Oklahoma Wheat Report Session Reports Better Than Expected Crop Waiting for the Combines

Click here to read more or have the opportunity to listen to Mike Schulte talk with Leslie Smith about the impact of the April rains and the onset of rust.  

Drought Stress and Disease Are Prominent Features Seen Day Two on Kansas Wheat Tour  

Rolling waves of grain and tornadoes are the ultimate Kansas stereotypes, and mother nature was happy to provide both on Wednesday to some Hard Red Winter Wheat Tour participants. The tour, sponsored by the Wheat Quality Council, roamed through Kansas for the second day on May 6th, trekking on six different routes from Colby to Wichita. 

Day two of the wheat tour saw the 92 participants make 305 stops- and come up with a slightly better yield estimate over the course of day two compared to the 2014 crop- but well below the 2013 estimate for the routes that began in Colby and ended in Wichita. The day's average was 34.5 bushels per acre- compared to 32.8 bushels per acre in 2013- and 40.5 bushels back in 2013. 

Crop Scouts shared some of the routes on Wednesday afternoon with Storm Chasers- and while the prime action for twisters was in the Oklahoma City area- there were also reports of tornadoes in and around Wichita- where Day Two stopped for the evening.

As the scouts traveled south of Colby, they quickly began to see some of the most drought stricken wheat in the state. The south western portion of the state showed an estimated range from 0-18 bushels per acre. However, when the participants turned east, they began to see some of the best looking wheat so far in the tour. The stretch from Dodge City to Wichita showed a stronger potential, with most fields averaging from 35-50 bushels per acre.

You can read more from Day Two of the Kansas Wheat Tour by Clicking Here- that includes a radio interview that our friend Keith Kisling had with rookie farm broadcaster Jesse Harding with the Rural Radio Network.     

March Pork Export Volume the Best in Eleven Months- Beef Exports Looking Better as Well- USMEF Offers Details  

Exports of U.S. pork and beef gained momentum in March after starting the year slowly, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).


Although pork exports were down from the large totals recorded in March 2014, export volume was the largest in 11 months at 191,041 metric tons (mt). This was 9 percent lower than a year ago, but a 10 percent increase from February. Export value of $495.3 million was down 18 percent year-over-year, but up 5 percent from February.


March beef exports totaled 86,774 mt, down 7 percent from a year ago but a 5 percent increase over February. Export value was $527.3 million, up 2 percent year-over-year but down slightly from February.


The March results reflect some degree of relief from the West Coast port congestion that plagued red meat exports in January and February. Port traffic began to improve after a tentative labor contract was reached in late February, though congestion lingered for several weeks at some major ports.


"Port congestion remained an issue well into March - and even into April in the Southern California ports - but the announcement of the new labor contract certainly improved the business climate," said USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng. "After months of frustration, the U.S. meat industry was finally able to reassure Asian buyers that the worst of the crisis was behind us and that they could once again count on the U.S. to fulfill its role as a reliable supplier. This was especially important for customers purchasing chilled pork and beef, which require very prompt delivery due to product shelf life." 

More details for both the beef and pork sectors are available here. 

Changing Consumer Part of Strong Beef Demand Picture

Even with higher prices, consumers continue to buy beef. Nationally beef demand has increased for the past four years with demand up 18 of the last 19 quarters. Kansas State University Agricultural Economist Glynn Tonsor said beef demand has remained strong as consumers have been willing to buy beef at higher prices.


For many years, Tonsor has been developing a beef demand index. With this increase in beef demand, he said this is a hard story to understand in how this is being realized. With tighter supplies, he said there are fewer pounds being consumed per person. That means there are some households have decreased their beef consumption, some have remained unchanged and maybe some have increased. He said that net change in the household is critical to the beef demand situation. 


Tonsor has found a fair amount of evidence particularly on the muscle cut side for strong demand. He has found those Americans that have kept their jobs, did not experience unemployment in the last recession and continue to be benefactors in today's global economy continue to buy beef. With all of these knowledge-based jobs that have been doing well for the last half dozen years, he said these consumers are increasingly the target market as they are consuming a higher share of muscle cuts.  

