa State Fair. “It is a food carnival, now, not so much a ride carnival, anymore,” Kelsey explained. “Advertisements are now centered around fair food. Then if you consider the cost to park, the cost to get in the gate, a family of four is going to spend $70 to $80 just to get in. In a tight-budget year, they’re going to squeeze their belts a little tighter, so it made sense to us that numbers were down. We were about a thousand less than we did last year.”

A new economic study paints a troubling picture of the potential results a renewed U.S.-China trade war could have on hundreds of thousands of farmers and rural communities, showing American-imposed tariffs would come at a steep cost to U.S. producers while benefiting Brazil and Argentina.

The study, commissioned by the American Soybean Association and the National Corn Growers Association and conducted by the World Agricultural Economic and Environmental Services, shows a new trade war would result in an immediate drop in corn and soy exports to the tune of hundreds of millions of tons. As a result, Brazil and Argentina would claim the lost market share, which would be extremely difficult for American growers to reclaim in the future.

“The study highlights the dangers that come with broad tariffs on imports,” said NCGA Lead Economist Krista Swanson. “While launching widespread tariffs may seem like an effective tool, they can boomerang and cause unintended consequences. Our first goal should be to avoid unnecessary harm.”

Yodel-ay-hee-hoo! You are invited to the 2024 Oklahoma Ag Expo Oktoberfest, happening October 28-30 at the Embassy Suites and Conference Center in Norman, OK. Join the special meet-and-greet social that kicks off the event on Monday at 5:30 p.m. or show up at the Westwood Golf Course in Norman for the 8:30 a.m. check-in for the Ag Expo Fest Golf Tournament.

Ashley Randolph, with Oklahoma Ag, gave KC Sheperd the rundown of what is else happening at the 2024 Oklahoma Ag Oktoberfest. “Every year, the Oklahoma Ag Retailers Association and the Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association join together to host the event which provides networking opportunities for our members as well as guests. We have a tradeshow, as well as numerous continuing education courses for our certified crop advisors and professional applicators.”

Tuesday begins at 9:00 a.m. with a series of engaging speakers, followed by the grand opening of the trade show at 10:00 a.m. During lunch, Darren Shrum, OSU First Cowboy will share insights about Oklahoma Ag’s philanthropic partner this year, the OSU Student Farm. On Tuesday at 5:00 p.m., attendees may enjoy beer, snacks, and great company as the AgPAC silent and live auction kicks off.

OCA Fall Gatherings OCA’s Fall Gatherings provide cattle producers an opportunity to fellowship with area cattlemen in a casual atmosphere while gaining tips on how to protect our livelihood and enhance production practices. In an effort to recruit new OCA members, we encourage members to invite friends, family and neighbors.

Doors open for vendor and sponsor visitation at 6:00 pm and the program begins with a delicious BEEF meal at 6:30 pm. Participation is free and an RSVP is requested to help prepare the appropriate meal count.

You can RSVP by clicking below on the location you plan to attend:

October 28th – Three Rivers Meat Company, Smithville

November 4th – Redlands Community College, El Reno

November 7th – Wolf Creek Ranch, Pawhuska

November 11th – Eastern Oklahoma State College, Wilburton

November 12th – Connors State College, Warner

November 14th – OK Steel & Wire, Madill

November 18th – Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford

November 19th – Western Oklahoma State College – Altus

November 21st – Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Goodwell