Farm Director KC Sheperd recently spoke with Lance Embree, the sales account manager for WestBred in Oklahoma and Texas, following a comprehensive crop tour of the region. The tour, which included Mark Lubbers, WestBred’s technical product manager, covered most of southern Oklahoma and the majority of Texas north of I-10, providing a snapshot of the current winter wheat conditions.

“Really, very typical type of year where, depending on where you are, there are a lot of differences,” Embree noted, emphasizing the variability across the large geographical area. He broke down the observations geographically, starting with the central I-35 corridor in Oklahoma and Texas. “We were actually starting to get dry but caught a rain at the right time – may have been just a little bit late, but better late than never.”

However, conditions worsened moving westward. “As we moved west, particularly into West Texas, south of Abilene and down through San Angelo, it was really, really drought-stressed,” Embree explained. He described the situation as dire, stating that “a lot of that wheat is beyond recovery, even with the rain, at this point. So a lot of guys had turned cattle out just to try to pick up some forage to get what they can.”

The Oklahoma Pork Council, a farmer-led organization, represents the interests of all Oklahoma pig farmers. From large-scale commercial operators to first-time 4-H and FFA exhibitors, our mission is to positively impact every Oklahoman who raises pigs.

At Oklahoma Pork, we focus our efforts within four strategic intentions to serve our farmers: foreign animal disease preparedness, workforce at all levels, image enhancement, and freedom to operate. Learn more by visiting okpork.org.

Farm Broadcaster Carey Martin from the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network had the chance to visit with the CEO of CattleFax, Randy Blach, at the 2025 Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Convention. Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays is featuring comments from their conversation as they talk about carcass weights and more. Yesterday, they discussed beef market fundamentals and tight numbers in the U.S. beef cow herd.

According to Blach, economics indicate that carcass weights will continue to trend upwards until they begin to moderate some time next year in anticipation of seeing increased supplies of cattle to harvest.

In accordance with seasonal trends, Blach expects fat cattle prices to trend higher over the next few months despite industry uncertainty regarding tariffs and trade wars.

Introducing Dade DeLozier of the Adair FFA Chapter, Your 2025 Northeast Area Star in Ag Placement

During the month of April, the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and Oklahoma Farm Report are spotlighting the 19 Area Stars of Oklahoma FFA, who are among the highest achievers in the organization.

This week, our coverage of the 2025 Oklahoma FFA Star Award Finalists continues with Ag Placement competitor Dade DeLozier of the Adair FFA chapter representing the Northeast Area.

DeLozier’s project began in the summer of 2020 when he started working for his grandfather on his 1,425-acre cow calf operation located west of Adair. “I learned to start working and feeding cattle and baling hay for him through the summer, and I also have a second placement SAE working for Coffeyville Stockyards in Coffeyville, Kansas. The job was offered to me in the summer of 2023. I started sorting cattle and loading trucks for them through the summer, and through the school year, I unloaded and loaded semis and sorted cattle on weekends for their special cow sale. I also sort sheep, goats, and pigs for them, too.”

DeLozier’s father is the ag teacher, and he has wanted to be in FFA for as long as he can remember. “When I got into the eighth grade ag, I thought that was the best thing ever,” he said. “I didn’t want to do athletics.”

Oklahoma is facing a volatile weather pattern, with State Climatologist Gary McManus urging residents to remain vigilant for severe weather this upcoming weekend. While the immediate forecast includes significant fire danger today, the focus shifts to tomorrow and Saturday for widespread risks.

According to McManus, the primary threats this weekend will be strong winds, large hail, and the potential for flash flooding. “Keep an eye out for severe weather this weekend,” he cautioned. “Watch out for Friday and Saturday. The tornado threat is low, but not zero; however, wind, hail, and flash flooding will definitely be threats.” This statement underscores the importance of preparedness, even with a lower tornado risk.  

Regarding today's significant fire risk, McManus said, “There’s already a fire weather watch out across much of western Oklahoma, and don’t be surprised if we see a Red Flag Warning replace some of that area.” This highlights the dry and windy conditions expected today, which can easily fuel wildfires.

Adding to today’s concerning forecast, McManus pointed out the potential for hazardous travel conditions. “Speaking of elsewhere, you’ll want to be there tomorrow when we see 45-60 mph winds and blowing dust behind the dryline, with temperatures up in the upper 80s and 90s.” These strong winds and blowing dust can significantly reduce visibility, making driving dangerous across affected regions.

Secretary Rollins Visits Lubbock to View the USDA Cotton Classification Complex

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins wrapped up a visit to Lubbock, Texas, where she joined House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) for a tour and roundtable discussion at the USDA Cotton Classification Complex on the Texas Tech University campus. During the roundtable, she was joined by sorghum, beef, peanut, dairy, and corn producers as well as agricultural leaders from across Texas.

“We have our fabrics, clothes, and medical supplies because of the land and labor from cotton farmers in Lubbock and surrounding counties. With President Trump in the White House, we are putting farmers first at USDA. We are reversing the harmful policies of the Biden Administration that have put an unnecessary strain on farmers in Texas to ensure they thrive in America’s new Golden Age!” said Secretary Rollins.

During the roundtable, Secretary Rollins heard directly from cotton industry leaders and Texas Tech University officials. The USDA cotton classification facility on the Texas Tech University campus is the first of its kind and is helping to pave the way for research, processing, and grading for cotton. The flagship facility was completely funded by the cotton industry and is maintained by “user-fees” because growers find third-party unbiased grading services provided by USDA essential to the fair and equitable marketing of their crop.

Celebrating 90 Years of Conservation in Oklahoma | April 28, 1:00-3:00 pm | Canadian County Expo Center, El Reno, OK

This event will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Soil Conservation Service. Help us celebrate the men and women of the Soil Conservation Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service who have worked to protect and enhance the state’s soil, water, and natural resources since the Dust Bowl. Displays will showcase historic artifacts from SCS and Oklahoma’s conservation history. NRCS, OACD and OCHS are cosponsoring this event.

RSVP for this event: Email Larry Caldwell at larry.caldwell@usda.gov

“The mission of our organization is ‘to collect, preserve, and share Oklahoma’s rich conservation history.’ These events will help promote our mission and hopefully educate folks about the Dust Bowl and about the importance of conservation work in Oklahoma over the past 90 years,” says Ben Pollard, President, OCHS.

We encourage all current and former SCD and NRCS employees, Conservation District Directors and Staff, and the public to attend these free events!

Making a kit tailored to your ranching lifestyle is simple, and it can help you be prepared for whatever comes your way.

Emergencies on the ranch don’t always happen close to where help is available. Having a well-stocked first-aid kit in your truck or UTV can make all the difference in managing injuries quickly and effectively.

The foundation of any first-aid kit should align with guidelines from the American Red Cross or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Many pre-made kits available online or in stores come stocked with essentials such as:

• Bandages of various sizes
• Sterile gauze pads and medical tape
• Antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointment
• Scissors and tweezers
• Medical gloves, such as nitrile powder-free gloves
• CPR (resuscitation) mask
• Instant cold packs
• Hand sanitizer

These kits are a great starting point and often come in compact, organized cases. However, they may need a few upgrades to handle the unique challenges of ranch work.