Click here to read more or have the opportunity to listen to Tonsor as he explains why this is a positive story.

'Get a Move on for GMOs' Helps Farmers Stand Up for Biotechnology

GetaMoveOn.fb.org is Farm Bureau's just-launched advocacy website that gives farmers and ranchers a simple way to "Get a Move On" for GMOs. Through the website, farmers can easily express support for a national, science-based labeling standard, like the approach taken in the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (H.R. 1599).


"Now is the time for farmers and ranchers to take action in support of innovation in agriculture," said American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman. "Access to crop traits that resist pests, diseases and drought stress is helping farmers across the nation grow more food using less land, water, fuel and pesticides," Stallman said. "Biotechnology will offer even more benefits in the future."


From the website, farmers and ranchers can send House members emails encouraging "yea" votes for the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. The bill will clarify the Food and Drug Administration as the nation's foremost authority on food safety and create a voluntary labeling program run by the Agriculture Department's Agricultural Marketing Service, the same agency that administers the USDA Organic Program.


The legislation will provide a federal solution to protect consumers from a confusing patchwork of 50-state GMO labeling policies, and the misinformation and high food costs that would come with them. 

Click here to read more about the "GetaMoveOn" campaign and how producers can share this information.  

Award winning broadcast journalist Jerry Bohnen has spent years learning and understanding how to cover the energy business here in the southern plains-  Click here to subscribe to his daily update of top Energy News.

"Great American Wheat Harvest" Film to be Seen Tonight on OETA 

 One year after the "Great American Wheat Harvest" documentary debuted in Oklahoma, the film will be shown statewide on public television. The documentary film will be shown TONIGHT on OETA- PBS in Oklahoma at 7 p.m.


The "Great American Wheat Harvest" documentary film tells the story of five custom harvesting families and crews who travel from Texas to the Canadian border each year harvesting wheat. One of the custom harvesters featured in the movie was the Misener Family Harvesting of Elk City, Oklahoma. Documentary filmmaker and video producer Conrad Weaver of Emmitsburg, Maryland, showed the enormous risk that custom harvesters take each year. The film also shows the impact of the drought and how mother nature impacts everyone involved in agriculture.


Thousands of people have already seen the film in movie theaters across the United States along with screenings on public television and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Weaver says he hopes people will have a better understanding of where their food comes from and what it takes to get a loaf of bread to the table.


The film is also available on DVD and Blu-ray disc. The disc includes the feature film plus many extra features not seen in the film. For more information about the film, or to order a DVD or Blu-ray, visit www.GreatAmericanWheatHarvest.com.

Mike Schulte with the Wheat Commission does remind us that the wheat breeding program at Oklahoma State University under the direction of Dr. Brett Carver was featured in the production- another reason to pop the popcorn, grab a soda and watch tonight on OETA.

The Friday Calendar- OCA Board Meeting, Superior Auction, Golfing and Wheat Touring 

There is something for about everyone tomorrow- Friday May 8th on our Ag Calendar that is found on the Oklahoma Farm Report.Com.

For starters- the OCA Cowboys will drive their pickups to the OBI Headquarters and hold the Oklahoma Cattlemen Spring Quarterly Board Meeting at the Bull Test facility.  OBI is located on State Highway 51- just west of Stillwater.  

You can park yourself in front of your Big Screen TV that is hooked up to the DISH Network or jump on line at SuperiorClickToBid.Com for the Friday edition of the Superior Video Livestock Auction tomorrow morning- the sale cranks up at 8:00 AM.

If you are signed up- we remind you about the Oklahoma Farm Bureau's YF&R Golf Classic set for tomorrow at noon in Enid. If you want to bring your own pencil with an eraser- that's up to you- just don't let Sam Knipp borrow it.

Finally- we have been looking forward to the 2015 edition of the OSU North Central Research Station Field Day in Lahoma- set for tomorrow morning- the tours are set to start at nine am and we will be checking to confirm everything is a "go" after the recent rains that continue across the state.